What standard covers Australian steel sections?

Hot-rolled UB and UC sections are manufactured to AS/NZS 3679.1 and designed to AS 4100 (steel structures). Loads and combinations follow AS/NZS 1170.

What steel grade are AU Universal Beams and Columns?

They are normally grade 300 (300PLUS), with a yield stress around 300 MPa that reduces slightly for thicker flanges. Check the producer certificate for the governing value.

What is the difference between a UB and a UC?

A UB (Universal Beam) is deep and narrow, optimised for bending; a UC (Universal Column) has its flange width close to its depth for balanced stiffness in compression.

Australia / New Zealand steel sections

AS/NZS 3679.1 (designed to AS 4100) · 28 sections

Australian and New Zealand hot-rolled open sections are manufactured to AS/NZS 3679.1 and designed to AS 4100. The everyday range is Universal Beams (UB), deep and narrow for bending, and Universal Columns (UC), near-square for compression - both typically in grade 300 steel (300PLUS).

Designations give nominal depth and mass per metre (for example 310UB40.4 or 310UC96.8). The tables below list each size with its dimensions, area, second moment of area and elastic / plastic section moduli.

Families

Frequently asked

What standard covers Australian steel sections?: Hot-rolled UB and UC sections are manufactured to AS/NZS 3679.1 and designed to AS 4100 (steel structures). Loads and combinations follow AS/NZS 1170.
What steel grade are AU Universal Beams and Columns?: They are normally grade 300 (300PLUS), with a yield stress around 300 MPa that reduces slightly for thicker flanges. Check the producer certificate for the governing value.
What is the difference between a UB and a UC?: A UB (Universal Beam) is deep and narrow, optimised for bending; a UC (Universal Column) has its flange width close to its depth for balanced stiffness in compression.