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PART ONE : SECTIONS
PART TWO : SHEETS & PLATES
Many thousands of different sections are available,
this guide concentrates only on the sections readily available.
FLATS.
Flats are strips or bars of steel that are rectangular in cross section, e.g. 40 x 10 mm. Standard lengths are 3 or 4m for small flats ( e.g. 16 x 3 mm) or 6m for larger flats ( 25 x 6 mm for example ).
SQUARES.
A flat with equal dimensions i.e. a square.
Standard length is 6m for all sizes.
EQUAL ANGLES ( referred to as angles ).
Angles look like a capital L shape in cross section. Click here for a picture. They are described using height, width and thickness. E.g. 100 x 100 x 8 m. Standard lengths are 6m for most sizes and only the largest few are available in bars up to 12m.
UNEQUAL ANGLES.
One leg is longer than the other,
e.g. 100 x 75 x 8 mm angle. Lengths as angles above.
HOLLOW SECTIONS.
There are 3 main shapes available, round, square and rectangular. Click here for a picture.
Square hollow section (a.k.a. box section) has 3 dimensions, height, width, thickness.
E.g. 40 x 40 x 3 mm.
Rectangular hollow section is the same E.g. 80 x 40 x 3 mm. Standard lengths are 7.5m.
Circular hollow section (a.k.a. tube) is described using the external diameter and the thickness. E.g. 48.3 x 3 mm.
ROUND BAR.
Round bar are solid and round in cross section. They are described by their diameter.
E.g. 50 mm. Standard lengths are 6m.
TEES.
A tee is a section that looks like a capital T and are available in standard sizes. See here for a picture. The size of a tee is specified as follows “width across top x height x thickness” E.g. 50 x 50 x 6 mm. Standard lengths are 6m.
CONVEX.
Essentially a flat bar with one side that is curved. Click here for a photo. This type of sections most popular use is as a handrail on fire escapes etc.
UNIVERSAL BEAMS & COLUMNS. (Known as RSJ's, Steels, etc)
These are the things that do all of the supporting work in a building. They look like a capital H and have many names such as “steels”, “rsj’s” or “beams”. They are described using their height, width and weight per metre of length.
These are usually sold cut to length as required, but standard lengths vary from 6 up to 18.2m.
Click here for a photo.
CHANNELS.
Channels are shaped like a U and are described using width and height. e.g. 100 x 50 mm.
Standard lengths vary from 6m up to 18m. Click here for a photo.
PART TWO : SHEETS & PLATES
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