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Hollow Structural Sections (HSS) Overview and Benefits
The term Hollow Structural Sections (HSS) refers to high-strength welded steel tubing used as structural elements in buildings and other structures and a variety of manufactured products. It is produced in round, square and rectangular shapes and a broad range of sizes to the ASTM A500, A1085, and A1065 specifications.
High Strength-to-Weight Ratio
HSS often is the most economical structural member due to its structural efficiencies. They have high radii of gyration about both axes providing superior compression performance and significant weight savings.
Aesthetic Appeal
HSS are often favored architecturally because of their smooth sides, rounded corners and closed sections making them an ideal choice when exposing the structure is desired.
Less Surface Area for Coatings
Rectangular (including square) HSS have approximately two-thirds the surface area of an open section of comparable capacity. This means less surface preparation, less painting material and labor and reduced cementitious fireproofing.
Closed Section
Closed sections are advantageous for resisting torsional loads. Additionally, where cleanliness is a requirement like in food processing and other clean facilities, they are a natural choice due to their minimal surfaces to collect dust and debris.
HSS Resources
Live Webinars
Earn your PDHs and gain valuable information on designing with HSS during our live and prerecorded webinars.
Webinars On Demand
View recorded webinars on topics including HSS connections, welding, seismic considerations, AESS, and more.
HSS Capability Tool
This tool helps specifiers and others within the supply chain locate producers of available HSS sizes.
Sustainability
Access the latest sustainability resources including EPDs, articles and webinars.
HSS and WF Column Selection Guide
This free guide pairs W-shapes with HSS shapes to quickly compare strength, weight, and section parameter.
HSS Connex
This web-based software tool offers a simple way to check HSS wall thicknesses to aid in HSS connection design.
HSS Design Manuals
Access our series of technical HSS design manuals complete with examples, written for and by structural engineers.
Spreadsheet Design Aids
Our four aids cover shear, moment and truss connections, and column design, ensuring your design aligns with current AISC specs.
Effective Weld Length Calculator
Calculate the effective weld length for connections to HSS chords for various connection types.
HSS Insider
View issues from our email series featuring technical articles, interviews with industry experts, webinars, design aids and more.
HSS Articles
STI offers over 125 technical and peer articles on HSS topics like connection design, software tools, welding and more.
Limit State Tables
Download our summary of limit states to consider for connections at HSS.
HSS Case Studies
From stadiums and stores to bridges and museums, see how cost-efficient HSS enhanced the aesthetics of these structures.
HSS Member Benefits
Individual and group membership includes free webinars, design tools, discounts and more.
HSS Resource Library
Read the latest technical articles from industry experts, watch helpful videos and more.
Measuring Tolerances
View our STI Tolerance Guide, measurements video and webinar to learn how to check tolerances.
FAQ
STI answers frequently asked questions on HSS connections, design, fabrication and more.
HSS Size and Shape Availability
HSS Producers Capability Tool
Welcome to STI’s HSS Producers Capability Tool. This tool was designed to help specifiers and those within the steel supply chai…
Conduit Producers
Conduit – Stainless Steel Producers
Hollow Structural Sections Producers
HSS Webinars Section
Live Webinars
Looking to earn PDHs and advance your structural engineering expertise? Our live webinars at the Steel Tube Institute offer in-dep…
Webinars ON DEMAND
Earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and expand your structural engineering knowledge with our on-demand webinars at the Ste…
Professional Membership
Professional Membership
HSS Design Tools Section
HSS Connex
Now available! Get unlimited access to HSS Connex. HSS Connex Online provides designers with a simple way to check HSS wall thickn…
Spreadsheet Design Aids
HSS Professional Membership includes access to HSS-specific connection spreadsheet design aids. Each of the four spreadsheets off…
Effective Weld Length Calculator
Calculate the effective weld properties for connections to HSS chords, taking into account the nonuniform loading of the branch we…
HSS Design Manuals and Design Guides
Hollow structural sections (HSS) continue to surge in popularity due to benefits such as design versatility, high strength-to-weight ratio, and increasing availability. To ensure engineers, architects, fabricators and anyone involved in structural steel have a complete technical resource for using HSS, we have created the HSS Design Manuals. The manuals are written by structural engineers for structural engineers and others active in the design and specification of HSS.
The HSS Design Manuals Volumes 1-4 have been updated to incorporate the AISC 360-16 Specification and current HSS shape availability. Click on the links below to order these updated versions.
Digital HSS Design Manuals are solely for individual use unless a Group HSS Professional Membership is purchased.
HSS Design Manual, Volume 1: Section Properties & Design Information
HSS Design Manual, Volume 2A + 2B: Member Design
HSS Design Manual, Volume 3: Connections at HSS Members
HSS Design Manual, Volume 4: Truss & Bracing Connections
HSS design manual 2016 bundle Volumes: 1, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4
Limit State Tables
HSS and WF Column Selection Guide
This free guide pairs W-shapes with HSS shapes to quickly compare axial compression strength, nominal section weight, and more.
HSS Spreadsheet Design Aids
Our four aids cover shear, moment and truss connections, and column design, ensuring your design aligns with current AISC specs.
HSS Effective Weld Length Calculator
Calculate the effective weld length properties for connections to HSS chords for various connection types.
Sustainability
The Steel Tube Institute provides a library of technical articles covering a wide range of topics, including sustainability. These…
Technical Articles and Project Case Studies
Articles
As the world faces increasingly frequent and intense natural disasters, ensuring the nation’s infrastructure is built to last ha…
Case Studies
As the world faces increasingly frequent and intense natural disasters, ensuring the nation’s infrastructure is built to last ha…
Resource Library
As the world faces increasingly frequent and intense natural disasters, ensuring the nation’s infrastructure is built to last ha…
HSS Insider
View issues from our email series featuring technical articles, interviews with industry experts, webinars, design aids and more.
Material Standards
Material Standards
Hollow Structural Sections (HSS) are manufactured in a wide array of square, rectangular and round sizes and adhere to the ASTM A5…