Structural Steel Splice Plates

Structural Steel Splice Plates

Product: Structural Steel Splice Plates
Material: Q235B–Q390 / A36–A709 / S275–S460
Plate Thickness: 6mm – 80mm
Plate Dimensions: Length: 200mm – 3000mm; Width: 100mm – 1200mm
Connection Type: Bolted (bearing / slip-critical) / Welded / Hybrid
Bolt Grade: 8.8s / 10.9s  , A325 / A490 , 8.8 / 10.9
Surface Treatment: Sa 2.5 + epoxy primer / HDG / fire coating
Design Code: AISC 360-22, EN 1993-1-8, GB 50017-2017, AS 4100
MOQ: Small orders accepted
Lead Time: 7–30 days
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Description
Technical Parameters

 

We produce a complete range of structural steel splice plates for beam-to-beam, column-to-column, and truss chord connections. Our product line covers four connection methods - bolted bearing-type, bolted slip-critical, welded, and hybrid - across all standard steel grades from Q235B to Q390, A36 to A709, and S275 to S460. Whether your project calls for standard bolted flange splices for a warehouse portal frame or fatigue-rated slip-critical splices for a crane girder, we have the production capacity and technical capability to deliver.

 

Structural Steel Splice Plates

 

When Are Splice Plates Needed?

 

 

Scenario Explanation
Member Length Exceeds Mill Capacity Standard steel sections (W-shapes, H-beams) are typically available in 12-18m lengths from mills. For longer spans, members must be spliced.
Transportation Limitations Truck/trailer transport typically limited to 12-13m (standard) or 18m (extended permit). Members exceeding these lengths must be spliced on-site.
Column Base-to-Shaft Transition Multi-story buildings use thicker/heavier column sections at lower floors and lighter sections above - spliced at floor levels.
Erection Sequence Requirements Complex structures may require members to be installed in sections due to crane reach, site access, or construction sequencing constraints.
Future Modifications or Extensions Bolted splice plates allow for future disassembly, modification, or extension of the structure - critical for modular and adaptable designs.

 

Structural Steel Splice Plates

 

Specifications of Structural Steel Splice Plates

 

 

Parameter Specification Standard / Code
Steel Material Grade

Q235B / Q345B / Q390 (CN)

A36 / A572 Gr.50 / A709 Gr.50 (US)

S275 / S355 / S460 (EU)

GB/T 700, GB/T 1591, ASTM A36/A572/A709, EN 10025
Plate Thickness 6mm – 80mm GB/T 709, ASTM A6
Plate Dimensions Length: 200mm – 3000mm; Width: 100mm – 1200mm Per project drawings
Connection Type Bolted (bearing / slip-critical) / Welded / Hybrid AISC 360 Ch. J, EN 1993-1-8
Bolt Grade 8.8s / 10.9s  , A325 / A490 , 8.8 / 10.9 GB/T 1231, ASTM F3125, EN 14399
Surface Treatment Sa 2.5 + epoxy primer / HDG / fire coating ISO 8501-1, ASTM A123, EN ISO 12944
Design Code AISC 360-22, EN 1993-1-8, GB 50017-2017, AS 4100 Project-specific

 

Splice Plate Types We Manufacture

 

 

We manufacture splice plates for all major structural joint types. Each type we produce is engineered to meet specific load transfer requirements, fatigue performance, and erection conditions per your project design code.

 

By Member Type

Splice Type Application Our Plate Configuration
Beam Splice Plates Splicing beam segments at lower-moment points (1/4 to 1/3 span) We fabricate flange splice plates (top & bottom) + web splice plates; or full-depth splice plates per your drawings
Column Splice Plates Multi-story column transitions; same/different section splicing We provide flange splice plates (4 sides) + web filler plates; or butt-welded with backing
Truss Chord Splice Plates Truss top/bottom chord splicing; space frame member connections We fabricate gusset plate splices, bolted flange splices for H-section chords, tubular splice sleeves
Crane Girder Splice Plates Crane runway girders subject to fatigue from moving loads We fabricate slip-critical bolted splices only (no welded tension flange); designed per fatigue category

 

Structural Steel Splice Plates

 

Roles of Structural Steel Splice Plates

 

 

Realize Member Extension

When the designed length of steel beams, steel columns or webs exceeds the maximum fixed length of rolled steel products, splice plates are used to connect two or multiple steel segments together.

01

Transfer Internal Forces and Loads

At butt joints, via welds or high-strength bolts between splice plates and primary members, splice plates smoothly transfer tension, compression, shear force and bending moment from one disconnected segment to the other, ensuring continuous force transmission of the whole structure.

02

Boost Sectional Resistance

Additional steel plates installed at weak sections or joints compensate for bearing capacity loss caused by section weakening or disconnection, and even locally enhance structural stiffness.

03

Reduce Stress Concentration and Deformation

During factory prefabrication or field assembly, segmented splicing combined with rational layout of splice plates can effectively adjust and release welding residual stress, controlling the overall structural deformation.

 

04

Facilitate Transportation and Lifting

Extra-long and oversized members cannot be shipped as a whole. Segmented fabrication followed by field assembly with splice plates lowers logistics and construction difficulties.

05

 

Applications of Structural Steel Splice Plates

 

 

Industrial Buildings

Workshops, warehouses, factory frameworks - beam and column splices for portal frames, crane girder splices.

Bridges

Highway and railway bridges - girder splices, truss chord splices, cross-frame connections designed for fatigue.

High-Rise Buildings

Multi-story steel frames - column splices at floor levels, beam splices at moment connection points.

Power & Energy

Power plants, substations, transmission towers - structural member splicing for equipment support frames.

Large-Span Structures

Stadiums, arenas, exhibition halls, airports - truss chord splices, space frame node connections.

Marine & Port

Port crane structures, offshore platforms, wharf frameworks - splice plates with HDG or C5-M coating.

 

        Structural Steel Splice Plates    Structural Steel Splice Plates    Structural Steel Splice Plates

 

Steel Grade Selection Guide for Splice Plates

 

 

Choosing the right steel grade for your splice plates affects both cost and performance. The splice plate material should match or slightly exceed the parent member's yield strength.Below is our practical guide of fabrication across global projects:

 

Parent Member Steel Recommended Splice Plate Yield Strength Typical Project Type
Q235B / A36 / S275 Q235B / A36 / S275 235 / 250 / 275 MPa235/250/275 MPa Standard warehouses, low-rise buildings, non-critical structures
Q345B / A572 Gr.50 / S355 Q345B / A572 Gr.50 / S355 345 / 345 / 355 MPa345/345/355 MPa Industrial buildings, bridges, high-rise frames, crane girders
Q390 / A709 Gr.50 / S460 Q390 / A709 Gr.50 / S460 390 / 345 / 460 MPa390/345/460 MPa Long-span bridges, heavy industrial, seismic structures
Weathering Steel (Q355NH / A588) Q355NH / A588 (matching) 355 / 345 MPa355/345 MPa Unpainted bridges, architectural exposed structures

Note:We source all plate steel from Tier-1 Chinese mills - Shougang, Baosteel, and Ansteel. Every batch arrives with EN 10204 3.1/3.2 Material Test Reports. If your project requires specific mill certification (e.g., Ansteel for Australian projects, Baosteel for Middle East), we accommodate that request.

 

Our Quality Control

 

 

Every splice plate we ship passes through a multi-stage QC checkpoint system - from raw material verification to final coating inspection. Below is what we check, what we certify, and what documentation you receive with each order:

 

Stage Checkpoint What We Verify Record Issued
Incoming Material Mill cert cross-check vs. heat number; thickness measurement; surface defect visual Material Receiving Report + MTR filing
CNC Drilling Hole position ±1.5mm; hole diameter vs. bolt grade; edge distance compliance First Article Inspection (FAI) Report
Welding (if applicable) WPS compliance; welder qualification; visual weld profile; 100% UT on full-pen welds Weld Map + UT Report (ISO 17640)
Dimensional Verification Length, width, thickness, flatness, hole pattern per AWS D1.1 / EN 1090-2 tolerances Dimensional Inspection Repor
Surface Treatment Sa 2.5 surface profile; coating thickness (elcometer); HDG coating weight  Coating Thickness Record
Final Release Compile QC Dossier; cross-check all records; pack with identification tags Project QC Dossier (complete package)
CNC Multi-torch Straight Cutting Machine
CNC Multi-torch Straight Cutting Machine
Gantry-type multi-function submerged arc welding (SAW) machine
Gantry-type multi-function submerged arc welding (SAW) machine
CNC Plane Drilling Machine
CNC Plane Drilling Machine
Heavy-Duty Steel Structure Shot Blasting Machine
Heavy-Duty Steel Structure Shot Blasting Machine

 

How to Order - Simple 4-Step Process

 

 

 
1

Send Drawings

Email us your structural drawings, load specs, design code, and required quantity. We review within 24 hours.

2

Receive Quote

We provide a detailed quotation with material breakdown, fabrication timeline, and total price - including any design optimization suggestions.

3

Approve & Produce

After your drawing approval and deposit, we begin fabrication. You receive weekly progress photos and QC updates.

4

QC & Ship

Final QC, third-party inspection (if required), packaging, and shipping with complete documentation dossier.

Note:To get the fastest and most accurate quotation, please include:

(1) Structural drawings showing splice locations;

(2) Member sizes (W-shape, H-section, etc.);

(3) Design code (AISC, EN, GB);

(4) Bolt grade and diameter;

(5) Surface treatment requirement;

(6) Total quantity and delivery deadline.

 

FAQ:

 

What is the difference between a splice plate and a gusset plate?

 

A splice plate joins two collinear members end-to-end to extend their length or transition between sections. A gusset plate connects multiple non-collinear members at a joint (e.g., truss node where diagonals, verticals, and chords meet). Splice plates transfer forces along the member axis; gusset plates transfer forces between members at different angles.

 

Should I use bolted or welded splice for my project?

 

It depends on load type, erection method, and inspection access. Bolted splices (especially slip-critical) are preferred for dynamic/fatigue loads, field conditions, and future disassembly. Welded splices are preferred for architectural (no visible bolts), rigid moment connections, and shop-fabricated splices. Many projects use hybrid: shop-welded flanges + field-bolted webs.

 

Can splice plates be galvanized?

 

Yes. Hot-dip galvanizing per ASTM A123 is a common surface treatment for splice plates in corrosive environments. However, for slip-critical connections, the galvanized faying surface has a lower slip coefficient (Class C, μ=0.20) compared to blast-cleaned steel (Class A, μ=0.33). This must be accounted for in the design - more bolts or larger plates may be needed.

 

Where should beam splices be located?

 

Beam splices are typically located at points of lower bending moment - approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of the span from the support, where moment is roughly 50-75% of the peak. Avoid splicing at midspan (maximum positive moment) or at the support face (maximum negative moment) unless the splice is designed for full moment capacity.

 

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