Cold Formed Sections CFS-2

Safe Load Tables

• Many uses in the construction, general

fabrication and home handyman fields
• New steel sections enable more cost-effective
use of materials and therefore less weight
• Steel sections provide reliable performance,
long life and freedom from warping, twisting,
shrinking, rotting and damage from termites
• Wide range of section shapes, sizes and
thicknesses are available
Introduction
Angle Sections
In addition to plain and lipped channels for
which comprehensive load tables are
provided, the BlueScope Lysaght’s cold
formed steel sections range includes a
number of new high strength angles. These
angles have a variety of uses such as for
bracing purposes and in the construction of
gates, fences, handrails, frames and
storage racks, as well as in many of the
other applications listed below.

Applications
Some of the many uses for BlueScope
Lysaght’s cold formed steel sections are:
• Structural Building frames, floor joists,
roof trusses, purlins and girts, gates,
tank stands, stock pens, ladders,
mullions and lintels, beams and
columns, fences.
• Mechanical Car trailers, boat trailers,
truck and bus bodies, agricultural
machinery, rolling stock, conveyor
frames, crane frames, containers,
pallets and storage racks.

Adverse Conditions
If it is intended to use BlueScope Lysaght’s
cold formed steel sections in exposed
situations within 1km of salt marine
locations, or in severe industrial or
unusually corrosive environments, please
contact your nearest BlueScope Lysaght
Office for specialised advice.

Performance
BlueScope Lysaght’s cold-formed steel
sections will perform as specified if design,
fabrication and fixing are in accordance
with the Company’s recommendations.

Specifications
The information in this literature is correct
at time of printing. However, specifications
are subject to change without notice.

2
Notes to load tables

Length of bearing Beam

Support

Notes to Load Tables
1 Load capacities are given for total
uniformly distributed loads over simple
spans in kilonewtons per metre (kN/m). To
find load capacities for one or more
concentrated loads (in kN), the values in
tables should be multiplied by the factors in
Table A. Where more than one load is
carried, the above conversion factors apply
to total of all loads shown in respective
diagrams. Loads are assumed to be equal
and equidistant.
2 Where the compression flange of a
beam is braced against sidewise
movement, the load capacity of the beam
can be considerably greater, especially
over long spans. Tables show load
capacities for fully braced as well as
unbraced beams.
An example of a fully braced beam is a
floor joist, where floor boards fully brace
the upper (compression) flange. Similarly,
roof sheeting fully braces purlins for
downward loading,
e.g. dead load or live load, but roof sheeting
does not brace purlins for upward loads,
e.g. a wind suction load, as the
compression flange is then unbraced. An
example of a completely unbraced beam
would be one with load(s) hanging from it.
However, loads carried by beams usually
provide some bracing, and the load
capacity can be found by interpolating
between two extreme bracing conditions
shown in the tables.
3 End bearing capacity depends upon the
length of bearing (beam support). To
determine the bearing capacity for any
length of bearing from the tables, take the
value for the first 10 mm and add the
required number of 10 mm increment
values to make up the total actual length of
bearing. For instance, the end bearing permissible capacity for the section is
capacity of a beam having a length of 11.10 kN. (The maximum permissible end
bearing of 50 mm is made up of first 10 mm bearing capacity corresponds to a length
plus 4 additional increments of 10 mm. End of bearing equal to the clear distance
bearing capacity of a LC07630 for same between flanges. Bearing length increase
length bearing is: beyond that dimension, then, would not
improve the end bearing capacity).
First 10 mm = 8.50 kN
+ 4 incr. @ 0.27 kN = 1.08 kN Bearing Above applies only where section is
capacity supported by the flanges, i.e. not for bolted
for 50 mm = 9.58 kN or welded webs.
The maximum bearing capacity is given in 4 Sections’ own mass is not considered
the last column. This value must not be
in load tables.
exceeded regardless of the length of
bearing. If the length of bearing for the
section in the above example was
increased to say, 110 mm, the calculated
bearing capacity would be 11.47 kN. This
is, however, invalid as the maximum
Table A
Loading Condition Diagram Factor
Single load at mid span 0.5
Two loads equally spaced 0.75
Three loads equally spaced 0.75
Four loads equally spaced 0.833
a b
Single load off centre L2 / 8ab
L
a b
Two loads L / 4a
L

3
Plain Channels
Plain Channels
y B

x x

Shear
Centre Centroid

x O

Table 1 Plain Channels

4
5
 Lipped Channels
Lipped Channels
B

R3.2

L
Shear
Centre Centroid

X X
D

t
(BMT)

X
y
O

Table 2 Lipped Channels

6
7
Compound Plain Channels (Nested)

Plain Channels (toe to toe)

B

Average Gap

X X
D

t (BMT)

Table 4 Compound Plain Channels toe-to-toe

8
9
Compound Plain Channels (Nested)
Plain Channels (back to back)
B

y (BMT)
L

X X
D

Table 3 Compound Plain Channels back-to-back

10
11
Compound Lipped Channel (Nested)
Lipped Channel (toe to toe)
B

R3.2

X X
D

Table 5 Compound Lipped Channels (toe-to-toe)

Table 6 Compound Lipped Channels (back-to-back)

12
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 toe-to-
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).
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.

Intermittent Welds for Compound Sections

At support Running Intermittent Weld

Weld Miss Weld Miss Weld Miss Weld

Depth COMPOUND BEAM Weld top and bottom

D

Lengths of Intermittent Welds for Compound Sections

At Supports Running Intermittent Fillet

Depth of
Section 'D'
Weld Miss Weld Miss

Up to 40 45 20 20 40

41 - 60 70 30 30 50

61 - 80 90 40 40 70

81 - 110 120 60 50 100

111 - 160 180 90 60 120

161 - 210 220 110 70 150

211 - 260 260 130 80 180

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
The sections are cold roll-formed from quality BlueScope Lysaght
strip to ensure consistent dimensions and conformance to
tolerances.
BlueScope Lysaght’s 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).
This publication supersedes “Cold Formed Steel Channels and Angles
– Load Capacity Tables and Welding Data” (Ref. No. CFS II – 1 April
1980).
Performance is backed by BlueScope Lysaght with over 150 years
experience in building products.

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.