SN33

03/2009

Steel Industry Guidance Notes (SIGNS)

STEEL INDUSTRY
GUIDANCE NOTES

The Steel Industry Guidance Notes (SIGNS) have been distributed with issues of New Steel
Construction (NSC) since January 2006.
SIGNS are short, two page inserts, giving practical advice
on technical, commercial, legal, marketing and health and
safety issues which then build into a comprehensive set of
guidance notes on key aspects of steel construction.
The audience for SIGNS includes clients, architects, M&E
contractors, quantity surveyors and engineers. Advice
contained within each issue is easy to locate, assimilate
and apply. A contact point is included should further

information be required and a list of up-to-date references

clearly identify where additional information on each topic
can be found.
SIGNS are written by industry experts and practitioners,
and are designed to be periodically reviewed and updated
to ensure that only the most relevant and up-to-date
information is available on the website versions.

So far 32 SIGNS have been published, and these include:

SN01

01/2006

Good Acoustic Performance

SN02

02/2006

Tolerances in structural steelwork

SN03

03/2006

Money: the most important thing

SN04

04/2006

Health and Safety on Site

SN05

05/2006

Steel in fire

SN06

06/2006

Achieving airtightness with metal cladding systems

SN07

07/2006

Floor Vibrations

SN08

09/2006

Welding is a key fabrication process, yet little understood outside the workshop

SN09

10/2006

Sustainable steel construction

SN10
11/2006

Galvanizing Structural Steelwork Guidance for Engineers on how to reduce the risk of
Liquid Metal Assisted Cracking

SN11

01/2007

Factors Influencing Steelwork Prices

SN12

02/2007

Steel Specification

SN13

03/2007

Composite Construction

SN14

04/2007

The prevention of corrosion on structural steelwork

SN15

05/2007

Design Information for Constructional Steelwork Projects

SN16

06/2007

The Case for Steel

SN17

07/2007

CE Marking of Steel Products

SN18

09/2007

National Structural Steelwork Specification

SN19

10/2007

Intumescent Coatings

SN20

11/2007

Modern standard forms of contract for modern, collaborative styles of procurement

The information given in this Steel Industry Guidance Note is for general information
only and the reader should always seek specific advice on any particular issue.

D158

D158

SIGNS

16/12/05

2:03

pm

Page

D158 SIGNS

CE ma

SIGNS

16/12/05

16/12/05

2:03 pm

D158

SIGN

16/1

2/05

2:03

pm

Page

oducts
Steel Pr
rking of

SN13

03/2007

Composite Construction

STEEL
INDUSTR
GUIDANC
Y
E NOT
ES

s
ting
Cas

04/2

Y
INDUSTR
STEEL
ES
E NOT
GUIDANC

tion
truc
ons
in C

iers
ove barr
to rem
steel
seeks
ucts and
ctive that
n prod
are just
pean Dire
structio
lwork
d stee
) is a Euro king for all con
aware
fabricate
mar
ctive (CPD
ction are
s and
ucts Dire concept of CE
l constru
sumable
n Prod
in stee
ing con
es the
structio
e involved
s, weld
introduc
The Con
thos
bolt
,
CPD
ions
ntial that
e. The
steel sect
e esse
to trad
therefor
such as
it. It is
by the
products
its rem
loped
king.
within
nize
ol deve
CE mar
coming
easily recog In
is a symb
ions of
implicat
ing itself that clients can legislation.
of the
CE mark
pean
and
ion so
anen
are perm

that
and
and
ion,
truct ethods
m
cons
e in casting
r us
d fo opriate
pr
idere
STRY S
DU
cons that ap
ces.
L IN NOTE
n for
ld be sure
STEE ANCE
ction
tensio
shou to en
ID
and
nstru e of
s
n
GU
co
es
ng
sio
nc
piece avoida
parti
casti
mpres
, co
why een all
single and
be
ds
nding
ts - idity
can
men ld betw d.
rig
to be
onen
.
nce
nces pattern
com
he
comp uctural errors
ral
ecifie
S re s are
tolera ents,
str mbly
resista
and
eg
sp
r
ht
GN
int
tig
se
ate
em
SI
ion
yed
are
y Single to gre and as
requir emplo
This discuss ments
curac rvice
ce
ire
o
cess
ments nal ac
leads
rly
se
int
qu
pro
lign
ea
surfa g
on
g,
of
ty re
metal ape
misa
ensio nding
ge
castin y
lten
castin
dim
quali
pe
d sh

tly

ings,
rials that
as build
all mate works such
cts.
g proje
covers
ion
construct civil engineerin n to have
The CPD
ted into
show
ion
or other
can be
incorpora
construct
if they
highways
be used
allow the given in the
bridges,
can only cteristics to
irements
Products
ssary chara Essential Requ
the nece
the six
to meet
works
CPD.

The
with Euro
Commiss
ons, bolts tes
complies such as secti
European
demonstra d
product
products
that the
marking
harmonize
of steel
the CE
relevant
the case
steelwork lies with the
comp
fabricated
product
that the
standard.

STEEL INDUSTRY
GUIDANCE NOTES

Composite construction is so common that it needs little introduction. Chosen for structural
efciency, cost-effectiveness, speed and safety, a composite oor is a hallmark of a modern multistorey frame. This guidance note reminds designers of the issues of note.
Composite slabs
Slabs are formed from steel decking and a concrete topping.
During concreting, the deck supports the weight of the wet
concrete; in service composite action is obtained. Mesh
is placed in the concrete to control cracking, occasionally
with the dual role of enhancing the re resistance of the
slab.

Deck types

Product

n
structio
the Con
truction
the Cons ways
What areions?
through
two
Regulat
in the UK
describes

pm

Page

Page 1

008

SN24

2:03

07/200

SN17

2.

Designs may assume normal or lightweight concrete

(NWC or LWC). Designers should check that LWC is
readily available at the site location, or assume NWC

3.

Deections of the deck and supporting structure can

lead to ponding, if the slab is poured to a specic
level.

4.

On steelwork, decking should have a minimum bearing

length of 50mm, and the slab itself 75mm minimum.

5.

Supporting members will be required around signicant

penetrations, and at columns, support cleats may be
needed.

Galvaniz
SN10
ing Struc
Guidanc
tural St
e
eelwor
the risk for Enginee
k
rs on
of Liquid
Metal As how to reduc
e
sisted
Crackin
g

The galv
anizing
of stru
econom
ctural
ic and
steelwor
long-las
good dam
k is a long
ting prot
age resis
ection
establish
Metal Ass
tance.
ed and
This SIGN against corr
isted Crac
cost-effe
osion,
of stee
gives the
king (LM
with low
ctive way
lwork to
AC) and
enginee
be hot
of prov
r practical maintenance
factors
dip galv
iding
that shou
requirem
guidance
anized
Liquid
ld be con
ents and
to avoi
metal assis
on the
d it.
sidered
form of
causes
cracking ted cracking
for the
of Liqu
(LMAC)
are hot
design
that may
id
dip
and deta
occur when is an unco
if not detec galvanized. Altho
iling
steel comp mmon
ugh rare
Design
conseque ted and repai
onents
this
form
and Deta
red could
nces on
have extre of cracking,
the perfo
iling
1. Cha
While evide
rmance
mely serio
nges in
of the struc
thic
us
the occu nce from a numb
Substantia
kness
ture.
rrence
er of coun
l chan
of
circu

LMAC,
tries has
mstances
an exac
highlighte
that
elusive.
t
d
However, trigger this type understanding
are three
of
it
main prere is generally of cracking rema the
fabrication
accepted
ins
quisites
s. Thes
for LMA
that there
e are:
C to occu
A high
r in steel
A susc stress level
eptible
The
steel
presence
of a liquid
metal

will induc
ges in
material
e
galvanizing large thermal
thickness
stresses,
at any
faster than bath, as the
when
point
thinner
the thick
material dipped into the
the ratio
will heat
of the thick er material. A
up much
rule of
-to-thin
thumb
members
is to keep
less than
2. Welding
2.5 to 1.
and Wel
Although
d Design
this migh
engineer
t not be
it
stresses. is sensible to strictly the respo
endeavou
This can
nsibility
can range
of the
r to
be done
by a varie minimise weld
the corre from minim
ing
ising the
ty of
ct type
heat input means but
better
of weld
than
.
to selec
secondary butt welds for For instance,
llet weld ting
tments
stiffening.
s are
such as
Where
brackets
possible
and
adopted,
balanced
particularly
weld patte
welds shou
for asym
metrical rns should
the centr ld be as close
be
componen
e
as poss
ts. The
they shou of gravity of
ible to
the entire
the axis
ld be as
through
distance
prole.
symmetrica
from the
l as poss If they are not,
axis throu
Asymmetri
ible, at
gh the
the same
centre
especially cal sections cons
of gravi
ty.
if thick
titute a
a great
er weld
greater
er dista
s
nce from are positioned risk of warping
gravity.
on
the axis
through one side, at
the centr
e of
3.

11/200

6
D158

SIGN

16/1

STEE
L
GU
IDAN INDUST
RY
CE
NO
TES

2/05

2:03

pm

Page

Ste
e
in l
re

Stee
l
twen is the
mos
ty ye
Thes
t
ar
e inc s, the compr
ehen
lude
ste
siv
large el co
nstru ely re
-sca
ct
teste
le te
1. Bu
sts, ion se
d of
which ctor
ilding
all
The
have has ca structu
Regu
as:ThBuilding
rried
ral
lation
dem
fram
ou
onstr
that, e buildi Regu
s
ing
lation
ated t over
mat
a rea in the eve ng sh
req
a
the
all
sona
uir
beha hundre erials.
ble nt of a be desig emen
In En
Over
t
perio
d ind
re,
viour
its sta ned an for re
d.
used gland &
th
ivi
of
d
bility
is
re in dual e past
Hp/A
Docu to sat Wales,
will constru stated
re
isfy
an Ap
be ma
real
cte
The concep
this
and ment is
build tests.
intain d so
a) Theheating t
B in
heigh
requir proved
which
vary
ed for
ings.
emen
Docu
b) The perimerate of
from t deter
a ste
a co
ter
me
t.
cro

SN05

05/2

006

Three generic deck types are commonly available reentrant (dovetail), trapezoidal and so-called deep decking.
6. Signicant openings in the slab are likely to need
Re-entrant and trapezoidal are both shallow decking
additional reinforcement.
typically between 45 and 90mm deep overall, and are used
mark
ced
is enfor s (CPR). The CPR rst is by CE
ng
to span between 3 and 4.5m. Deep decking is suitable for
The
The CPD
d, Tradi
ards are:
Regulation regulations.
dards
and
when aske
d stand
the
spans up to around 9m, and is often used in shallow oor
Products
ied stan
Composite beams
harmonize
lying with is by supplying, s and Scotland inforHarmons
construction where steel members are incorporated in the
nd
of comp
the main
Wale
10025-1
d, all the
the seco in England,
structures
BS EN
Composite action increases the load carrying capacity and
oor depth.
ing and
ern Irelan the authorities
plate For steel
s Ofcers
and
le
in North
ons and
the
9-1
stiffness (i.e. reduces the deections) by factors of around 2
enab
secti
Standard ntal Ofcers
l
to
EN 1021
lies with
Stee
product
and 3.5 respectively. The concrete forms the compression
ons - BS
there
uct comp
Environme have on the
w secti
mi
far is
the prod is CE marked the
h
mo
mbina The
nt ap
of
ss sec of the el sec
de
the istentl
n you
e ran
Hollo
sire fies in
s that
0-1

ange
the steel provides the tension component and shear
Hig
ng
e
60 mi 15 to 12 ne the
9-1
uct
matio
tion
de
and
rele
selve
wid
on
ste
1021
s
proac
tion
ved
siz
1439
ns
h
?
ation
pouri s the d solidi Heat
al are el exp in a fire
fy them
0 mi requir tion of bu vant
nutes
if the prod
BS EN
ents.
- a nding
BS EN
achie ment,
a co
n wit
connectors ensure that the section behaves compositely.
rer or
ose
to satis
the regul
simply
sting
a of
Appro h is
nutes ed
bolts an
dep
d by ich ha
.
ildi
uirem
15048-1
ing. but
s. Put
the d to flam
satises
finish , depe achieve sting tha
manufactu
end
oadable
a ca
equip ing req
sec
2. W
but re resista ng occu ved
forme vity wh tal cools clean
- BS EN
that it
on the
regulation
ce
Pre-l
es - s upon
ca
to
tion
ved
t is
Usually, shear studs or proprietary shear cleats xed using
.
rties,
ations.
the
le bolts
are
mption
for
onus is
hat
ca
Hp
st
-A
surfa achie easier with a
finish
domi nce. Th pancy
the regul
id me oved d prope working
or
Wha stings
preloadab
ga
is a presu CE marked the
does
1090-1
a ca
the
When
powder actuated fasteners are installed on site. Shear
satisfy
be
sh
in
able
nant
Noninin
is
ed
e liqu rem
published
It is
not
- BS EN
given in
el ca
60 mi
desire or cold ents or of
that it does
perio can
CPD, if
Desir es can yed. rface fini
mean a buildi
Figure
uctur controlle ly.
the CPD in the UK
Ste uld conta ent. Th is then
either been
studs are attached by through-deck welding, which
cated steel
t
to prove
plo
d by
1. An exam
nute
on
on
meet
d
ll str
Fabri
lying with
y
mb
ards have
of su
finish ss em
supplier
there that it ng has
a mo comp vity an ed to uent ho comp e range by
teams.
mandatory approach
s re
of comp
ple of
demands an unpainted top ange of the steelwork.
overa a qualit asse
ard
As alrea
to
uir
d
these stand CEN project
off
on
LMAC
eq
wid
methods marking is not
the
proce r stand
site joints
dy noted
struc is a re will ne 60 minu
resis
of the uld ca be req
Most of
d by
subs as one
in a governe uired
The two
CE
ple
thin , within
most comm
ce
d
galva
be
nalize
in
he
tes
mo
tur

the
.
the
that
y
Note:
wi
ta
ssa
de
n
for
nised
sim welde
be
vast majo
d
hig
outlin al ele the bu
nce
req
re
the ng ma
rily
ion
are being
ation
?
to
g ca
CPR mean is expected to
offsite ilitates
res
rity of
need produce n be ma its beingd the
guidance has little susc
me
ilding
co
mean
it
egrat med
marking
fabric
steelwork
place weldin
few ed in BS nts
eptibility
ssible
fac
treati is no
a) when using trapezoidal proles for up to 90 minuets
can be
. It me llapse istance,
places
Latticeare
although
for CE
?
ey ca per lim ed, an It is po ness in
res
of int is for t and
is an incre
n be
to LMA
that is
.
used to
n that
to dis where
High
47
aft
ible
type
it
se
su
an
liance
isatio
co
6,
er
be
n
up
us
C.
there gs ca ds. Th
ons
.
do
are
re resistance, the voids between the steel and the
identify
gh
Hp
ased risk
bje
structur
s tha
The follow
Ea ectio
mb
sh
it wil
60
resp
In lattic
nmen possible usually
to comp
for:
the
/ Low
the organ cases this will
an
the follow
the
Figure 1: Typical deck proles
cess ce finish h tou ce fini
of LMA
t, if
minu esnt
es
l fail cted to
ing
e-type
conti ined wit as sev
Who is
Castin thous ights,
s,
rers
A=
underside of the decking do not need to be lled
ing issue
the
rests with
conn ry enviro g it is
C. To reduc factors wher
lution
that
and other
rfa
d hig surfa
members
g pro
nuity
Fas
h ad ere as after tha a sta
et. In most
e there
fully tes if
stres
?
nsibility
s shou
n so
manufactu
facturer
nd
t hea
e
mark
bu
stin
a
king
ed
many and we r castin s and su ctility an llent
fabric
the
the
.
as
respo
sig
ld
loa
nd
manu
EU
an
dit
fou

however
the
proposed

re
protection
thickness
may
poss
the
be
ildi
risk
ca
be
mar
nts.
The
ations
de
the
ting
Design
d
stresses
carefully
ional
ce
ible
of
a
also
CE
ts,
or even
by the
stand t time. ard re ded
reduc easily.
ristics
uct on
oming
ures,
requireme
most ngs, me robus
sizes rticula pertie , high du ve ex
considere LMAC,
and disto should be used as few redun
capa
With ons of
ective mponen
What is
Type and detailing
Howe
need to be increased.
but it couldor an importer
declaration c safety
the prod
re
Low
4. Bu
Slab design
test,
ha
pa
members
aracte
pro
perat
ey
of ou ans tha tness
d:
h inc
dant
Essential
as
bility ard re
and quali
st-eff
facturer
HP
ing is a
co
EU
the anical strength gs can
tem ts. Th l
in publi
g ch
to
when heatertions throughou these will incre
set of
locati d out mo
ilding
r re
/ Hig
Qual
, wit
and ver, ver
a co
ty
du
t
tive
the manu tive in the
inin
are a
A CE mark meets certa
low
b) When using re-entrant proles for up to 120minutes
Some
hA
ase
and these
ity of fabric of steel
Software is often used to design composite slabs, or
preca there is be found e to
y
t the
d.
Compone
this
tions
y be
mech ve high Castin d mach
nmen chanica
large
uct
repeti
in Fir
= Slo
rements
carrie
satisfy
and
d
componen
the
The
viro
representa r.
cons
ution
nts in
nnec
3. Th
m.
in
y requi
his prod
w hea
the
me
in an forms
gs ma tities of
re resistance, the voids do not need to be lled.
uct must
struc fact,
galvanizing ation
e Re
manufacturers tables.
where and
high
leads to
harmonize
t
which
achie st for lding an
e en
iderab most
c safet
s.
on
ing
r co s,
ting
of ste
any
each prod
high seco
ces, d test
Castin
stockholde
ca
sista
process
Sect e Inh
products
quan
The publi
popu d may
we
te at in sever tionality . Provid priate
le co multi-stotural
tubula t angle
be avoid
the
h for
in the
ndary stres internal static
istics that
an
ions erent
nce
req el cons
large
els
nserv
pro
ec
opera and
good
ed.
en
rey
no
y hig pect
both lar metho uire
redundanc
Character tics are listed
tructio
ses in

Fire
Fire
licated differ
and
atis
ed
can ssure
of dir ght ste d an ap re is
the zinc
no
to ver to ins
res
m in
gs
Beam design
Resis
the
comp ers at
Composite slabs what to watch
ects
adde n have
Fire of which ds are
requir
bath shou y
characteris
wrou ted an
pre
ce of
contr istanc
bject ficult

are
res
Castinr high it the eff some
ld
nted, rman
tanc
d
lec
memb tions su
dif
be co istanc can ha Slimde d re pro re res
ons
standard.
in
of the ibutory e is exp
Invariably, software is used to design composite beams,
1. The re design case is always important, and typically
e of
is se
ricate
pleme perfo
be
s
ve
k
secti
unde t exhib t exist
ec
mprom e bu
factor ressed
tectio istanc
Stee
terial ime im rties or t of fab
ilt int 60 minu and
failure memb
no
pertie
thick
conn would repair,
tha
often as part of a design suite. Software for composite
s
may
mean
increasing
the
chosen
mesh
size,
or
n. Th e builtma
s
co
ise
pro
do
pe
tha
in
o
reg
to
ere
l

er;
of
tes
nc
rtie
d.
the
units
ial
to
g
(or
pro
the
re
this
welds nsive to
beam design is freely available from Corus (see further
struc inhere rete e mo
or wh s,
lim
thickening the slab depth.
way
prope ct grade d testin osition,
5. Pa
mater
dim
gover resista of tim
st
lled
ture
nt
ons,
on
any
are
The inform
ensio iting)
sec
expe
e so
ssive
information)
ns the nce
tropic
in thi re res tubes
cs
tem
secti n secti
tion
corre ction an comp rior in
ns
ation
iso
eti
d
is
on
Pa
only and
s wa
ista
given in
thi
will
the
of the perat
re
the
e of
Fire
ssi
ere
tim
aesth
nc
inspe n why ld be infe
tapere ent to
res
the reade
he
this
y ca
the
ls wh
Prot
from ve re
sec ure an e taken heatin

n ne e.
in ne istanc at up
r should Steel Industry
ons
where
tion.
d var
g
protec
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The and the
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SN21

01/2008

Stability of Temporary Bracing

SN22

02/2008

Structural Fire Safety Engineering of Steel Structures

SN23

03/2008

Allocation of Design Responsibilities in Constructional Steelwork

SN24

04/2008

Castings in Construction

SN25

05/2008

Hot Rolling of Open Sections

SN26

06/2008

European Standard for Preloadable Bolts

SN27

07/2008

Fracture Toughness

SN28

09/2008

Truss design

SN29

10/2008

Sustainable Steel Construction

SN30

11/2008

Construction (Design & Management) Regulations and the role of the Designer

SN31
01/2009

Structural Hollow Sections Making the correct choice Hot Finished EN10210:2006 and
Cold Formed EN10219:2006

SN32

Execution of Steel Structures

02/2009

Key Points
1. SIGNS are Steel Industry Guidance Notes, providing
practical guidance on a number of steel industry
related issues.
2. Hard copies of all SIGNS are available as drop-outs
from New Steel Construction magazine as well as
electronic versions available for download from the
Corus, BCSA and SCI websites.

Further sources of Information

1. SIGNS can be freely downloaded
from the following websites:

New Steel Construction -

www.new-steel-construction.com

Steelbiz - www.steelbiz.org

BCSA www.steelconstruction.org

Corus www.corusconstruction.com

2. All SIGNS contain a listing of other

useful publications where further
information can be obtained on the
corresponding issue.