How to correctly choose steel pipes in the construction industry?

Steel pipes play an important role in the construction industry and are widely used in structural support, pipeline transportation, trusses and other fields. Correctly selecting steel pipes can not only improve building safety, but also reduce engineering costs and improve construction efficiency. This article will analyze how to correctly choose steel pipes in the construction industry from the aspects of steel pipe types, material selection standards, specification requirements, application scenarios and precautions.

Common types of steel pipes for construction:

1. Seamless Steel Pipe

Features: no welds, high strength, and excellent pressure resistance.
Applicable scenarios: high-rise building load-bearing structures, high-pressure pipelines, bridges, etc.
Advantages: high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and strong overall stability.

Disadvantages: high manufacturing cost and expensive price.

2. Welded Steel Pipe

Features: Made of steel plates rolled and welded, with low production costs.
Applicable scenarios: low-pressure fluid transportation, scaffolding, building support structures.
Advantages: low cost, high production efficiency, and rich specifications.
Disadvantages: The strength of the welded part is lower than that of seamless steel pipes, and there may be welding defects.

3. Galvanized Steel Pipe

Features: Surface galvanized layer to improve corrosion resistance.
Applicable scenarios: water supply and drainage systems, HVAC pipes, guardrails, scaffolding, etc.
Advantages: Strong anti-corrosion ability, suitable for humid environments.
Disadvantages: Cold-dip galvanized layer is easy to fall off, and the cost of hot-dip galvanizing is relatively high.

4. Structural Steel Pipe

Features: Used for building structure support, usually made of high-strength low-alloy steel.
Applicable scenarios: building frames, bridges, floor columns, curtain wall supports.
Advantages: high strength and excellent seismic performance.
Disadvantages: Relatively high manufacturing cost.

Steel pipe selection standards:

International standards:

ASTM A53: Suitable for welded and seamless steel pipes for fluid transportation and structural support.
ASTM A500: Suitable for cold-formed welded steel pipes, widely used in building structures.

EN 10219 (European standard): Cold-formed structural steel pipe.
EN 10210 (European standard): Hot-formed structural steel pipe, suitable for load-bearing structures.

Chinese Standard (GB):

GB/T 8162: Seamless steel pipe for structure.
GB/T 3091: Welded steel pipe for low-pressure fluid transportation.
GB/T 13793: Straight seam electric welded steel pipe.
GB/T 3094: Cold-drawn special-shaped steel pipe, suitable for special structural requirements.

Key points for steel pipe selection:

Wall thickness selection: Choose thick-walled steel pipe for load-bearing structure, and thin-walled pipe for fluid transportation.
Diameter selection: Large diameter steel pipe is suitable for load-bearing structure, small diameter is suitable for railings, scaffolding, etc.
Surface treatment: Galvanized steel pipe or spray anti-rust paint is recommended for outdoor environment.
Quality certification: Ensure that the steel pipe meets international or domestic standards and has a quality inspection report.

Application of steel pipes in the construction industry:

High-rise buildings: EN 10210 or ASTM A500 standard hot-formed structural steel pipes, with excellent seismic performance.
Bridge engineering: thick-walled seamless steel pipes, with strong bearing capacity.
Municipal pipe network: galvanized steel pipes, with strong corrosion resistance, suitable for long-term fluid transportation.
Lightweight building structures: welded steel pipes, with low cost, suitable for temporary buildings.

Conclusion:

When selecting steel pipes in the construction industry, comprehensive consideration should be given to the type of steel pipe, material selection standards, specification requirements and application scenarios. Seamless steel pipes are suitable for high-strength load-bearing structures, welded steel pipes are suitable for general building supports, galvanized steel pipes are suitable for anti-corrosion environments, and structural steel pipes are suitable for frame structures. In practical applications, choosing steel pipes that meet standards can improve project quality, reduce maintenance costs, and improve construction efficiency.

Read more: Square tube vs. Rectangular tube or Mechanical Tubing vs. Structural Tubing