CROSS Safety Report
Common use of S235 cold rolled steel instead of S355 hot rolled steel
This report is over 2 years old
Overview
It has come to a reporter's attention that some local fabricators are purchasing S235 cold rolled hollow sections rather than the specified S355 hot rolled sections, as they are easier and cheaper to obtain.
Key Learning Outcomes
For construction professionals:
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Substitution of construction elements and material grades should not be made without approval from the design engineer
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Consider introducing a quality assurance process that covers the correct use of products, components, and materials on site
For civil and design engineers:
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Share your knowledge of the behaviour of products, components and materials and routinely raise the risks associated with substitutions to contractors and the wider project team
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If you are concerned that a lower grade material may have been installed, consider asking the contractor for the material certificates
Full Report
Find out more about the Full Report
The Full Report below has been submitted to CROSS and describes the reporter’s experience. The text has been edited for clarity and to ensure anonymity and confidentiality by removing any identifiable details. If you would like to know more about our secure reporting process or submit a report yourself, please visit the reporting to CROSS-UK page.
It has come to a reporter's attention that some local (CE marked) fabricators are purchasing S235 cold rolled hollow sections rather than the specified S355 hot rolled sections, as they are easier and cheaper to obtain. This is also an issue with the main local stockist (who supply local fabricators) who say that there is no demand for the higher-grade steel; even though they fabricate from the reporter's drawings which specify S355 hot rolled steel. They tell us that they buy from Europe and it would be uneconomical for them to stock any S355 tubular products.
They suspect that this is happening nationally and has been happening for some time. This is a surprise as they expect with the use of CE marking and execution classes, that there would not be this basic lack of understanding about the implications of incorrect substitutions. The reporter is not sure where this leaves them for work that has already been completed and what they might use in the future where a tubular product is most suitable if they cannot be sure that the correct grade will be used.
This is a surprise as they expect with the use of CE marking and execution classes, that there would not be this basic lack of understanding about the implications of incorrect substitutions
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Feedback
A major stockholder of structural hollow sections was surprised to read the CROSS report 740 in Newsletter No. 50 about the availability of hollow sections. They carry a large range of sizes and lengths in EN10210 S355J2H and EN10219 S355J2H. However, in their experience it is not uncommon for general steel stockholders to not be aware of product availability outside their own ranges, and to not be informed about the grades available. The stockholder says that they deliver all over the UK and Ireland and wanted to take the opportunity to set the record straight that the products are readily available.
Expert Panel Comments
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This report is in many ways very similar to report 634 which discusses how a contractor installed the incorrect steel grade. The allegation is not quite clear as to whether products are being incorrectly CE marked or whether contractors are substituting lower grade material without authorisation. Neither action is acceptable. As for report 634, no changes should be made without sanction from the designer.
Major asset owners have had problems with the wrong (i.e. cheaper) grade of steel being used. A fundamental problem is that many within the supply chain do not appreciate that such product substitution results in a completely different product being used – a product with different design properties.
Hot v. cold formed hollow sections
For example, one could not simply substitute a hot rolled product for the same section thickness cold formed product – the equivalent cold rolled section would need to be thicker. This is because of the stresses induced in the steel during the manufacturing process – such stresses would not be induced in hot rolled steel. Hence, different manufacturing process, different stresses, different design properties. Also, substituting hot rolled for cold would be a serious problem in areas where the section would be subject to fatigue loading. Another implication would be welding – completely different welding procedures would apply.
For example, one could not simply substitute a hot rolled product for the same section thickness cold formed product – the equivalent cold rolled section would need to be thicker
Reliance on CE marking with no independent review may not be sufficient, and substitution must be guarded against. The Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) Alert Anomalous documentation for proprietary products - February 2013 warns of this practice. There are additional reports on the subject such as in 510 Policing of CE marking on steelwork.