5.2.

4 Structural Steelworks

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STRUCTURAL STEELWORK
SS.1

MATERIALS
(a)

Hot Rolled Sections, Plates, Bars

All members shall be made of material complying with AISC or any other special
material as described elsewhere in the Specification and indicated on the
Drawings.

(b)

Certificates
Certificates shall state the grade of the steel and the results of all tests carried out.
The certificates shall be retained in the Contractor's workshops until the RO
inspects the fabricated material when they shall be handed over. Failure to
produce certificates for any of the material in a fabricated unit will be in itself a
sufficient reason for the RO to reject a unit.

(c)

Dimension, Properties, Tolerances

Dimensions, properties, tolerances and rolling margins of all hot rolled sections
shall comply with AISC requirement.

(d)

Bolts
Bolts and nuts shall be hexagon-round-hexagon withfaces under head and nut
square with the axis of the bolt to AISC Standard. The length of all bolts shall be
such as to ensure a projection of at least one full thread beyong the nuts when in
position. One standard washer shall be supplied with each bolt. In connections to
beam or channel flanges, appropriate taper washers shall be supplied.

(e)

Electrodes
Electrodes for welding shall comply with AISC standard. Electrodes shall be
stored in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendatons. The coating shall
be dry when each electrode is put into use, and all unused electrodes shall be
returned to store.

(f)

Primer Paint
Primer Paint used in the protection of iron steel surfaces shall comply with AISC
pecification for lead and chromate-free primer for iron and steel substrate.

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SS.2

WORKMANSHIP - GENERAL
(a)

(b)

Shop Details
i)

The Contractor will be responsible for the design of all connections

including column bases which shall be capable of withstanding all the
forces indicated on the Structural drawings.

ii)

The Contractor shall provide the RO with two complete sets each of
detailed shop drawings, fully marked up general arrangement drawings
and calculations for connections and metal formwork system.

Preparation of Contractor's Details

The Contractor shall prepare all details not specified on the drawings in
accordance with AISC.

(c)

SS.3

Approval of Contractor's Drawings

i)

The RO's approval of these drawings must be obtained before the

fabrication can commence. Such approval shall be given by the RO
within a period of fourteen days from receipt of the drawings. Approval
shall not in any way relieve the Contractor of his responsibility for any
errors which his drawings or calculations shall contain and the Contractor
will be responsible for ensuring that the steelwork is correctly fabricated
and erected, and that the specified standards of workmanship necessary
to implement the design are produced.

ii)

Within fourteen days of notification of approval of the shop drawings the

Contractor shall provide two additional sets of approved drawings and
calculations, for submission to the Building Authority if necessary.

WORKMANSHIP - FABRICATION GENERALLY

(a)

Start of Fabrication
The Contractor shall obtain authorisation to start fabrication. Such authorisation
will not normally be given before all shop drawings have been checked and
approved.

(b)

Machining
i)

Rolled edges of plates of flats and ends of members need not be

machined, except where they are required to fit accurately against
adjacent parts. All butting members including base plates shall have
their butting faces machined after fabrication with a grinding, milling, or
planning machine capable of dealing with the whole section at one
setting. Flame cut edges are to be dressed by grinding.

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ii)

iii)

(c)

The ends of compression members at splices, caps or bases dependent on

contact for transmission of compressive stress shall be so prepared that
the butting faces :
(A)

are in contact except for small areas with clearances not

exceeding 0.15mm.

(B)

are at right angles to the axis of the member or such other angle
as may be indicated.

Angles and flats used as bearing stiffeners shall be cut and ground so as
to ensure a tight fit along edges in contact with flanges.

Holes for Bolts

Holes for friction grip bolts, and black bolts shall be drilled 1.5 mm larger than
the nominal diameter of the bolt. All holes for bolts shall be drilled. The
punching or burning of holes shall not be permitted. After drilling all burrs shall
be removed to ensure perfect contact of the plates. When holes are drilled
through more than one thickness the plates shall be separated to remove the
burrs.

(d)

Checking Before and After Making Permanent Connections

Before and after making permanent connections in trusses and other structural
elements which are assembled before delivery to site, the fit, profile and camber
shall be checked.

(e)

Trial Assembly
Steel truss shall be trial assembled in the Contractor's workshops after
fabrication as may be required by the RO for checking the accuracy of
fabrication.

(f)

Marking
After fabrication each piece of steelwork shall be clearly marked to facilitate
erections; such marks shall be in accordance with a marking plan which shall be
supplied by the Contractor.

(g)

RO's Inspection
All fabricated material shall be subject to the RO's inspection at the Contractor's
workshops. The RO shall be notified when materials are ready for inspection
and no material shall be despatched without the RO's release.

SS.4

WORKMANSHIP - WELDING
(a)

General

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(b)

i)

Welding of structural steelwork to AISC shall be by the electric process

unless otherwise approved in accordance with the requirements of AISC.
The procedure to be followed, plant and equipment to be used, and the
testing and inspection to be applied, shall be to the satisfaction of the RO
and shall conform generally with the relevant British Standards and the
further details contained in the Specification.

ii)

On all drawings, welding procedure sheets,etc., terms and symbols

relating to the welding and cutting of metals shall be in accordance with
BS 5950 where applicable. No site welding shall take place unless
authorised.

Welding on Site
Except where they explicitly refer to welding in the workshops this specification
shall apply equally to authorised Site Welding. No welding shall be carried out
in wet weather without adequate weather protection to the RO's approval.

(c)

(d)

Welding Procedure
i)

Details of proposed welding procedure accompanied by diagrams

showing the buildup of all main welds, together with the details of the
manufacture, classification code (as defined in AISC) and size of
electrodes to be used, shall be submitted to the RO for his approval.

ii)

The forms of weld joint preparation shall be in accordance with AISC as

applicable. Fusion faces, angle or level, root radius etc., shall be
properly prepared to give the approved weld forms. The fusion faces
shall be carefully aligned and the correct gap and alignment maintained
during the welding operation. In the preparation of the fusion faces
shearing shall be limited to metal thicknesses not greater than 8mm. All
fusion faces shall be prepared by machining or, where approved, by the
use of special flame cutting apparatus. Faces shall be kept clean and
protected.

iii)

Butt welds in flange plates and/or web plates shall be completed before
the flanges and webs are welded together.

iv)

All welds shall be finished full and made with the correct number of
runs, the welds being kept free from slag and other inclusions, all
adhering slag being carefully removed from the exposed welds
immediately after each run.

Distortion
Welding procedure shall be such that distortion is reduced to a minimum, and
local distortion is rendered negligible in the final structure.

(e)

Preheating and Size of Single Run

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For all welds, the minimum cross sectional area of run with the maximum run
length per electrode and preheating shall be in accordance with AISC
specification.
(f)

Butt Welded Joints

i)

(f)

Butt Welded Joint (Cont'd)

ii)

(g)

All main welds shall have complete penetration and shall be welded both
sides, the back of the first run being suitably gouged out to clean weld
metal before the backing run is deposited.

The ends of the welds shall give full throat-thickness. This shall be
obtained on all main welds by use of extension pieces adequately secured
on either side of the main plates. The extension pieces shall not be
removed by burning. Additional metal remaining after the removal of the
extension pieces shall be removed by machining, or by other approved
means, and the ends and surfaces of the welds shall be smoothly finished.
The extension pieces shall be identified and retained for inspection.

Acceptance of Welded Structures

The acceptance of the welded work shall depend upon correct dimensions and
alignment and absence of distortion in the structure, upon satisfactory results
from the examination and testing of the joints and the test specimens, the
soundness of the welds, and upon general good workmanship.

SS.5

WORKMANSHIP - ERECTION
(a)

Erection Procedure
Before commencing operations the Contractor shall submit for the approval of
the RO a fully detailed statement of his proposed erection procedure. The
erection procedure shall at all stages be to the approval of the RO

(b)

Distortion Erection Stresses

During handling and erection the steelwork shall not be distorted and the stress
limits specified in AISC standard shall not be exceeded.

(e)

Holding-Down Bolts, Shear Keys and Grouting

i)

Any stanchions, beams, and steel trusses shall be carefully erected,

plumbed,set in alignment and levelled by approved means and to the
RO's satisfaction prior to grouting. Grouting shall be examined to ensure
that it has been properly and effectively carried out and any bases where
the grouting is considered to be unsatisfactory shall be brought to the

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notice of the RO. Nuts to holding-down bolt assemblies are to be

tightened down not less than 7 days after grouting.
ii)

SS.6

It is the responsibility of the Contractor to determine the actual position

on site of holding down bolts, shear key pockets, foundations, and other
supporting members, before commencing erection.

WORKMANSHIP - TOLERANCES
The following Tolerances shall apply :
Variation in the location of column locations +6mm.
Variation from plumb of
vertical surface and edges

1 in 1000 but not

more than 12mm

Deviation from line of

any edge or surface

1 in 1000 but not

more than 6mm

Length of member

+3mm

Distance between bolt

holes and/or welded
connection

+1mm between any

holes or connection
in the member

The level of any part of the erected steel structure shall be within 6mm of the specified
level.
SS.7

PROTECTION AGAINST CORROSION

(a)

General
All structural steelworks, including welds and connections shall be protected
against corrosion in the manner specified by the RO.

SS.8

(b)

Use Of Lead and Chromate-free Primers

Painting using lead and chromate-free primers shall be deemed to be the method
of corrosion protection if no other method is specified. Surface preparation
shall be by means of mechanical cleaning and no blast cleaning will be required
unless otherwise specified. The Contractor shall apply a minimum of two primer
coats to the steelwork, one of which shall be applied after surface preparation is
completed and approved by the SO. The second coat shall be applied only
before erection.

(c)

Structural Steel Encased In Concrete

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Unless otherwise specified, steel surfaces to be encased in concrete shall be left

unpainted and shall be cleaned and free from loose rust and scale at the time of
concreting.
(d)

Other Corrosion Protection Measures

Other methods of corrosion protection may include metallic coating, painting,
bituminous coating, cathodic protection, etc. The Contractor shall provide
equipment for measuring the thickness of coating when instructed by the SO.
The cost of the equipment is deemed to have been included in the Contract Sum.

SS.9

SURFACE PREPARATION
(a)

General
All steel surfaces including welds and connections shall be thoroughly cleaned
to remove all dirt, grease and the like. All rust and loose scales shall be
completely removed by mechanical cleaning, blast cleaning, wire brushing and
any other approved method. Application of coating, paint and bitumen, etc. shall
be carried out as soon as the surface preparation has been completed.

(b)

Mechanical Cleaning
Mechanical cleaning shall be carried out by power driven tools, such as
carborundum grinding discs and chipping hammers, followed by steel wire
brushing and dusting to remove all loosened materials. Excessive burnishing of
the steel through prolonged application of rotary wire brush shall be avoided.

(c)

Blast Cleaning
Blast cleaning shall be carried out in accordance with BS 4232. The maximum
grade of abrasive permitted is specified in Table 2 of BS 4232. Non-metallic
abrasive used for blasting shall be free from harmful contamination and
recovered material shall only be reused subject to the approval of the SO Blasted
surfaces shall be brushed or cleaned by vacuum and shall not be touched by hand
or contaminated in any other way.

SS.10 METALLIC COATING

Either zinc or aluminium may be used as metallic coating material. The method of
application shall be either hot-dip galvanishing, sherardising, electroplating, metal
spraying or as specified by the SO

SS.11 PAINTING
(a)

General
Painting shall be carried out in accordance with BS 5493 and BS 6150 and

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manufacturer's recommendations and instructions.

(b)

"Shelf Life" of Paint

Paint which exceeds the "shelf life" specified on the container by the
manufacturer, or paint which in the opinion of the SO has deteriorated and is not
fit for use shall be rejected.

(c)

Application Procedure Trials

When instructed by the SO, the Contractor shall carry out paint application
procedure trials, either at the fabricator's workshop or at the site where
appropriate, with the equipment and labour to be used in the works. Where
procedure trials are required no painting shall be permitted until the procedure
trials have been completed and approved by the SO

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