THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO HSS TUBING

Strength and durability

HSS tubes are made of high-strength steel, which makes them stronger and more durable than other types of tubes. They can withstand heavy loads, harsh weather conditions, and other external factors.

Weight savings

The hollow shape of HSS tubes reduces their weight compared to solid steel sections, making them more cost-effective to transport and easier to handle on the job site.

Design flexibility

HSS tubes are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and thicknesses, making them versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications. They can be used to create complex shapes and structures, such as arches and trusses.

Aesthetics

HSS tubes can be left exposed in buildings, bridges, and other structures, creating an industrial, modern, and aesthetically pleasing look.

Corrosion Resistance

HSS tubes can be coated or painted to resist corrosion, ensuring that they have a long service life and require minimal maintenance.

Closed Sections

Enclosed structural sections offer an advantage in their ability to withstand torsional loads. Furthermore, in industries such as food processing and clean facilities where hygiene is paramount, HSS tubes are an optimal choice because their minimal surface area attracts less dust and debris.

Economy of Coatings

HSS tubes with rectangular shapes (including squares) have around 33% less surface area compared to an open section with similar capacity. This translates to reduced surface preparation, less usage of painting materials and labor, and lower requirements for cementitious fireproofing.

A500 B/C

HSS tubes conforming to ASTM A500 B standards are made through a process of cold-forming and welding, utilizing carbon steel to provide essential structural support for various load-bearing applications such as buildings and bridges. A500 Grade B is the most common specification for square, rectangular, and round HSS, and 98% of the time it will also meet the specifications for A500 Grade C.

A513 Type 1

HSS tubes made to ASTM A513 standards are available in various sizes, thicknesses, and shapes and can be produced with different finishes, including bare steel, galvanized steel, or painted.

A36 Grade 50

HSS tubing is also available in A36 Grade 50, which is a hot-rolled form of carbon steel. Due to its versatility, strength, and formability, A36 Grade 50 steel is used in a wide variety of applications.

Chemical Composition (A500 Grade B)

Mechanical Properties (A500 Grade B)

Tolerances (A500 Grade B)

Maximum Twist (A500 Grade B)

Twist is measured by holding down the edge of one end of a square or rectangular structural hollow on a surface plate with the bottom side of the tube parallel to the surface plate, and noting the height that either corner on the opposite end of the bottom side is above the surface plate.

Maximum Outside Corner Radii (A500 Grade B)

For square and rectangular tubing, the radius of any outside corner may not exceed three times the nominal wall thickness.

Squareness of Sides (A500 Grade B)

Adjacent sides of structural hollows may deviate from 90 degrees by plus or minus two degrees, maximum.

Variations from Exact Straightness (A500 Grade B)

Permissible variations include (1/8” * (number of feet of total length/5) including camber and sweep.

Square HSS tube

Square HSS and jumbo tubes are typically available in A513 mechanical tube and A500 structural tube. Square jumbo tubing is suitable for applications requiring uniform geometries across multiple cross-sections.

Round HSS tube

Typically, round HSS tube is available in A513 mechanical tube and A500 structural tube. It is useful in creating uniform shapes, especially for constructing columns, and is highly resistant to torsion.

Rectangular HSS tube

Rectangular jumbo HSS is commonly used in welded steel frames that experience loading from multiple directions. Typically available in both A513 mechanical tube and A500 structural tube, the flat shape of rectangular HSS is ideal for construction and often utilized to create visually pleasing aesthetic effects.

HSS tube sizes are measured by their outside diameter and wall thickness, which are referred to as the nominal size. HSS tubes come in a wide range of sizes, from small to very large.

Common HSS tube steel sizes are 1/2 inch square to 12 inches square and from .188-inch wall thickness to 0.5-inch wall thickness. When selecting HSS tubes for a project, you must consider the size of the tube as well as the grade of steel.

HSS tubes are also available in square, rectangular, and oval shapes in addition to round tubes. For square, rectangular, and oval tubes, the outside measurements are taken across opposite sides and then averaged to determine the nominal size.

In general, HSS tubes are available in metric sizes as well as imperial sizes. Metric sizes range from 10mm to 600mm with wall thicknesses up to 40mm. The imperial sizes include fractional sizes (1/2” – 4”) and schedule sizes (5” – 24”). But, as a North American metals supplier, our focus here will be on imperial sizes.

It is important to note that the exact size of an HSS tube may vary due to manufacturing tolerances. That is why it is essential to check the actual measurements with your steel service center before buying HSS steel.

Square Hollow Structural Tubing (ASTM A500 Grade B) at Lengths of 20, 24, and 40 Feet

*Wall thickness may be thinner than theoretical and still be within ASTM standards.

Rectangular Hollow Structural Tubing (ASTM A500 Grade B)

*Wall thickness may be thinner than theoretical and still be within ASTM standards.

It's important to note that the sizes listed above are not an exhaustive list and that other sizes may be available depending on the manufacturer and the specific application. Additionally, HSS tubes are typically available in various wall thicknesses, which can affect the load capacity and rigidity of the tubing.