Section 3 BS 5950-1:2000 3.4 Section properties 3.4.1 Gross cross-section Gross cross-section properties should be determined from the specified shape and nominal dimensions of the member or element. Holes for bolts should not be deducted, but due allowance should be made for larger ‘openings. Material used solely in splices or as battens should not be included. 3.4.2 Net area ‘The net area of a cross-section or an element of a cross-section should be taken as its gross area, less the deductions for bolt holes given in 8.4.4. 3.4.8 Effective net area ‘The effective net area a, of each element of a cross-section with bolt holes should be determined from: = Kety but a, < ay in which the effective net area coefficient K, is given by: — for grade $ 276: — for grade $ 355: — for grade S 460; — for other steel grades: where Uy\.2og is the gross area ofthe element; , isthe net area ofthe element; py isthe design strength; U, isthe specified minimum tensile strength. 8.4.4 Deductions for bolt holes 3.4.4.1 Hole area In deducting for bolt holes (including countersunk holes), the sectional area of the hole in the plane ofits ‘own axis should be deducted, not that of the bolt. 3.4.4.2 Holes not staggered Provided that the bolt holes are not staggered, the area to be deducted should be the sum of the sectional areas of the bolt holes in a cross-section perpendicular to the member axis or direction of direct stress. 8.4.4.3 Staggered holes ‘Whore the bolt holes are staggered, the area to be deducted should be the greater of: 1) the deduction for non-staggered holes given in 8.4.4.2; ») the sum of the sectional areas of a chain of holes lying on any diagonal or zig-zag line extending progressively across the member or element, see Figure 3, less an allowance of 0.25s2tg for each gauge space g that it traverses diagonally, where: 4 is the gauge spacing perpendicular to the member axis or direction of direct stress, between the centres of two consecutive holes in the chain, see Figure 3; 8 is the staggored pitch, ie, the spacing parallel to the member axis or direction of direct stress, between the centres of the same two holes, see Figure 3; tis the thickness of the holed material For sections such as angles with holes in both legs, the gauge spacing g should be taken as the sum of the back marks to each hole, less the leg thickness, see Figure 4 27