Universal Columns UC
AS/NZS 3679.1Hot-rolled H-sections with flange width close to the depth, used mainly as columns and heavy struts. Dimensions, section properties, AS 4100 capacities and free DXF drawings for all 13 sizes.
Universal columns (UC) are hot-rolled H-sections with a flange width close to the depth. The wide, thick flanges give a minor-axis radius of gyration about 1.2 to 1.6 times that of a universal beam of similar mass, so UCs perform well as columns, struts and heavily loaded short-span beams where lateral-torsional buckling would govern a UB.
Australian UCs range from 100UC14.8 to 310UC158 in Grade 300 to AS/NZS 3679.1. Heavier columns are supplied as welded columns (WC) to AS/NZS 3679.2.
Select any section in the table to open its page, with a dimensioned drawing, all section properties, AS 4100 capacities and a free DXF download for your CAD software.
| Designation | Mass kg/m | d mm | bf mm | tf mm | tw mm | Ag mm² | Ix 10⁶mm⁴ | Zx 10³mm³ | Sx 10³mm³ | Iy 10⁶mm⁴ | ry mm | J 10³mm⁴ | φMsx kNm | φNs kN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 310UC158 | 158.0 | 327 | 311 | 25 | 15.7 | 20133 | 387 | 2370 | 2681 | 125 | 78.9 | 3807 | 675.5 | 5073 |
| 310UC137 | 137.0 | 321 | 309 | 21.7 | 13.8 | 17475 | 330 | 2054 | 2304 | 107 | 78.2 | 2518 | 580.7 | 4404 |
| 310UC118 | 118.0 | 315 | 307 | 18.7 | 11.9 | 15019 | 278 | 1764 | 1962 | 90.2 | 77.5 | 1626 | 494.4 | 3785 |
| 310UC96.8 | 96.8 | 308 | 305 | 15.4 | 9.9 | 12372 | 223 | 1449 | 1596 | 72.9 | 76.7 | 928 | 422.4 | 3340 |
| 250UC89.5 | 89.5 | 260 | 256 | 17.3 | 10.5 | 11393 | 143 | 1098 | 1227 | 48.4 | 65.2 | 1044 | 309.1 | 2871 |
| 250UC72.9 | 72.9 | 254 | 254 | 14.2 | 8.6 | 9322 | 114 | 898 | 993 | 38.8 | 64.5 | 586 | 266.4 | 2517 |
| 200UC59.5 | 59.5 | 210 | 205 | 14.2 | 9.3 | 7622 | 61.4 | 585 | 656 | 20.4 | 51.7 | 477 | 177.3 | 2058 |
| 200UC52.2 | 52.2 | 206 | 204 | 12.5 | 8.0 | 6660 | 52.6 | 511 | 569 | 17.7 | 51.6 | 325 | 153.6 | 1798 |
| 200UC46.2 | 46.2 | 203 | 203 | 11.0 | 7.3 | 5899 | 45.7 | 450 | 498 | 15.3 | 51.0 | 228 | 133.2 | 1593 |
| 150UC37.2 | 37.2 | 162 | 154 | 11.5 | 8.1 | 4736 | 22.2 | 274 | 310 | 7.01 | 38.5 | 197 | 83.8 | 1279 |
| 150UC30.0 | 30.0 | 158 | 153 | 9.4 | 6.6 | 3863 | 17.7 | 224 | 250 | 5.62 | 38.1 | 109 | 72.1 | 1113 |
| 150UC23.4 | 23.4 | 152 | 152 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 2979 | 12.6 | 165 | 184 | 3.98 | 36.6 | 50.2 | 50.5 | 858 |
| 100UC14.8 | 14.8 | 97 | 99 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 1887 | 3.18 | 65.6 | 74.4 | 1.14 | 24.5 | 34.9 | 21.4 | 543 |
Frequently asked questions
- Can a universal column be used as a beam?
- Yes. UCs are often used as short-span or heavily loaded beams, where their wide flanges reduce lateral-torsional buckling.
- What is the largest UC?
- The 310UC158 is the heaviest standard Australian universal column. Larger columns are welded (WC) sections.
Relevant Australian Standards
- AS/NZS 3679.1:2016 Structural steel – Part 1: Hot-rolled bars and sections
Specifies chemical composition, mechanical properties and tolerances for hot-rolled universal beams and columns, channels, angles, flats and bars in Grades 300 and 350. - AS 4100:2020 Steel structures
The Australian design Standard for steel members and connections. Covers section classification (Section 5), member moment capacity including lateral-torsional buckling (5.6), shear (5.11), axial compression (Section 6), tension (Section 7) and combined actions (Section 8). - AS/NZS 5131:2016 Structural steelwork – Fabrication and erection
Fabrication, erection, tolerances, inspection and construction categories (CC1–CC4) for structural steelwork. - AS/NZS 2312.1:2014 & 2312.2:2014 Guide to the protection of structural steel against atmospheric corrosion
Part 1 covers protective paint coatings and Part 2 hot-dip galvanizing; both use the external surface areas given on each section page.