References
Sources and how we use them
Every technical claim on this site traces to the source classes below. Controlled ASTM content — numeric tables of strengths and tolerances — is deliberately not reproduced.
On this page
Primary sources
The current official edition, ASTM A500/A500M-23, is the sole normative source for requirements. The comparison pages additionally rest on ASTM A513/A513M, ASTM A53/A53M-24, and ASTM A1085/A1085M-22. Scope statements and abstracts quoted or paraphrased on this site come from ASTM's public product pages; the full standards are purchased documents.
Industry references
For HSS section properties, design-wall conventions, producer capability, and design guidance, this site refers readers to the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the Steel Tube Institute (STI). These organizations publish the tables and tools that design practice actually uses; we link to them rather than duplicating their work.
What we deliberately do not publish
Numeric strength requirements, chemistry limits, and tolerance tables are controlled content in the purchased standards and are not reproduced here, in whole or in part. Where this site characterizes those requirements qualitatively, the characterization is a reading aid, not a substitute for the standard. The purchased edition, your drawing, and your purchase order govern acceptance.
Source registry with direct links
- ASTM A500/A500M-23 — Standard Specification for Cold-Formed Welded and Seamless Carbon Steel Structural Tubing in Rounds and Shapes
ASTM International. Controlling specification for grades, shapes, tolerances, testing, and ordering requirements. Purchase the current edition for all normative values.
- ASTM A513/A513M — Standard Specification for Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon and Alloy Steel Mechanical Tubing
ASTM International. Controlling specification for mechanical tubing, used for the structural-vs-mechanical comparison.
- ASTM A53/A53M-24 — Standard Specification for Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless
ASTM International. Controlling specification for steel pipe, used for the HSS-vs-pipe comparison.
- ASTM A1085/A1085M-22 — Standard Specification for Cold-Formed Welded Carbon Steel Hollow Structural Sections (HSS)
ASTM International. Controlling specification for the tighter HSS product, used for the A500-vs-A1085 comparison.
- Steel Tube Institute — HSS resources and producer capability tool
Steel Tube Institute. Industry association reference for HSS section data, design resources, and producer capability.
- AISC Steel Construction Manual and Specification for Structural Steel Buildings
American Institute of Steel Construction. Design-side reference for HSS section properties and the design wall thickness convention applied to A500 product.