Historic steelwork publication from BCSA

The British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) has published a compendium to its Historical Structural Steelwork Handbook, which was originally published in 1984.

Entitled Historical Structural Iron and Steel Sections it includes additional information for engineers on the material and section properties for historical steel sections.

With many cast iron, wrought iron and early steel structures still in use today, it is essential that engineers have access to practical information on the types of material, their properties and the section sizes used, should such structures require repairs, alterations or strengthening for a change of use.

The BCSA’s Historical Structural Steelwork Handbook has been one of the books to go to for those tasked with inspecting, investigating and assessing historical metallic structures for 35 years. According to the BCSA, the intention of publishing the new publication was not to rewrite the original document, but to build upon it with additional information.

Written by Dr David Gent it brings together in one easy to read publication information that up to now has only been available through a variety of historical documents that few engineers have access to or are able to locate, and will be invaluable in assisting investigations to determine the:

• probable material (i.e. cast iron, wrought iron or steel)
• technical properties of the different members
• origin of the members
• strength of the material from which the members were made

Copies of BCSA’s Historical Structural Iron and Steel Sections can be obtained from www.steelconstruction.org priced at £25 +VAT for Non-BCSA members and £18.75 + VAT for BCSA members.