Cold Formed Sections

CFS-1
Section Properties

Many uses in the construction, general

fabrication and home handyman fields
Roll-formed from zinc-coated and uncoated
BlueScope steel
Strength of cold formed sections has been
increased from 240 and 250 MPa to 300 MPa
Attention to quality control provides a product
of uniform straightness and mass
Economical

Introduction
Applications
Cold formed steel channels and angles are
suitable for a wide variety of uses such as:
STRUCTURAL Building Frames; Roof Trusses; Purlins
and Girts; Fascias; Floor Framing;
Trestles; Bench Frames; Gates; Fences;
Cattle Grids; Television Towers;
Scaffolds; Tank Stands; Stands; Stock
Crushes and Pens; Feed and Crop Drying
Frames; Ladders; Hand Rails; Shelving
Frames; Machinery bases; Mullions and
Lintels; Exposed Beams and Columns.
MECHANICAL Car Trailers; Boat Trailers; Hoppers;
Truck and Bus bodies; Agricultural
Machinery; Railway Rolling Stock; Jibs;
Conveyor or Crane frames; Rail or other
Containers; Pallets and Storage Racks;
Ramps; Chassis; Sign Posts; Supports or
Frames; Materials-handling Conveyors
and Racks.
Adaptability
Many combinations of sections are
possible, and the sizes of several plain
channels are such that they nest readily.
This enables many structural joints and
splice connections to be made without
special preparation. Normal box sections
are easily fabricated. Machine-controlled
dimensions allow a neat fit and provide an
easy method of assembly for sliding joints.
This feature enables welding or bolting
with a minimum of preparation.

The BlueScope Lysaght Technical Advisory

Service
For any advice and assistance in the
design and fabrication of structures and
products incorporating LYSAGHT cold formed
channels and angles, please contact the
BlueScope Lysaght Technical Advisory
Service through your nearest BlueScope
Lysaght office.
Load tables are also available, on request,
from BlueScope Lysaght state offices.
Material
BlueScope Lysaghts cold formed steel
channels and angles are available either
zinc coated or uncoated in base metal
thicknesses (BMT) of 1.0 mm, 1.6 mm, 2.5
mm and 3.0 mm depending on the section
type. The materials used are zinc coated
steel to AS 1397 2001 G300 Z275 (300
MPa minimum yield stress, 275g/m2
minimum average coating mass) and
uncoated steel to AS/NZS 1594-2002 HA300
(300 MPa minimum yield stress).
In addition, subject to minimum quantity
order, BlueScope Lysaghts cold formed
steel channels and angles can be
produced from higher yield stress uncoated
and zinc coated steels to meet more
demanding design requirements.

Performance
cold formed steel channels and
angles will perform as specified if design,
fabrication and fixing are in accordance
with our recommendations.

LYSAGHT

Adverse Conditions
If it is intended to use LYSAGHT cold formed
steel channels and angles in exposed
situations within 1 km of salt marine
locations, or in severe industrial or unusally
corrosive environments, please contact
your nearest BlueScope Lysaght office for
specialised advice.

General Notes
Standard Lengths
LYSAGHT Plain and Lipped Channels and
Angles are available in standard stock
lengths of 6000 mm.
Special Lengths
Custom cut lengths between 4000 mm and
7500 mm are available in minimum lots of
one bundle of any one size. Other lengths
and special tolerances are available on
enquiry.
Custom Formed Shapes
If design requirements call for sections
other than those listed in this brochure,
LYSAGHT can form custom shapes up to
8 mm thick and in higher strength steels if
required.

Section Properties
The section properties tables in this
brochure relate to the standard range of
LYSAGHTs cold formed steel channels and
angles and their use in combined
configurations. The section properties have
been determined in accordance with
AS 1538 1988.
Specifications
The information in this brochure is correct
at the time of printing. However,
specifications are subject to change
without notice.

CONTENTS
Page
2
3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11

12
13
14-15

Introduction
General Notes
Pain Channels
Lipped Channels
Nested Channels
Lipped Channels
(Toe to Toe and
Back to Back)
Angles
Other Steel Sections
Welding

Plain Channels
y

LC 03816

Shear
Centre

Centroid
R
x

Method of Cataloguing
Plain Channels are denoted by the letters
LC. In the number following these letters,
the first three digits indicate the nominal
web dimension of the channel in
millimetres. The last two digits indicate the
thickness of material in tenths of a
millimetre, e.g.

LC 05130

Plain Channel
38 mm x 1.6 mm.
Plain Channel
51 mm x 3.0 mm.

Tolerances
Web:
+2 mm 1 mm for LC 12730,
LC 15230.
1 mm for all other sections.
Flange: 2 mm.
Length: 15 mm

Lipped Channels
B

R3.2

Shear
Centre

Centroid

t
(BMT)

Method of Cataloguing
Lipped Channels are denoted by
the letters LL. In the number following
these letters, the first three digits indicate
the nominal web dimension of the
channel in millimetres. The last two digits
indicate the thickness of material in
tenths of a millimetre, e.g.
LL 06425
LC 20330

C
X

Lipped Channel
64 mm x 2.5 mm.
Lipped Channel
203 mm x 3.0 mm.

Tolerances
Web:
1 mm for LL 06425 to
LL 10230.
+ 2mm 1 mm for LL 12725
to LL 25430.
Flange: 1 mm for LL 06425 to
LL 10230 (within 1 mm each
side) +2 mm -1 mm for
LL 12725 to LL 25430
(within 1 mm each side).
Length: + 15 mm 0.

Nested Channels
Plain Channels (toe to toe)
B

Average Gap
2

X
t (BMT)

(BMT)

Plain Channels (back to back)

Lipped Channels
Lipped Channels (toe to toe)
B

R3.2

10

Lipped Channels (back to back)

B
y

R3.2

11

Angles
Cx'

y1

Method of Cataloguing
Angles are denoted by the letters LA.
In the number following these letters,
the first two digits indicate the
dimensions of the angle in millimetres.
The last two digits indicate the
thickness of material in tenths of a
millimetre, e.g.

Centroid

x0

LA 4630 - Angle 46 mm x 3.0 mm

x

Shear Centre

R3.2

y1

y
B

Other BlueScope Lysaght Steel Sections

BlueScope Lysaght manufactures an
extensive range of other standard sections
for the building industry.
In addition, many major BlueScope Lysaght
centres have roll-forming and brake
pressing equipment to manufacture these
special sections outside the standard
range.
For details of these other sections and
facilities, consult your nearest BlueScope
Lysaght office or distributor.

12

Cy'

Tolerances
Legs:
1.5 mm, equal within
1 mm for equal angles.
Length:
+ 15 mm 0.
Packing
40 lengths per bundle.

Cee & Zed Purlins

Zed

TOPSPAN 61

Cee

and 120 Sections

40

36

66mm
TOPSPAN 61

120

61

15
TOPSPAN 120

97mm

26

13

Welding
General
Cold formed sections are suitable for all
types of welding, such as spot welding,
seam welding, projection welding, plug
welding and arc welding, all of which are
applicable to both uncoated and zinc
coated sections.
Fabricators generally prefer arc welding. A
few typical examples of weld fillets are
shown on page 15. Suitable electrode
classification is E41 XX. Current should be
adjusted to suit the steel thickness, but the
heat input should be kept to a practicable
minimum. Multiple weld beads should be
avoided.

Arc welding of zinc coated sections does

not differ from that of uncoated sections,
except that the electrode should be applied
more slowly, making sure that the zinc
coating evaporates ahead of the welding
seam. Adequate ventilation should be
provided.

Compound Sections
In making compound beam sections by
welding two channels web-to-web or toeto-toe, the welds must be of structural
quality; mere stitching is not satisfactory.
Intermittent fillets as per the accompanying
diagram and tables are recommended. (All
dimensions in millimetres).

Intermittent Welds for Compound Sections

Running Intermittent Weld

At support

Weld

Depth
D

Miss

Where concentrated forces are carried

(cross-beams, partitions, etc.), the welds
should be as for supports, with one short
miss length each side of the weld length.
For compound sections used as columns,
the weld lengths given in the table can be
halved, leaving the miss lengths as for
beams.

Weld

COMPOUND BEAM

Miss

Weld

Miss

Weld

Weld top and bottom

Lengths of Intermittent Welds for Compound Sections

The above information is given for users convenience as cold formed sections are supplied only in single lengths, i.e.
not attached to each other in any way.

14

Welding
Typical Welded Section Configurations

15

Product Descriptions
All descriptions, specifications, illustrations, drawings, data, dimensions and weights contained this
catalogue, all technical literature and websites containing information from BlueScope Lysaght are
approximations only.
They are intended by BlueScope Lysaght to be a general description for information and identification
purposes and do not create a sale by description. BlueScope Lysaght reserves the right at any time to:
(a) supply Goods with such minor modifications from its drawings and specifications as it sees fit; and
(b) alter specifications shown in its promotional literature to reflect changes made after the date of such
publication.

Disclaimer, warranties and limitation of liability

This publication is intended to be an aid for all trades and professionals involved with specifying and installing
Lysaght products and not to be a substitute for professional judgement.
Terms and conditions of sale available at local BlueScope Lysaght sales offices.
Except to the extent to which liability may not lawfully be excluded or limited, BlueScope Steel Limited will
not be under or incur any liability to you for any direct or indirect loss or damage (including, without limitation,
consequential loss or damage such as loss of profit or anticipated profit, loss of use, damage to goodwill and
loss due to delay) however caused (including, without limitation, breach of contract, negligence and/or breach
of statute), which you may suffer or incur in connection with this publication.
Copyright BlueScope Steel Limited 11 January 2010

For technical information, contact steeldirect@bluescopesteel.com or call 1800 641417

www.lysaght.com

Please check the latest information which is always available on our website.
lysaght is a registered trademark of BlueScope Steel Limited, ABN 16 000 011 058.
The lysaght range of products is made by BlueScope Steel Limited trading as BlueScope Lysaght.