In this section
Check the ASI Forum for discussion on this topic.Ensuring Compliance
Acting responsibly
- The ASI and its members are aware of situations of inferior or non-specified product substitution for critical applications resulting in product qualities not being commensurate with the appropriate standards or design expectations.
- In response to these industry concerns the ASI has a key issue program of ‘Ensuring Compliance” to the appropriate Australian Standard.
- Supporting this, Australian material standards AS/NZS 1163 Cold-formed structural steel hollow sections, AS/NZS 3678 Structural steel. Hot-rolled plates floorplates and slabs and AS/NZS 3679 Structural steel. Part 1: Hot-rolled bars and sections and Part 2: Welded I sections have been modified to provide for more transparency regarding test certification and product marking.
Introduction
The BCA seeks to ensure acceptable standards of
structural integrity, safety and durability. It sets out the technical requirements that building design professionals need to meet in order to achieve these goals. The BCA calls up AS 4100 Steel Structures as the
overarching Australian Standard for the design of structural steel in buildings.
AS 4100 relies on guaranteed values for chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional tolerances, methods of manufacture and quality control provisions for all materials used in a steel structure. AS 4100 is based on Australian Standards including AS/NZS 1163, AS/NZS 3678 and AS/NZS 3679 which have been calibrated based on Australian manufactured steels, testing statistics and work practices.
The BCA calls up AS/NZS 4600 Cold-formed steel structures for the design of cold-formed steel in buildings. Like AS 4100, AS/NZS 4600 relies on guaranteed values for chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional tolerances, methods of manufacture and quality control provisions for all materials used in a cold-formed steel structure. AS/NZS 4600 is based on Australian Standards including AS/NZS 1397, AS/NZS 1595 and AS/NZS 2728 which have been calibrated based on Australian manufactured steels, testing statistics and work practices. * See note below.
This 'Ensuring compliance' section provides guidelines from the Australian Steel Institute’s Technical Notes on the implications, when using imported steel, for compliance to:
- AS/NZS 1252 High strength steel bolts
- AS 4100 Steel structures
It is also demonstrated here what the Australian steel industry is doing to adapt to the requirements for greater transparency in the recently updated AS/NZS 1163 and AS/NZS 3679 parts 1 and 2.
*Reference to AS/NZS 4600:
1.5.1.5 Acceptance of steels
Certified mill test reports, or test certificates issued by the mill, shall constitute sufficient evidence of compliance with the Standards referred to in this Standard.
1.5.1.6 Unidentified steel
If unidentified steel is used, it shall be free from surface imperfections and shall be used only where the particular physical properties of the steel and its weldability will not adversely affect the design capacities and serviceability of the
structure. Unless a full test in accordance with AS 1391 is made, the yield stress of the steel used in design (fy) shall be 170 MPa or less, and the tensile strength used in design (fy) shall be 300 MPa or less.
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