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If your drawing specifies AS/NZS 1163 C350L0, finding a supplier that can produce the required hollow section is only the first step.
For Australian structural steel projects, buyers may also need to confirm the exact section size, wall thickness, impact-test requirements, material traceability, certification scope and inspection documents before placing an order.
This guide focuses on the practical information procurement teams should check when sourcing AS/NZS 1163 C350L0 steel hollow sections.
What Is AS/NZS 1163 C350L0?
AS/NZS 1163 covers cold-formed structural steel hollow sections, including:
- CHS — Circular Hollow Sections
- SHS — Square Hollow Sections
- RHS — Rectangular Hollow Sections
In the C350L0 designation, C identifies a cold-formed structural hollow section and 350 represents the nominal minimum yield strength grade of 350 MPa.
The L0 designation is particularly important for procurement. It indicates specified Charpy impact properties at 0°C.
Therefore, if a project drawing specifies C350L0, buyers should not treat C350 and C350L0 as interchangeable grades without project approval.
When Should You Specify C350L0 Instead of C350?
The correct grade should always follow the engineering drawing, project specification or approved material schedule.
C350L0 may be specified where verified impact toughness is required, including certain structural members, welded structures and applications subject to dynamic loading.
For procurement teams, the safest approach is simple:
Quote exactly the grade shown on the drawing.
If C350L0 is unavailable in the required size, a proposed substitution should be submitted for approval rather than changed during purchasing.
This prevents a cheaper quotation from becoming an expensive material rejection later.
What Information Should You Send for a C350L0 Quote?
An RFQ that only says “AS1163 pipe” usually requires additional clarification before an accurate quotation can be prepared.
For a faster quote, provide:
Section Type and Dimensions
Specify CHS, SHS or RHS together with the complete dimensions and wall thickness.
For example:
AS/NZS 1163 C350L0 – RHS 150 × 100 × 6 mm
Do not rely only on a general description such as “150 mm structural tube.”
Length and Quantity
State the required mill or cut length and either the number of pieces or total tonnage.
Non-standard lengths can affect production planning, container loading and landed cost.
Surface Requirement
Confirm whether the hollow sections are required black, oiled, painted, galvanized or supplied with another specified surface treatment.
Surface requirements should be confirmed before production rather than added after the base steel quotation.
Certification and Inspection
If your project requires ACRS certification, third-party inspection, specific MTC documentation or additional testing, include these requirements in the original RFQ.
This allows the supplier to confirm whether the requested product falls within the required certification and testing scope before quoting.
How Should Buyers Check a C350L0 MTC?
Do not check only whether “AS/NZS 1163” appears at the top of the certificate.
The material test certificate should be traceable to the supplied material.
Before shipment, check the:
- manufacturer;
- standard and grade;
- section dimensions;
- heat number;
- chemical composition;
- yield and tensile results;
- elongation;
- applicable impact-test results;
- product identification and traceability information.
For C350L0, the impact-test information deserves particular attention because the L0 designation is part of the ordered grade.
The physical marking, bundle identification and MTC should also provide a consistent traceability chain.
Does an ACRS Certificate Cover Every C350L0 Size?
Not necessarily.
An ACRS certificate has a defined product scope. Depending on the certificate, this may identify the manufacturing location, applicable standard, grade, section type, dimensions and wall-thickness range.
This creates an important procurement distinction:
“The manufacturer has ACRS certification” is not the same as “this exact product is covered by the certificate.”
When ACRS is required by the project, buyers should verify that the ordered C350L0 section falls within the applicable certificate scope.
What Can Increase the Cost of an AS/NZS 1163 Order?
Two C350L0 quotations can have different prices even when the nominal section size appears identical.
Common cost variables include:
- order quantity;
- wall thickness;
- non-standard lengths;
- galvanizing or coating;
- testing requirements;
- third-party inspection;
- certification requirements;
- packing;
- container utilization;
- delivery destination.
This is why comparing quotations only by USD/ton can be misleading.
A lower material price may not be the lower project cost if testing, documentation, cutting or shipping requirements have been excluded.
A Better Way to Compare C350L0 Suppliers
Before approving an AS/NZS 1163 C350L0 supplier, compare more than the base steel price.
Confirm three things first:
Can the supplier manufacture the exact section?
Check section type, dimensions, thickness, length and quantity.
Can the required compliance documents be supplied?
Confirm MTC, traceability, certification and inspection requirements.
Does the quotation cover the same scope?
Compare coating, testing, packing, delivery terms and documentation before comparing final prices.
Resolving these points before production can reduce specification changes, document disputes and delays at the project stage.
Request an AS/NZS 1163 C350L0 Quote from UNIACERO
UNIACERO supplies structural steel pipe and hollow sections for international projects.
If you are sourcing AS/NZS 1163 C350L0 CHS, SHS or RHS, send us your drawing, BOQ or material schedule together with the required quantity and destination.
For a faster quotation, include:
Standard + Grade + Section + Size + Wall Thickness + Length + Quantity + Surface + Certification Requirement + Destination
Our team can review the requested product and documentation requirements before quotation, helping you identify specification issues before the order enters production.
Send your AS/NZS 1163 C350L0 requirement to UNIACERO for a project-specific quotation.
FAQs:
1. What does C350L0 mean?
C indicates a cold-formed structural hollow section, while 350 identifies the nominal minimum yield strength grade. L0 indicates specified impact properties at 0°C.
2. Is C350 the same as C350L0?
No. They belong to the same strength grade, but C350L0 includes specified impact requirements at 0°C. Follow the project specification when selecting the grade.
3. Is AS 1163 the same as AS/NZS 1163?
AS 1163 is commonly used as a shortened reference. Purchase orders and project documentation should use the complete standard designation and applicable edition required by the project.
4. What sections are available under AS/NZS 1163?
The standard covers cold-formed structural hollow sections including CHS, SHS and RHS.
5. What should I include in an AS/NZS 1163 RFQ?
Include the standard, grade, section type, dimensions, wall thickness, length, quantity, surface requirement, inspection or certification requirements and delivery destination.
6. Can I request an MTC before ordering?
You can request the required document format and confirm the supplier’s documentation capability before ordering. Final production-specific test results correspond to the material actually manufactured and supplied.