Short answer
Australian and New Zealand sections follow AS/NZS 3679.1 for hot-rolled sections and AS/NZS 1163 for hollow sections. Designations put the nominal size and the mass in kg/m together, like 250UB25.7 (a universal beam about 250 mm deep, 25.7 kg/m) or 100x100x6.0SHS (a 100 mm square hollow section, 6.0 mm wall).
How the designations read
| Designation | Type | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 250UB25.7 | Universal beam | 250 mm nominal depth, 25.7 kg/m |
| 250UC72.9 | Universal column | 250 mm nominal depth, 72.9 kg/m |
| 200PFC | Parallel flange channel | 200 mm deep, 22.9 kg/m |
| 100x100x6.0SHS | Square hollow section | 100 x 100 mm, 6.0 mm wall, 16.7 kg/m |
| 75x75x5EA | Equal angle | 75 mm legs, 5 mm thick, 5.27 kg/m |
| 125x75x10UA | Unequal angle | 125 x 75 mm, 10 mm thick, 14.2 kg/m |
Note the difference from the UK. Australian UB and UC names carry one dimension (the nominal depth) plus the mass, while UK names carry depth, width and mass. Australian PFCs are named by depth only, so you look up the mass.
Where Australian drawings catch people out
- Nominal versus actual thickness. For angles the thickness in the name is nominal, and the rolled thickness can differ slightly (for example a nominal 5 mm may roll nearer 4.6 mm). Weights come from the catalog, not from the name.
- Size and mass in the same string. On UB and UC the number after the letters is kg/m, not a dimension. 250UB25.7 is not 250 x 25.7.
- Grade. Rolled sections are commonly Grade 300 and hollow sections C350 or C450, but the general notes decide.
- Units. Everything is metric. Lengths are in millimetres on most drawings.
A reader that only knows American shorthand will misread most of these.
How do you price Australian steel in imperial terms?
You usually do not need to. Quantities in tonnes and prices per tonne work fine for local pricing. If you need a comparison with American sections, multiply kg/m by 0.67197 to get lb/ft: a 250UB25.7 at 25.7 kg/m is about 17.3 lb/ft. See How do you convert kg/m to lb/ft?.
Does SteelFlo read AS/NZS drawings?
Yes. AS/NZS is one of the six standards SteelFlo detects, alongside AISC, BS/IS, EN, GB and cold-formed (CFS/SSMA). Australian callouts are recognized in the forms drafters actually write them, then matched to the section tables so weight comes from the catalog. Anything ambiguous is flagged for you to confirm. Browse the AS/NZS sections in the shape database, and see Steel takeoff software for Australian and NZ fabricators.
Australian and UK designations side by side
| UK | Australia and New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Beam | 203x133x25 UB (depth x width x kg/m) | 250UB25.7 (depth, UB, kg/m) |
| Column | 254x254x73 UC | 250UC72.9 |
| Channel | 100x50x10 PFC | 200PFC |
| Square hollow section | SHS 100x100x6 | 100x100x6.0SHS |
| Equal angle | L 90x90x10 | 75x75x5EA |
| Governing standard | BS EN 10025 and 10210/10219 | AS/NZS 3679.1 and AS/NZS 1163 |
The names look alike but are not the same sections. A 250UB25.7 is not any UK section even though the pattern looks similar. Always match by the full designation and look up the mass.
Takeoff tips for Australian drawings
- Expect millimetres everywhere, with heights in metres on elevations.
- Hollow sections are written with the thickness to one decimal place (6.0). Keep the decimal when you look up the size.
- Look for grade notes such as "Grade 300" or "C350L0" in the general notes.
- Watch for crane and lifting notes, since tonnage matters for transport and installation.
- Check whether the set is from a detailer's model or a structural engineer. The latter has less connection information.
If sections are shown as "100 SHS" or "100x6 SHS" shorthand, make sure the wall thickness is real and not a size abbreviation. Ambiguity is where RFIs belong.
Which Australian sections are most common?
Universal beams (UB) and columns (UC) for the main frame, parallel flange channels (PFC) for purlins, bracing and edge members, square and rectangular hollow sections (SHS and RHS) for columns, frames and light structure, and equal and unequal angles (EA and UA) for bracing and misc steel. Weights span a wide range, from 0.87 kg/m for a 20x20x1.6 SHS to well over 100 kg/m for heavy UCs. Every one in the shape database shows its mass.
Look up the sizes
Stop counting steel by hand.
Upload your drawing set and SteelFlo puts a box on every steel label it finds, on every page. You verify the boxes and export a bill of materials.