Australian and New Zealand structural steel uses a designation system that's distinct from both AISC (US) and the old British standard. If you're estimating steel in Australia or New Zealand — or working on projects with OneSteel/InfraBuild/BlueScope steel — this is the reference you need.
The AS/NZS Standards Framework
Australian and New Zealand steel sections are produced to AS/NZS 3678 (structural steel plate and flats) and AS/NZS 3679 (hot-rolled bars and sections). Section geometry is defined in AS/NZS 3679.1.
The main steel producers supplying the Australian market are:
- InfraBuild Steel (formerly OneSteel, formerly BHP) — primary hot-rolled sections manufacturer
- BlueScope Steel — primarily flat products, plate, and hollow sections
- Steel Select / service centers — distribution and processing
For estimators, InfraBuild's eCat (electronic catalogue) is the definitive source of AS/NZS section dimensions and properties. It's available free online and lists every stocked section with weight per meter, section modulus, moment of inertia, and availability.
AS/NZS Section Families
Universal Beam (UB)
The workhorse of Australian structural steel — equivalent to AISC W shapes and British UB sections.
Designation format: [depth]UB[mass per meter]
Example: 310UB40.4 — 310mm nominal depth, 40.4 kg/m
Common UB sections:
| Designation | Actual Depth (mm) | Flange Width (mm) | Mass (kg/m) | |---|---|---|---| | 150UB14.0 | 155 | 75 | 14.0 | | 200UB25.4 | 203 | 133 | 25.4 | | 250UB31.4 | 252 | 146 | 31.4 | | 310UB40.4 | 308 | 165 | 40.4 | | 310UB46.2 | 307 | 166 | 46.2 | | 360UB44.7 | 352 | 171 | 44.7 | | 360UB56.7 | 359 | 172 | 56.7 | | 410UB53.7 | 403 | 178 | 53.7 | | 460UB67.1 | 454 | 190 | 67.1 | | 530UB82.0 | 528 | 209 | 82.0 | | 610UB101 | 602 | 228 | 101.0 | | 610UB125 | 612 | 229 | 125.0 |
Note the designation format: depth first (in mm), then "UB", then mass per meter (in kg/m). This is the opposite order from AISC W shapes, where nominal depth comes after weight (W18x35 = 35 lb/ft; 460UB67.1 = 67.1 kg/m).
Universal Column (UC)
AS/NZS Universal Columns are used for columns and heavy compressive members — equivalent to AISC W14 column sections and British UC sections.
Designation format: [depth]UC[mass per meter]
| Designation | Actual Depth (mm) | Flange Width (mm) | Mass (kg/m) | |---|---|---|---| | 100UC14.8 | 97 | 99 | 14.8 | | 150UC23.4 | 152 | 154 | 23.4 | | 150UC30.0 | 158 | 153 | 30.0 | | 200UC46.2 | 203 | 203 | 46.2 | | 200UC52.2 | 206 | 204 | 52.2 | | 250UC72.9 | 254 | 254 | 72.9 | | 250UC89.5 | 260 | 256 | 89.5 | | 310UC96.8 | 308 | 305 | 96.8 | | 310UC137 | 321 | 309 | 137.0 |
UC sections are more square in profile — flange width approximately equals section depth — which is efficient for column applications.
Parallel Flange Channel (PFC)
PFC is the Australian equivalent of the US C (channel) and British PFC sections. Used for purlins, secondary framing, bracing, and composite applications.
Designation format: [depth]PFC
| Designation | Depth (mm) | Flange Width (mm) | Mass (kg/m) | |---|---|---|---| | 75PFC | 75 | 40 | 5.92 | | 100PFC | 100 | 55 | 8.33 | | 125PFC | 125 | 65 | 11.9 | | 150PFC | 150 | 75 | 17.7 | | 180PFC | 180 | 80 | 22.2 | | 200PFC | 200 | 80 | 23.4 | | 230PFC | 230 | 90 | 30.0 | | 250PFC | 250 | 90 | 35.5 | | 300PFC | 300 | 100 | 46.2 | | 380PFC | 380 | 100 | 55.2 |
Welded Beam (WB) and Welded Column (WC)
These are fabricated sections (not rolled) produced from plate by welding. They're used when rolled sections aren't heavy enough or deep enough for the application — major transfer girders, long spans, heavy columns.
Designation format: [depth]WB[mass per meter] or [depth]WC[mass per meter]
Common WB sections range from 700WB115 (700mm deep, 115 kg/m) up to 1200WB455 (1200mm deep, 455 kg/m).
Hollow Sections: SHS, RHS, CHS
Australia and New Zealand use the European terminology for hollow sections:
SHS (Square Hollow Section): [size]x[size]x[wall thickness] — e.g., SHS 100x100x6.0 RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section): [height]x[width]x[wall thickness] — e.g., RHS 150x100x5.0 CHS (Circular Hollow Section): [OD]x[wall thickness] — e.g., CHS 168.3x6.4
These are produced to AS/NZS 1163 Grade C350L0 or C450L0.
Angles (EA and UA)
EA (Equal Angle): [leg]x[leg]x[thickness] — e.g., EA 100x100x10 UA (Unequal Angle): [long leg]x[short leg]x[thickness] — e.g., UA 150x90x10
Converting Between AS/NZS and AISC Sections
AS/NZS and AISC sections are not dimensionally equivalent. The 310UB40.4 (308mm deep, 40.4 kg/m) is similar in depth to a W12 AISC section, but the geometries differ. For estimating across standards, use actual section properties from the relevant database — don't substitute by depth alone.
Approximate mass/weight equivalence:
- 40.4 kg/m = 27.2 lb/ft (not the same as W12x27, which is an AISC section — dimensions are different)
For shops working across multiple standards, see steel takeoffs beyond AISC for a broader overview.
Estimating With AS/NZS Sections
Units are metric throughout
Lengths in meters, weights in kg/m, total tonnage in metric tonnes.
Piece weight (kg) = Mass (kg/m) × Length (m)
310UB40.4 at 8.5m: 40.4 × 8.5 = 343.4 kg
Material pricing in AUD per tonne
Australian structural steel pricing as of early 2026 runs approximately AUD $2,000–$2,600/tonne for service center pricing on standard UB/UC sections. WB sections and non-standard sizes are higher.
Availability varies by region
Not all AS/NZS sections are stocked in every state. In WA and QLD, certain sections may have longer lead times than VIC/NSW/SA. For unusual sections or heavy WB sections, confirm availability before committing on lead times.
Drawing Conventions in Australia
Australian structural drawings follow AS 1100 drafting standards. Section marks use the AS/NZS format directly: 310UB40.4, 200UC46.2, 150PFC, RHS150x100x5.0.
Drawings may also use "BHP section" references (historical InfraBuild predecessors) on older drawings — these map directly to current InfraBuild/OneSteel designations.
SteelFlo and AS/NZS Support
SteelFlo includes the full AS/NZS section database — UB, UC, PFC, WB, WC, SHS, RHS, CHS, EA, and UA. The AI reads AS/NZS format designations from uploaded PDF drawings and maps them to the correct mass per meter for weight calculations.
For Australian and NZ fabricators, this means automated takeoff works with the actual sections on the drawings — 310UB40.4, 150PFC, SHS100x100x6.0 — without any manual database building. The steel takeoff software for Australian and NZ fabricators post covers the full workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Universal Beam in Australian steel construction?
A Universal Beam (UB) is the Australian/NZ equivalent of the American wide flange (W shape) or British UB. It's a hot-rolled I-section with parallel flanges, used primarily as beams and in bending applications. Designation format: [nominal depth in mm]UB[mass in kg/m] — e.g., 360UB56.7 is 360mm nominal depth, 56.7 kg/m.
What does PFC stand for in Australian steel?
PFC stands for Parallel Flange Channel. It's the standard channel section in the AS/NZS system — equivalent to the British PFC and the American C (channel) section. The flanges are parallel (not sloped like the older Australian taper-flange channels). Designated by depth only: 150PFC, 200PFC, etc.
How do I find the weight per meter for AS/NZS sections?
The most reliable source is InfraBuild's eCat (electronic catalogue), freely available online. It lists all current AS/NZS sections with mass per meter, section properties, and availability. BlueScope also publishes section tables for hollow sections.
What is a Welded Beam (WB) used for in Australian construction?
Welded Beams (WB) are fabricated from plate and used where rolled sections aren't sufficient — very long spans, heavy transfer loads, or when specific depth-to-weight ratios are required. They range from 700WB115 (115 kg/m) to 1200WB455 (455 kg/m). WB sections are more expensive than rolled UB sections and have longer lead times since they're fabricated to order.
Are AS/NZS hollow section designations the same as AISC HSS?
No — they use different designation systems and the products are produced to different standards. Australian SHS/RHS/CHS (AS/NZS 1163) use metric mm dimensions and different wall tolerances than US HSS (ASTM A500). An SHS 100x100x6 is not the same as an HSS4x4x1/4 even though the dimensions are approximately similar (100mm ≈ 4 inches; 6mm ≈ 1/4 inch). For specification purposes, always reference the applicable standard.