------------ | ------------------- | -------------------------- | | Calculations/day | 50 | 55 per referred colleague | | Calculations/hour | 10 | 10 (unchanged) | | Saved calculations | Unlimited | Unlimited | | Schema/exports | Result viewing only | Result viewing only | | Cost | Free | Free |
Bonuses stack. Refer 5 colleagues and get 50 + 25 = 75 calculations per day — still completely free.
Your Referral Code
Find your code in Profile Settings after registering. Your unique referral link looks like:
https://steelcalculator.app/ref/YOUR_CODE
What Referral Bonuses Unlock
The extra +5 calculations per referral add up quickly. Here is what different referral counts mean in practice:
| Referrals | Daily Limit | Workflow Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 50 | Evaluate 10 beam designs (5 calcs each) |
| 2 | 60 | 10 beams + 2 connection checks |
| 5 | 75 | Full day of iteration: beams, columns, connections, base plates |
| 10 | 100 | Heavy design day with multiple load combinations + verification |
For a structural engineer reviewing 3-4 connection designs per day, 50 calculations covers preliminary sizing comfortably. With 75+ calculations (5 referrals), you can run full designs with multiple load combinations, section iterations, and verification checks -- all within the free tier.
How Referrals Benefit Your Team
When structural engineers on the same team refer each other, everyone wins. A team of 5 who each refer 4 colleagues gets 70 calculations/day per person -- enough for full design workflows without hitting limits. This is especially useful during:
- Project kickoffs: Multiple beam, column, and connection checks in parallel
- Peer review: Running independent verification calculations alongside a colleague
- Design iteration: Testing alternate sections and load paths without stopping
- Learning and training: Junior engineers running practice calculations alongside senior reviews
Referral Program vs Enterprise Plans
The referral program is designed for individual engineers and small teams who want more capacity without upgrading. For larger firms (10+ engineers), Enterprise plans offer consolidated billing, admin management, priority support, and higher per-user limits without requiring each engineer to earn referrals.
How the Referral Program Works
The Steel Calculator referral program rewards you for helping colleagues discover the tool:
For every colleague who registers through your referral link:
- You get +5 extra calculations per day (stackable, up to +25/day)
- Your colleague also gets +5 extra calculations per day
- Referrals are tracked via unique referral links in your account dashboard
Referral Program Rules
- Referral links are generated after registration — one unique link per user
- The referred user must register through the link to qualify
- Both parties receive the benefit for 30 days from the new user's registration
- Maximum 5 active referral bonuses per account (no limit on referrals themselves)
- Referral bonuses are in addition to the standard 50 free calculations per day for registered users
Strategic Tip
Share your referral link in engineering team channels, on LinkedIn, or with study groups preparing for PE/SE exams. The tool is particularly useful for students and early-career structural engineers who are actively performing structural steel calculations and would benefit from quick cross-checks against manual calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Australian Standard governs structural steel design?
AS 4100-2020 (Steel Structures) is the primary standard for structural steel design in Australia. It covers all aspects of design including member capacity, connections, serviceability, and fire resistance. The standard uses a limit states design philosophy with resistance factors (ÃÂÃÂ) applied to nominal capacities. Companion standards include AS/NZS 3679.1 for hot-rolled sections, AS/NZS 1554 for welding, and AS/NZS 4600 for cold-formed steel.
What are the common steel grades used in Australian construction?
The most common steel grades for Australian construction are Grade 300 and Grade 350 per AS/NZS 3679.1. Grade 300 (minimum yield 300 MPa for sections > 12 mm thick) is the standard for general structural applications. Grade 350 (minimum yield 340 MPa for sections > 12 mm) is used where higher strength reduces weight. Grade 400 and Grade 450 are available for specialized applications requiring higher strength-to-weight ratios.
How does AS 4100 compare to AISC 360?
Both AS 4100 and AISC 360 use limit states design (LRFD) principles. Key differences include: AS 4100 uses a single "capacity factor" ÃÂàapproach rather than separate ÃÂàfor different failure modes; AS 4100 specifies distinct buckling curves for hot-rolled and welded sections; the moment capacity formula in AS 4100 uses ÃÂñm factor directly rather than Cb; and AS 4100 has more detailed provisions for slender sections and combined actions. Despite philosophical differences, both codes produce similar results for typical members.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleagues can I refer? As many as you want. Each colleague who registers through your link and completes their first calculation adds +5 to your daily limit. There is no cap on total referrals.
Does my colleague also get the bonus? Yes. The referral program benefits both sides. When your colleague registers through your link, both accounts get +5 calculations per day. Your colleague starts with 55/day instead of the standard 50/day free tier.
How long does the bonus last? The bonus is permanent as long as your referred colleague remains active. If their account is inactive for more than 90 days, the bonus may be reviewed, but standard usage keeps the bonus active indefinitely.
Can I refer someone at the same company? Absolutely. In-firm referrals are encouraged -- structural engineers working together benefit from shared access to calculation tools across AISC 360, AS 4100, EN 1993, and CSA S16 standards.
Does the bonus reset daily? Each day at midnight UTC, your calculation limit resets to 50 + (5 x active referrals). Unused calculations do not roll over. The referral bonus applies to the daily limit, not the hourly limit (which stays at 10/hour regardless of referrals).
Is there an enterprise plan for teams? Yes. See the Enterprise page for team and firm-wide plans with consolidated billing, admin controls, and higher calculation limits.
Try it now: Check your steel design with our free Steel Beam Capacity calculator âÃÂÃÂ
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Results must be verified by a licensed professional engineer. Steel Calculator provides preliminary design tools — NOT a substitute for professional engineering judgment.