$5.

00
TECHNICAL NOTE
test

On Cold-Formed Steel Construction

Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute ● Washington, DC ● www.cfsei.org ● 800-79-STEEL

ASTM A1003 - NO CAUSE FOR REJECTION

Summary: Building codes and design standards that reference ASTM International (ASTM) A1003 standard for cold-
formed steel framing products have the potential to cause confusion and project delays for those who are unfamiliar with the
requirements of this relatively new material standard. This Technical Note, first published in 2008, provides a comparison of
the requirements of A1003 with the more familiar standards traditionally used for cold-formed steel framing products, and
demonstrates that steel ordered or furnished to the old standards should be no cause for rejection. The 2013 revision refer-
ences a change to the requirements of ASTM A1003 regarding material thickness when ordering or supplying steel sheet.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs
when these other designs and materials demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use; CFSEI documents are not
intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other.

INTRODUCTION COMPARISON OF THE REQUIREMENTS

Starting in 2003, the International Code Council (ICC) Inter- Material thickness is of primary importance and has a direct
national Building Code requires that the design, installation impact on the structural performance of a cold-formed steel
and construction of cold-formed steel framing be in accor- product. Prior to 2013, ASTM A1003 required that the or-
dance with the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) dered thickness be the base metal thickness. This require-
Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing - General Provi- ment differs from the normal ordering practice for hot dip
sions. This General Provisions standard, developed by the metallic-coated products where the ordered thickness in-
ANSI-accredited AISI Committee on Framing Standards, cludes the base metal and the coating. In 2013, ASTM
requires that framing members be cold-formed to shape from A1003 allowed steel sheet in coil or cut lengths to be sup-
metallic-coated sheet steel complying with the requirements plied to coated steel thickness requirements if specified on
of ASTM A1003. the purchase order or upon agreement between producer and
user. In either case, the base metal thickness of materials
Cold-formed steel framing has traditionally been manufac- furnished to ASTM A653, A792 and A875 standards can
tured from galvanized, Galvalume® or Galfan® sheet steel usually be verified simply by checking the mill test report.
complying with the requirements of ASTM A653, A792 or
A875, respectively. One of the purposes of the new ASTM Mechanical properties also determine the structural per-
A1003 standard was to provide a common standard for these formance of the cold-formed steel product. Table 1 demon-
various materials as a means to simplify the process for the strates that the former ASTM A653, A792 and A875 stan-
specifier and supplier. However, during the transition from dards prescribe mechanical properties that exceed those of
the old standards to the new standard, there may be inconsis- the new ASTM A1003 standard. Therefore, the mechanical
tencies between code regulations, design standards, project properties of steel furnished to the former standards would
specifications and delivered materials. meet or exceed the requirements of the new standard.

ASTM A1003, the Standard Specification for Steel Sheet, Chemical composition determines the weldability of the
Carbon, Metallic- and Nonmetallic-Coated for Cold-Formed cold-formed steel product. A side-by-side comparison of the
Framing Members, covers coated steel sheet used in the limitations on chemical composition would show that the
manufacture of cold-formed framing members, such as, but former ASTM A653, A792 and A875 standards are generally
not limited to, studs, joists and track. As with the former more restrictive than the new ASTM A1003 standard; how-
standards, this new standard defines ordering practices, ever, this is not always the case (e.g., titanium). In either
grades; i.e., mechanical and chemical requirements, and case, these materials can be successfully welded following
coating requirements. ASTM A1003 was developed to be the provisions of American Welding Society (AWS), D1.3,
inclusive of the former ASTM A653, A792 and A875 stan- Structural Welding Code-Sheet Steel.
dards, provide additional options for suppliers, and be con-
sistent with the material requirements of the AISI North Coating properties determine the durability of the cold-
American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel formed steel product. ASTM A1003 references ASTM
Structural Members. Therefore, materials furnished to the A653, A792 and A875 directly, as each represents a
old standards were intended to meet the requirements of the unique coating. Therefore, there is no change in the re-
new standard. quirements and steel furnished to the former standards
will meet the requirements of the new standard.

Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute 1 TECH NOTE G801-13 July 2013

 Former Provisions New Provisions
GRADE 33
Standard ASTM A653, A792 or A875 ASTM A1003
Grade Structural Steel (SS) 33 Structural Grade 33 Type H
Minimum Yield Strength 33 ksi 33 ksi
Minimum Tensile Strength 45 ksi 45 ksi
Minimum Elongation in 2 in. 20% 10%
GRADE 50
Standard ASTM A653, A792 or A875 ASTM A1003
Grade Structural Steel (SS) 50 Class 1 Structural Grade 50 Type H
Minimum Yield Strength 50 ksi 50 ksi
Minimum Tensile Strength 65 ksi 65 ksi
Minimum Elongation in 2 in. 12% 10%

TABLE 1: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Note: CFSEI Technical Note G800, entitled ASTM Standards for Cold-Formed Steel, provides a broader overview of many
different ASTM standards that are referenced for the manufacture, installation, and testing of CFS framing materials
and accessories. It includes a paragraph about each of the ASTM standards referenced herein.

References
1. North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members (AISI S100) , American Iron and Steel
Institute, Washington, DC.
2. Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing - General Provisions (AISI S200), American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington,
DC.
3. ASTM A653/A653M, Standard Specification for Sheet Steel, Zinc Coated (Galvanized) or Zinc-Iron Alloy Coated
(Galvannealed) by the Hot Dip Process, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA.
4. ASTM A792/A792M, Standard Specification for Steel Sheet, 55% Aluminum-Zinc Alloy Coated by the Hot Dip
Process, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA.
5. ASTM A875/A875M, Standard Specification for Steel Sheet, 5% Aluminum-Zinc Alloy Coated by the Hot Dip Process,
American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA.
6. ASTM A1003/1003M, Standard Specification for Steel Sheet, Carbon, Metallic- and Nonmetallic-Coated for Cold-
Formed Framing Members, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
7. AWS, D1.3, Structural Welding Code-Sheet Steel, American Welding Society, Miami, FL.
8. ICC, International Building Code, International Code Council, Washington, DC

Primary Author of original Technical Note:

Jay Larson, American Iron and Steel Institute

Reviewers for Revision of this technical note:

Jay Larson, American Iron and Steel Institute
Rahim Zadeh, P.E., Steel Stud Manufacturers Association
Pat Ford, P.E., Steel Framing Industry Association
Greg Ralph, P.E., ClarkDietrich Building Systems

This “Technical Note on Cold-Formed Steel Construction” is published by the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI).
The information provided in this publication shall not constitute any representation or warranty, express or implied, on the part of
CFSEI or any individual that the information is suitable for any general or specific purpose, and should not be used without con-
sulting with a qualified engineer, architect, or building designer. ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY MAKING USE OF THE
INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS PUBLICATION ASSUMES ALL RISKS AND LIABILITIES ARISING OR RE-
SULTING FROM SUCH USE. CFSEI believes that the information contained within this publication is in conformance with
prevailing engineering standards of practice. However, none of the information provided in this publication is intended to repre-
sent any official position of the CFSEI or to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.
Copyright © 2013, Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute ● Washington, DC ● www.cfsei.org ● 800-79-STEEL

TECH NOTE G801-13 July 2013 2 Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute