S TRU CT UR AL S TEEL

All material shall be new and shall conform to their respective specifications. The
use of equivalent or higher grade or alternative materials will be considered only in
very special cases subject to the approval of client / consultant.
1.1

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS :
All structural steel sections shall conform to IS : 2062 unless otherwise
specified and shall be clearly rolled to proper dimensions and weight subject
to permissible tolerances as per IS : 1852.
The finished materials shall be reasonably free from cracks, surface flaws,
laminations rough are imperfect edges and all other harmful defects and
shall have a smooth finish. The material shall be free from loose mill scale
rust pits or other defects affecting the strength and durability.
Structural steel work shall be painted by applying two coats of zinc
phosphate primer, conforming to relevant IS and 2 coats of synthetic enamel
paints (Conforming to IS : 2933) or aluminium paint (conforming to IS :
2339). However, steel shall be galvanized if so required by the client /
consultant.
Normal hexagonal nuts and bolts shall conform to IS : 3138 1966. High
strength structural bolts shall conform to IS : 3757. Countersunk bolts shall
conform to either IS : 8352 or IS : 8353 depending on the type of bolt. Black
bolts, nuts and screws shall be in accordance with IS : 1363 for black
hexagonal with nuts of 6 to 39 mm and black hexagon screw of 6 to 24 mm
and IS : 1364 and IS : 1367 for other sizes.
Hot rolled rivet bars shall conform to IS : 1148 and high tensile steel rivet
bars for structural purposes shall conform to IS : 1149.
Welding electrodes for space frame shall be octagonal or spherical in shape.
It shall a minimum tensile strength as specified in the bills of quantities.
Minimum elongation shall be 7% and hardness 170 240 BHN. The nodes
machined out of solid bars shall conform to IS : 2062 and the casing shall be
as per IS : 1030.
The following variety of steel shall be used for structural purposes.
ST 42 S : It shall be used for all types of structures (riveted and bolted)
including those subjected to dynamic loading and where fatigue, wide
fluctuations
of stresses, reversal of stresses and great restraint are
involved.
It shall be suitable for welded structures provided that the
thickness of the materials does not exceed 20 mm.

ST 42 W :
Fusion welding quality steel, conforming to IS : 2062 shall
be used for structures subject to dynamic loading where welding is employed
for fabrication and where fatigue, wide fluctuation of stresses, reversal of
stresses and great restraints are involved.

Structural steel tubes (ERW) used for building construction shall be not finished
tubes conforming to IS : 1161 / IS : 1239 / IS : 806, tubes shall be designated by
their nominal bore and shall be classified as light, medium and heavy as per IS :
1161, tubes of thickness lower than light tubes shall not be permitted.
Unless mentioned otherwise, fusion welding quality steel ST 42 W shall be used
for all the structural steel works and tubes shall be YST 21 conforming to IS : 806.
The chemical and mechanical properties for structural steel shall be as stated
below.
Steel
Designation

Maximum Percentage
Carbon

Sulphur

Phosphorous

ST 42 W

0.23

0.06

0.06

ST 42 S

0.25 / 0.28

0.06

0.06

ST 42 O

0.07
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF STEEL

Steel Type

Class
of Nominal
steel
thickness
product
dia mm

ST 42 W Plate
sections
(Fusion
(For
welding
example,
quality)
angles,
tees,
beams,
& ST 42 channels
S (Standard etc.,) and
flats
quality)

Bars
(Round
square
and
hexagonal)

Yield
Tensile
stress
strengt
/
min.
h Kg /
Kg.
/
Sq. mm
Sq. mm

%
Elongation

Below 6 mm
only
bend
test shall be
required.
6

mm

and

42 to 54

26

23

Upto 20 mm
Over 20 mm

42 to 54

24

23

Upto 40 mm
Over 40 mm

42 to 54

23

23

42 to 54

26

23

42 to 54

24

23

Below
10
only beyond
test shall be
required.
Over 10 mm
Up
to
20
mm

Over
mm

10

Steel Type

Tensile
Class
of Nominal
strength
steel
thickness /
Kg / Sq.
product
dia mm
mm

ST 42 O Plate
(Ordinary
sections
quality)
(For
example
angles,
tees,
beams,
channels,
etc., ) and
flats

Below 6 only
bend
test
shall
be
required.

Bars
(Round,
square and
hexagonal)

Below 10 mm
only
bend
test shall be
required.
10 mm and
above

1.2

6 mm
above

and

Yield
stress
min. Kg. /
Sq. mm

%
Elongation

42 to 45

26

23

42 to 54

26

23

TEST CERTIFICATE :
When the steel is supplied by he contractor, test certificate of the manufacturer
shall be obtained according to IS : 2062 and other relevant Indian Standards.
Notwithstanding the manufacturers certificates, the consultant / architect may
ask for testing of material in approved test laboratory. The test results shall
satisfy the requirements of the relevant Indian Standards. Whenever quality
certificates are missing or incomplete of where material quality differs from
standard specifications, the contractor shall conduct all appropriate tests as
directed by the consultant / architect at his own cost. Materials for which test
certificates are not available or for which test results do not comply with relevant
IS standard shall not be used.

1.3

STORAGE :
Storage of structural steel shall be as per IS : 4082. Steel materials supplied by
contractor shall be marked for identification and each lot shall be accompanied
by manufacturers quality certificate, conforming to chemical and mechanical
characteristics as per relevant IS codes. All steel furnished by suppliers shall be
checked sorted out, straightened and arranged by grade and quantities in stores.
Welding wire and electrodes shall be stored separately by qualities and lots
inside a dry enclosed room in compliance with IS : 816 and as directed by

Engineer In Charge. Each lot of electrode, bolts, nuts etc., shall be

accompanied by manufacturers test certificate.