When choosing cold drawn shaped steel tubes—especially for square, rectangular, or custom profiles—understanding the standards behind them is crucial. Two common specifications are GB/T 3094 from China and EN 10305-5 from the European Union.
This article compares GB/T 3094 and EN 10305-5 in terms of scope, dimensional tolerance, materials, applications, and how YIGE Steel supports both.
Overview of Each Standard
| Aspect | GB/T 3094-2012 | EN 10305-5:2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Region | China | European Union |
| Title | Cold Drawn Shaped Steel Tubes | Steel tubes for precision applications – Cold drawn welded square and rectangular tubes |
| Tube Type | Seamless or welded; cold drawn | Cold drawn welded only tubes |
| Main Application | General structure, machinery, custom frames | Automotive, mechanical engineering, lightweight structures |
| Shape Flexibility | Square, rectangular, oval, custom asymmetric shapes | Square and rectangular only |
| Surface Finish | Pickled, bright, shot-blasted, or as agreed | Bright or specified finish |
📌 EN 10305-5 focuses on precision welded tubes, while GB/T 3094 allows both seamless and welded cold-drawn tubes—including ultra-small R corners and special shapes.
Dimensional and Tolerance Comparison
| Parameter | GB/T 3094 | EN 10305-5 |
|---|---|---|
| OD/Side A/B | 10–600 mm | 10–120 mm (typical range) |
| Wall Thickness (WT) | 0.5–30 mm | 0.5–10 mm (typical) |
| Length | 4–16.5 m (seamless), 6–24 m (welded) | 4–7 m typical |
| Corner Radius | R ≤ 0.5S or sharp (customizable) | Typically larger, rounded |
| Length Tolerance | ±0.15% or by agreement | Class A: ±0.5% or as agreed |
| Straightness | ≤1.5 mm/m | ≤1 mm/m |
📌 GB/T 3094 supports sharp corners and long custom lengths. EN 10305-5 is more standardized, prioritizing consistency for mass production (e.g., automotive tubing).
Material Grades Comparison
| Standard | Material Types | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| GB/T 3094 | Wide range of carbon, alloy, low alloy | Q235B, Q355B, Q460C, 20#, 45#, 40Cr, 35CrMo, 42CrMo |
| EN 10305-5 | Low carbon steels, cold-forming grades | E155, E195, E235, E275, E355 (e.g., EN 10305-1) |
📌 EN 10305 uses “E” grade steels optimized for forming and welding. GB/T 3094 allows high-strength or alloy steels, offering more flexibility in structural strength.
Mechanical Properties
| Property | GB/T 3094 (e.g. Q355B) | EN 10305-5 (e.g. E355) |
|---|---|---|
| Yield Strength | ≥355 MPa | ≥355 MPa |
| Tensile Strength | 470–630 MPa | 490–630 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥20% | ≥22% |
| Impact Resistance | Optional | Not required |
🧪 GB/T 3094 can be produced with quenching + tempering, annealing, or normalizing, allowing high-strength and fatigue-resistant applications.
Use Cases and Applications
| Industry | GB/T 3094 | EN 10305-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Machinery | ✅ Boom arms, outriggers, sliding beams | ❌ Rare |
| Automotive | ✅ Bus frames, truck brackets (small batches) | ✅ Roll bars, cross members, steering columns |
| Agricultural Equipment | ✅ Harvester frames, lightweight supports | ✅ Machine enclosures, chassis systems |
| Structural Support | ✅ Custom buildings, racks, containers | ✅ Modular furniture, display systems |
| OEM / Custom | ✅ Laser-cut custom profiles | ❌ Not designed for custom cross sections |
📌 If you need non-standard shapes, heavy wall thickness, or high-strength tubes, GB/T 3094 is preferred. For automated precision welding, EN 10305-5 is optimal.
Can GB/T 3094 Replace EN 10305-5?
Yes, in many applications, especially if:
- You need custom shapes or sizes not available in EN 10305-5
- You require seamless square/rectangular tubes, which EN 10305-5 does not cover
- Your customer accepts dimensional and performance equivalence (not CE-marked)
- Strength and wall thickness requirements exceed EN limits
But be cautious when:
- CE compliance for EU construction is mandatory
- EN 10305-5-specific tolerances or steel grades are contractually required
- You’re supplying to large-scale automotive OEMs with fixed EN design parameters
YIGE Steel’s Advantage with GB/T 3094
At YIGE Steel, we specialize in cold drawn shaped tubes under GB/T 3094:
- ✅ OD: 10–600 mm, WT: 1–30 mm
- ✅ Ultra-sharp corners, small R (R ≤ 0.5S), high flatness
- ✅ Materials: Q355B, Q460C/D, Q690D, alloy steels
- ✅ Mold library: 400+ existing; 5–7 days for custom profiles
- ✅ Surface options: Pickled, shot-blasted, galvanized, laser cut
- ✅ MOQ: 1 ton (seamless), 25 tons (welded)
- ✅ ISO 9001, CE, BV, IATF16949 certified
Need to replace EN 10305-5 with custom GB/T 3094 profiles? We’ll help with drawings, mold matching, and inspection documentation.
Conclusion
GB/T 3094 and EN 10305-5 both serve high-precision applications—but in different ways.
- Use EN 10305-5 for standard-size welded square/rectangular tubes, especially in automotive and modular engineering
- Use GB/T 3094 when you need custom profiles, heavy-duty applications, or seamless high-strength performance
At YIGE Steel, we provide both welded and seamless shaped tubes with fast prototyping, small batch capability, and engineering support to help you bridge any standard gap.
