ASTM A500 — Cold-Formed Structural Carbon Steel Tubing
If you’ve spec’d tube for a structure, you’ve met A500. Cold-formed welded and seamless carbon steel structural tubing — round, square, rectangular, and a few odd shapes.
I still remember flipping through the spec and thinking it was alphabet soup. Then it made sense — most of the work leans on a few common patterns, and the rest is context. Here’s the distilled version I wish I’d had.
Quick Reference
- Scope: Cold-formed welded & seamless carbon steel structural tubing.
- Shapes: Round, square, rectangular, and special shapes.
- Use cases: Columns, frames, general structural members, and similar applications.
- Tolerances: Specified in the standard; confirm against your purchase order.
Note: For authoritative requirements, read the official standard.
Theoretical Weight Calculator
These are back-of-the-envelope numbers for planning. Always verify against mill data.
Why people use A500
It’s widely available, efficient in structural applications, and familiar to fabricators. Compared with some alternatives not designed for structural duty, A500’s geometry and consistency tend to play nicer with real-world assemblies.
Could you pick something else? Sure. But if you’re chasing a straightforward structural tube with predictable behavior, A500 often keeps the spreadsheet calm.
Common questions
Can I substitute another spec?
Sometimes — but don’t wing it. Coordinate with your engineer and purchasing so material certs, dimensions, and test requirements line up.
How do I keep certs and revisions tidy?
Define who files MTRs, where they live in your QMS, and how changes get flagged. Quiet systems beat heroics.
Round vs. rectangular — does strength change? (tube-specific)
Geometry drives performance. Rectangular shapes offer directional stiffness; round resists torsion nicely. Your design determines loads.
Quick self-check (unofficial)
A tiny checklist I use before committing a PO. It’s not a guarantee — just a calm moment before money moves.
Make specs, quotes, and audits less chaotic.
SuccessionMFG helps manufacturers validate standards, organize certs, and quote assemblies without the spreadsheet circus. I like boring processes — the good kind of boring.
This site is an independent quick-reference guide. For official requirements, consult the relevant standard.