Unlike carbon steel, there have not been listings of open section sizes for stainless steel structural sections, until Sections Directory in May 2004. This gives the full range of 'standard' stainless steel sections that are readily available and the companies who supply them. The directory distinguishes between producers and distributors as well as showing the main stainless steel grades available from each supplier across the complete size range.
Hollow Sections
The hollow sections listed in the directory are available in stainless steel grades 1.4301 (304), 1.4307 (304L), 1.4401 (316), 1.4404 (316L) and1.4571 (316Ti). Normally hollow sections are welded from strip or plate.
The hollow sections listed in the directory are available in stainless steel grades 1.4301 (304), 1.4307 (304L), 1.4401 (316), 1.4404 (316L) and1.4571 (316Ti). Normally hollow sections are welded from strip or plate.
The design strength of 'as-formed' austenitic stainless steel tube is generally higher than for the same grade of annealed tubes. For most structural applications either annealed or 'as-formed' supply conditions can be expected to provide comparable corrosion resistance.
Section Tables Available
The directory can be downloaded from Structural Sections. Section tables available
| Manufacturing Method | Section Type |
| Hot Rolled (Part 1.1) | Channels |
| . | Equal Sided Angles |
| . | Unequal Sided Angles |
| . | Unequal T-Profiles |
| Hot Extruded & Special Sections (Part 1.2) | Z Profiles |
| . | I Beams |
| . | Channel (parallel) |
| . | Channel (taper) |
| . | Equal Sided Angles |
| . | Unequal Sided Angles |
| . | Equal T Profiles |
| . | Unequal T profiles |
| Cold Formed Sections (Part 2) | . |
| Rolled | Equal Sided Angles |
| . | Unequal Sided Angles |
| . | Channel s |
| Formed | Z Profile |
| . | Special Sections (doors and windows) |
| Drawn | Equal Sided Angles |
| . | Unequal Sided Angles |
| . | T Profiles |
| Welded Sections (Part 3) | I Profiles |
| . | H Profiles |
| . | Channels |
| . | Equal Sided Angles |
| . | Unequal Sided Angles |
| . | Equal Sided T Profiles |
| . | Unequal Sided T Profiles |
| Circular Hollow Sections (Part 4.1) | . |
| Square Hollow Sections (Part 4.2) | . |
| Rectangular Hollow Sections (Part 4.3) | . |
Approximate Range of Available Dimensions
Circular Hollow Sections 1.0-30mm thick 6.0-914mm diameter Square Hollow Sections 1.0-25mm thick 10 x 10-800 x 800 width Rectangular Hollow Sections 1.0-25mm thick 20 x 10-900 x 600mm width.
Approximate range of available dimensions:
| Circular hollow sections: | thickness: 0.25 to 8.0 mm, | diameter: 3 to 250 mm |
| Rectangular hollow sections: | thickness: 1.0 to 8.0 mm, | width: 20x10 to 300x150 mm |
| Square hollow sections: | thickness: 1.0 to 8.0 mm, | width: 10x10 to 300x300 mm |
| Oval hollow sections: | thickness: 1.0 to 3.0 mm, | diameter: 61x37 to 121x76 mm |
Open sections, including many masonry support section types, can be press formed from flat sheet or plate. These are available as standard products or to special design and include formed and welded sections, such as I sections made up of two channels welded, back to back. Thicker sections are manufactured from welded flat plate, but may be subject to final straightness limitations. Heavier sections sizes may be hot formed, either by extrusion or rolling. Open sections can usually be sourced in stainless steel grades 1.4301 (304) and 1.4401 (316). Some less common and more 'specialised' grades, including 1.4713 (a 6-8% chromium heat resisting ferritic steel) are also available. For information on how to select the most suitable grade for internal or external building applications, see articles Selection of stainless steels for building internal applications and Selection of stainless steels for building external applications
Stainless Steel bars
Stainless Steel Round bars, stainless steel square bars, stainless steel rectangular and hexagonal solid bars are generally widely available in stainless steel grades 304 (1.4301) and 316 (1.4401) and additionally in other more specialised stainless steel grades, including duplex 2205 (1.4462).
Approximate range of available dimensions:
| Circular: | diameter: 2 to 450 mm |
| Flats: | thickness: 3.0 to 25 mm, width: 12x150 mm |
| Square: | width: 3 to 300 mm |
| Hexagonal: | across flats: 5 to 100 mm |
