INDEX NO..

0078
MATERIAL MANUAL
FIRST ISSUED
MATERIAL SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATION NO
3-20-47 EMS 53
ORIGINATOR REV DATE BY
W.J. Brechtel ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIVISION G 10-23-00 RFC D62707
APPROVED GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
B.L.Braglia LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS

NAME: STRUCTURAL STEEL TUBING – SQUARE, RECTANGULAR & ROUND

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Standards:

Steel tubing furnished to this specification shall meet the requirements of

ASTM A500 or CSA G40.21, as herein amended. The latest revision shall
apply in either case.

2. Chemical Composition (Heat Analysis):

The supplier shall furnish one of the following compositions at his option.

CSA G40.21 ASTM A500

Grade 50W Grade B Grade C
Carbon, % 0.23 max. 0.26 max. 0.23 max.
Manganese 0.50-1.50 ----- 1.35 max.
Phosphorus 0.04 max. 0.035 max. 0.035 max.
Sulfur 0.05 max. 0.035 max. 0.035 max.
Silicon 0.40 max. ----- -----
Other 0.10 max. a,b b b

(a) Grain refining elements – The elements columbium and vanadium

may be used singly or in combination up to the total percentage
indicated, except that if columbium is used singly, or in combination
with vanadium, in wall thicknesses greater than ½ inch, the silicon
content shall be 0.15% minimum. Aluminum may be used as a
grain refining element without prior approval by the purchaser, and
when so used, shall not be included in the summation of grain
refining elements.

(b) Copper content to be 0.20% minimum when specified in purchase

order.

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 INDEX NO. 0078
MATERIALS MANUAL
GENERAL MOTORS
CORPORATION MATERIAL SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATION NO.
EMS 53
Rev. G 10-23-00
LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIVISION (CONTINUED)

3. Mechanical Properties:

CSA G40.21 ASTM A500

Gr. 50W Gr.B Gr.C
Tensile Strength, KSI 65-90 58 min. 62 min.
Yield Strength, KSI, Minimum 50 46c 50c
Elongation in 2”, %, Minimum 22a 23b 21b
a - Subject to the restrictions of CSA G40.20.
b - Subject to the restrictions of ASTM A500.
c- Round tubing supplied to ASTM A500 shall have a minimum
yield strength of 42 KSI for Grade B and 46 KSI for Grade C.
(See also Section 5.)

4. Small Size Exception:

In instances where the required tubing size is too small to be commercially

available to structural tubing specifications (and for this reason only) it is
permissible to substitute mechanical tubing to specification ASTM A513-
Type 1 or Type 2. Guidelines on sizes and information on steel grades
and properties of mechanical tubing are provided in General Information –
Section B.

5. Handrail Exception: Round structural tubing, supplied for handrail

applications, shall be furnished only in types CSA G40.21-Grade 50W or
ASTM A500-Grade C, in order to meet minimum yield strength design
requirements.

6. Tolerances:

A. Outside Cross Sectional Dimensions – Outside dimensions

measured across the flats or diameter at positions at least 2 inches
from either end of the tubing, including an allowance for convexity
or concavity, shall not vary from the specified dimensions of the
section by more than the tolerances prescribed below.

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 INDEX NO. 0078
MATERIALS MANUAL
GENERAL MOTORS
CORPORATION MATERIAL SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATION NO.
EMS 53
Rev. G 10-23-00
LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIVISION (CONTINUED)

6. Tolerances: (continued)

Largest Outside Dimension Tolerance*

Inches Inches

To 2-1/2 inclusive + 0.02

Over 2-1/2 – 3-1/2 inclusive + 0.03
Over 3-1/2 – 5-1/2 inclusive + 0.04
Over 5-1/2 + 1%

*Tolerance includes allowance for convexity or concavity.

Tolerance may be increased 50 per cent when applied to the
smaller dimension of rectangular sections whose ratio of cross-
sectional dimensions is between 1.5 and 3, and 100 percent when
this ratio exceeds 3.

B. Wall Thickness – Maximum allowable variation is +10% from

nominal, excluding the weld zone. Rectangular and square tubing
is to be measured at the center of the flat.

C. Radius of Corners – For rectangular or square tubing, the radius of

any outside corner of the section shall not exceed three times the
specified wall thicknesses.

D. Squareness of Sides – For rectangular or square tubing, adjacent

sides may deviate from 90o by a tolerance of +2o maximum.

E. Length – Permissible mill length tolerance:

+ one inch for lengths 24’ and under

+ two inches for lengths over 24’

F. Straightness –

Maximum deviation (inches): 1/8 inch x length in feet

5

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 INDEX NO. 0078
MATERIALS MANUAL
GENERAL MOTORS
CORPORATION MATERIAL SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATION NO.
EMS 53
Rev. G 10-23-00
LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIVISION (CONTINUED)

G. Twist - Twist is measured either by holding down one end of a

square or rectangular tube on a flat surface plate with the bottom
side of the tube parallel to the surface plate and noting the
difference in height above the surface plate of the two corners at
the opposite end of the bottom side of the tube or by measuring this
difference on the heavier sections by a suitable measuring device.
The difference in the height of the corners shall not exceed the
values show below. Twist measurements are not to be taken within
2 in. (50 mm) of either end of the product.

Largest Outside Maximum Twist

Dimension Per 3 Feet of Length
Inches Inches
------------------------------------- ----------------------------
To 1-1/2 inclusive 0.050
Over 1-1/2 – 2-1/2 inclusive 0.062
Over 2-1/2 – 4 inclusive 0.075
Over 4 – 6 inclusive 0.087
Over 6 – 8 inclusive 0.100
Over 8 0.112

GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. EMS 53 covers structural steel tubing. This material is commonly

produced from hot rolled carbon steel flat stock, which is cold formed and
electric resistance welded. Tubing is normally furnished without removal
of the internal welding flash. Ends are square cut with minimal burr
present, unless otherwise specified.

Seamless tubing is also permitted (under ASTM A500) but is not

commonly supplied. In terms of grade availability, CSA G40.21-grade
50W (in Canada) and ASTM A500-grade B (In the USA) are the industry
standards.

EMS 53 tubing is normally used in welded applications, such as cab

structure, sub-base and equipment rack. Round tubing is used for
handrails. Structural tubing is usually purchased in 20 to 24 foot stock
lengths.

B. The use of mechanical tubing is permitted under this specification to cover

small sizes which are not available to structural specifications (see Section
4). Mechanical tubing is formed from flat stock and electric resistance
welded, similar to structural tubing, but is not made to specified chemical
or tensile requirements. It is commonly made from low carbon steels in

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 INDEX NO. 0078
MATERIALS MANUAL
GENERAL MOTORS
CORPORATION MATERIAL SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATION NO.
EMS 53
Rev. G 10-23-00
LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIVISION (CONTINUED)

GENERAL INFORMATION (Cont.)

the 1010 to 1015 range, with tensile properties lower than those of structural
steel. In general, the use of this option may become necessary for squares
smaller than 1” x 1”, for rectangles below the 1-1/2” x 1” to 2-1/2” x 1-1/2” range,
for rounds under 1” O.D. and for wall thicknesses below the .100” to .120” range.

DRAFTING INFORMATION:

Where use of this material is specified, it shall be designated as:

MATERIAL: EMS 53 __________ STL. TUBING

(Insert – RECT., SQ. or ROUND – as appropriate.)

NOTE: These specifications were developed without considering whether

patents may or may not be involved. In all cases, therefore, the
supplier shall be required to assume patent liability.

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