AS/NZS 1163: Cold-Formed Structural Steel Hollow Sections
AS/NZS 1163 is the primary Australian/New Zealand standard for cold-formed structural steel hollow sections used in building and construction.
Key Facts:
Process: Primarily High-Frequency (HF) welding or Electric Resistance Welding (ERW)
Forming: Cold-formed from strip or plate
Applications: Structural framing, building columns, trusses, architectural features
Sizes: Typically smaller diameters (< 457mm OD)
This standard generally does NOT cover LSAW pipes. LSAW pipes for structural use in Australia would typically be supplied to AS 1074 instead.
Table 1: Comparison of Relevant Australian Standards for Steel Pipes
| Standard | Title | Manufacturing Process | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS/NZS 1163 | Cold-formed structural steel hollow sections | HF Welding (ERW) - Cold Formed | Building structures |
| AS 1074 | Steel pipes and tubulars for ordinary service | Various (incl. SAW, ERW, Seamless) | Structural, piling, general |
| AS/NZS 1579 | Arc-welded steel pipes and fittings for pressure purposes | SAW, ERW, Seamless | Pressure applications |
| AS 1548 | Pressure vessel steels | Plate material for fabrication | Base material for LSAW |
| AS 2885 | Pipelines - Gas and liquid petroleum | SAW, ERW, Seamless | High-pressure pipelines |
AS 1074: Steel Pipes and Tubulars for Ordinary Service
AS 1074 is the Australian standard that does cover LSAW pipes for structural, piling, and general engineering purposes.
Table 2: Steel Grades in AS 1074 for LSAW Pipes
| Grade | Minimum Yield Strength (MPa) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Typical Manufacturing | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C250 | 250 | 410 min | ERW, HFW, SAW | General structural |
| C350 | 350 | 430 min | ERW, HFW, SAW | Structural |
| C450 | 450 | 480 min | SAW, Seamless | Heavy structural |
| WR350 | 350 | 430 min | ERW, HFW, SAW | Water reticulation |
| Piling Grades | Various | Various | Primarily SAW/LSAW | Foundation piling |
Manufacturing Processes Under AS 1074
AS 1074 recognizes several manufacturing processes including:
Seamless (SMLS)
Electric Resistance Welded (ERW)
High-Frequency Welded (HFW)
Submerged Arc Welded (SAW) - This includes LSAW
For LSAW under AS 1074:
Made from steel plate to AS/NZS 3678 or AS 1548
Longitudinal seam welded by submerged arc process
May be cold-formed or hot-formed
Typically used for diameters ≥ 168mm
LSAW Pipe Specifications in Australian Context
Table 3: Typical LSAW Pipe Specifications in Australia
| Parameter | AS 1074 LSAW | AS/NZS 1163 CF | AS/NZS 1579 LSAW (Pressure) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Coverage | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (HFW only) | ✅ Yes |
| Typical Diameter Range | 168mm - 2000mm+ | 20mm - 457mm | 114mm - 2000mm+ |
| Wall Thickness | 4mm - 40mm+ | 1.6mm - 12.5mm | 3mm - 40mm+ |
| Primary Application | Structural, piling | Building structures | Pressure systems |
| Common Grades | C250, C350, C450 | C250, C350, C450 | Various pressure grades |
| Weld Testing | Visual, hydrostatic | Limited NDT | Full NDT (UT/RT) |
Australian Standards for Specific LSAW Applications
1. Piling Applications (Most Common for LSAW in Australia):
Standard: AS 1074
Process: LSAW preferred for larger diameters/thicker walls
Grades: Special piling grades with specific chemical requirements
Testing: Usually hydrostatic test only
2. Structural Applications:
Standard: AS 1074 or AS/NZS 1163
Note: For large diameter structural columns (>457mm), AS 1074 LSAW is used
Design Standard: AS 4100 (Steel Structures)
3. Pressure/Pipeline Applications:
Standard: AS/NZS 1579 or AS 2885
Process: LSAW with full NDT (UT/RT)
Requirements: More stringent than AS 1074
Table 4: LSAW Manufacturing Requirements Under Australian Standards
| Requirement | AS 1074 | AS/NZS 1579 | AS 2885 (Pipelines) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plate Material | AS/NZS 3678 or AS 1548 | AS 1548 or equivalent | AS 1548 or API/ISO equivalent |
| Weld Process | SAW (single or double seam) | SAW with qualified procedure | SAW with qualified procedure |
| Weld Testing | Visual inspection | 100% UT or RT of weld seam | 100% UT + RT sampling |
| Hydrostatic Test | Usually required | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Heat Treatment | As required for grade | As specified | As specified |
| Certification | Manufacturer's certificate | 3.1 Certificate per EN 10204 | Full traceability |
Key Differences Between AS/NZS 1163 and LSAW Pipes
1. Manufacturing Process:
AS/NZS 1163: Cold-formed from coil, HF welded, continuous production
LSAW (AS 1074): Formed from plate, submerged arc welded, batch production
2. Size Limitations:
AS/NZS 1163: Limited to ~457mm OD due to cold-forming constraints
LSAW: No practical upper limit (commonly up to 2m+ OD)
3. Wall Thickness:
AS/NZS 1163: Limited thickness (typically ≤12.5mm)
LSAW: Can produce very thick walls (40mm+)
4. Applications:
AS/NZS 1163: Light to medium structural framing
LSAW: Heavy structural, piling, large columns, pipelines
How to Specify LSAW Pipe in Australia
For Structural/Piling Use (Most Common):
text
Pipe to AS 1074, Grade C350L0 Manufacturing Process: SAW (Longitudinal) Size: OD 508mm x WT 12.7mm Length: 12.0m random Test: Hydrostatic test to 10MPa Ends: Square cut or bevelled as required
For Pressure Applications:
text
Pipe to AS/NZS 1579, Grade equivalent to AS 1548 PT460NR Manufacturing Process: SAW (Longitudinal) Size: OD 323.9mm x WT 9.5mm NDT: 100% Ultrasonic Testing of weld seam Hydrostatic Test: To 20MPa for 10 seconds Certification: EN 10204 Type 3.1 Certificate
Industry Practice in Australia
In Australian practice:
Small to medium structural sections (<457mm): Typically AS/NZS 1163 (HFW)
Large diameter structural/piling (≥457mm): Typically AS 1074 LSAW
Pressure/pipeline applications: AS/NZS 1579 or AS 2885 LSAW
Offshore applications: Usually to international standards (API 5L, ISO 3183)
Summary
Key Takeaways:
AS/NZS 1163 does NOT typically cover LSAW pipes - it's for cold-formed HF-welded sections
AS 1074 IS the Australian standard for LSAW pipes for structural and piling applications
AS/NZS 1579 covers LSAW pipes for pressure applications
AS 2885 covers LSAW pipes for high-pressure pipeline applications
If you need LSAW pipe in Australia, specify:
AS 1074 for structural/piling applications
AS/NZS 1579 for pressure applications
AS 2885 for pipeline applications
The confusion between AS/NZS 1163 and LSAW pipes is common, but they are fundamentally different products with different manufacturing processes, applications, and standards.
