SOA category OS18-A
Steel structural components
OS18-A covers steel structural components: factory production and on-site assembly of steel structures for buildings, industrial sheds, bridges and large roofs. It has one fundamental rule: the company must produce the components in its own factory; assembling them is not enough. We also need qualified welders and a welding supervisor.
SOA certification OS18-A: areas of application
OS18-A covers all structural steelwork. The main sectors:
- Industrial and logistics buildings: frames, roof beams and bracing. It is the largest segment, driven by e-commerce and data centres.
- Bridges and viaducts: truss girders, steel-concrete composite bridges, arches and footbridges.
- Large roofs: stadiums, sports halls, exhibition pavilions, hangars and canopies.
- Tall steel buildings: office towers and high-end residential buildings, a growing segment.
- Pylons and towers: supports for power lines, antennas and floodlight towers.
- Infrastructure structures: noise barriers, sign gantries, service walkways.
- Seismic upgrading: steel frames and bracing inserted into existing buildings.
In short: OS18-A is the category of heavy structural steelwork with an in-house factory, an excellence of Made in Italy.
SOA categories related to OS18-A
is the “sister” of OS18-A: it covers curtain walls. In large buildings they coexist: OS18-A for the skeleton, OS18-B for the envelope.
is the equivalent of OS18-A in precast concrete: here too a factory.
is the equivalent in timber (glulam and CLT). Together with OS18-A and OS13 it forms the trio of prefabricated construction.
covers the devices that complete steel structures: bridge joints, bearings and seismic devices.
is often the prevailing category in steel buildings; in industrial sheds, however, OS18-A can carry a lot of weight and be decisive.
is the prevailing category in steel bridges and viaducts, where OS18-A comes in as a separable category.
builds the foundations of steel structures: OS21 works below ground, OS18-A above.
covers light non-load-bearing metalwork (railings, gates, window and door frames), for which OS18-A is not needed.
Why it pays to qualify in OS18-A
OS18-A is very selective: its own factory, certified welders. For those who meet these requirements, this is a strategic advantage:
· major contracts for bridges, viaducts and logistics hubs;
· high-end private construction, such as company headquarters and data centres;
· seismic upgrading of public buildings;
· sustainable projects, because steel is infinitely recyclable.
If you have a metal fabrication workshop and qualified welders, the OS18-A is the natural next step towards securing major contracts for steel structures.
SOA category OS18-A: frequently asked questions
What is the official description of category OS18-A?
Why is assembling steel structures not enough?
Which works count as CEL for OS18-A?
Your next move?
Demonstrate your requirements and turn this knowledge into action: make sure you have the right SOA qualification and don’t hesitate to invest in training and innovation.
