Thread: Steel posts for veranda

Hi guys I retired from welding a few years ago I worked out on the pipelines and power stations refineries and that sort of thing,the other day a neighbours new veranda steel posts turned up on the job and I noticed that the bottom plates were just welded at the corners not all the way round,even though I spent most of my working life on pipes I have welded a plate or two and thought this is a bit odd I asked the steel supply guy what the go was and he told me there was no call to put a full fillet all the way round and welding the corners was the go,this sounds like SH to me and I like the bloke next door so I welded them up for him,a few weeks later I saw the same supply guy deliver stuff up the road so I had a sticky and again it was just tacked on the corners anyway none of my bussiness but I did see the building inspecter turn up pass it and the posts were duly concreted in.I am in Queensland can anyone tell me what the new rules are I am very interested but buying new welding codes is out of my reach.

Like you Rushy, I'd be welding all around. I'd also be welding some short cleats on the sides to assist in imbedding in the concrete and up-lift of the structure.

Possibly the reason/s for only tacking the bottom plate would be to save welding rods / time / money and maybe the unwelded sections are to allow moisture/condensation on the inside of the post to escape but it would also work in reverse thus rusting no matter what. But who knows?

Hi Rushy,

All steel structures nowadays are designed to what is termed "limit state" design, the steel structures code is AS 4100-1998. I'm sure you've heard of limit state before as it's far from a new concept. But the basic premis with all of these veranda/carport suppliers is any method that can save time/materials relative to cost is employed. The design of the veranda including all connections would be done by an engineer and they would have had to prove through calculations that each weld on each corner had sufficient strength to withstand the loads imposed on it. On the subject of welds the code mentions that all welds to be butt, fillet, slot or plug or compound welds it then refers onto the various codes for welding.