Guidelines for Fabrication Tolerances / Acceptance Criteria for Page No.

: 1 of 6
Inspection & Testing Revision : 1.0 / 26.04.2008

Purpose:
To have a common understanding of fabrication tolerances / acceptance criteria amongst all Quality Control
Personnel assisting them in carrying out their day-to-day inspection and test activities.

Guideline:
This guideline provides the general fabrication tolerances and acceptance criteria for various members of the
Structural Steel Products.
Implementation of these tolerances on various projects can only be applied, when: -
• Such tolerances are not specified by the customer in their project technical specifications.
• The Design / Construction code of the project is the same as that specified in the Reference Standard of this
guideline

The tolerances / acceptance criteria specified in the LATEST edition / addendum of the APPLICABLE CODE shall be
referred for final acceptance.

Where fabrication tolerance / acceptance criteria is clearly defined in the scope of project, this guideline shall be
superseded by project requirements.

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REFERANCE
Sr. DESCRIPTION TOLERANCES
STANDARDS

1. Rolled Section 1.1 ASTM A6 / A6M 1.1 ASTM A6 / A6M

1.2 BS4 OR BS4848 1.2 BS4 OR BS 4848

2. BUILT-UP MEMBERS 2.1 Depth, D = ±4mm BS 5950 : PART 2 - 1992

2.2 Width of flanges, B = ±6mm

2.3 Off centre of WEB, e(max) = ±6mm (See Attachment No.1)

2.4 At any cross section the quantity (C-D)
shall not exceed:
a) +6mm for flanges not exceeding
450mm wide
b) +9mm for flanges over 450mm wide.
where:
C = max overall measured Average
depth.
D = is the measured average depth.
2.5 Out of Squareness of flanges (max) F
= 6mm.
2.6 Out of flatness of flange (max)
= B or 3mm
150
2.7 Maximum distortion on web,
at depth, d, shall not exceed
d or 3mm
150

3. BUILT UP BOX SECTIONS Built-up box section shall not deviate BS 5950
from the specified shape at the PART 2 - 1992
diaphragm by more than
±5mm or ± D1+D2
400

4. LENGTH ±3mm BS 5950 PART 2 - 1992

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REFERANCE
Sr. DESCRIPTION TOLERANCES
STANDARDS
5.1 STRAIGHTNESS AWS D1.1 - 2004
For welding columns and a) For length less than 9meter,
primary truss members, straightness tolerance shall be
regardless of cross section
3mm x Total Length (meter)
3
b) For length 9 meters to 14 meters :
= 10mm
c) For lengths above 14 meters :
= 10mm + 3mm x L - 14
3

5.2 For welded Beams and AWS D1.1 - 2004

Girders, regardless of 3mm x Total Length (meter)
cross section, where there
3
no specified camber or
sweep.

6. CAMBER AWS D1.1 - 2004

a) At midspan: -0, +38 mm for spans
6.1 Camber for typical girder
≥30meters.
b) At mid span: -0, + 19mm for spans <
30 meters
c At supports = 0 for end supports =3mm
for interior supports.
6.2 The deviation from 12mm or 1mm per meter specified BS 5950 : Part 2 - 1992
specified camber ordinate camber length of the curved member.
at the mid-length of the
portion to be curved :

7. SWEEP For horizontally curved welded Beams AWS D1.1 - 2004

or Girders, the allowable variation
specified sweep at the midpoint is :
± 3mmx Total Length in meters
3
8. FLATNESS h -h ≤t ISO 13920 : 1996 (E)
Max. min.
(See attachment No. 2 Figure 7)
9. PARALLELISM h -h ≤t ISO 13920 : 1996 (E)
Max. min.
(See attachment No. 2 Figure 8)

10. ANGULAR DIMENSION Refer to Table 2 ISO 13920 : 1996 (E)

(See attachment No. 3)
11. HOLES AISC Manual
a) Enlargement of Holes +1/32” (0.794mm) 9th Edition (ASD) / 13th
b) Hole Location Edition (LRFD)
(Pitch / Gauges) ± 1/16” (1.6mm)

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