European Steel Beam Sizes — IPE, HEA & HEB per EN 10365

Complete reference for European hot-rolled beam sections per EN 10365. IPE (I-sections with parallel flanges), HEA (wide-flange, light series), and HEB (wide-flange, heavy series) dimensions, masses, and section properties for structural design per EN 1993-1-1. Including nominal depth, flange width, web and flange thickness, mass per metre, second moment of area, elastic and plastic section moduli.

Standard steel grades: S235, S275, S355, S420, and S460 per EN 10025-2. The tables below include the most commonly specified sections in European building construction.

Quick access: EN 1993 Steel Design → | EN 1993 Steel Grades → | European Steel Properties → | EN 1993 Beam Design → | Beam Capacity Calculator →

Code Reference: EN 10365 and EN 10025-2

EN 10365:2017 specifies the nominal dimensions of hot-rolled structural steel I and H sections. EN 10025-2 specifies the mechanical properties of non-alloy structural steels used for these sections. EN 1993-1-1 provides the design rules using these sections.

IPE Series — Common Sizes and Properties

IPE (I-section Profile Europe) are the standard European I-beams with parallel flanges and tapered web-to-flange transition. They are the most commonly specified beam sections in continental European construction.

HEA Series — Wide-Flange Light

HEA sections have wider flanges than IPE for increased lateral stability and greater bending strength in the minor axis.

HEB Series — Wide-Flange Heavy

HEB sections have the same external dimensions as HEA but with thicker flanges and webs, providing higher load capacity for the same footprint.

Section Selection Guide — IPE vs HEA vs HEB

Worked Example — Beam Capacity

Problem: Select an IPE beam for a 9.0 m simply supported floor beam. Design moment MEd = 280 kNm. Steel grade S355.

Step 1 — Determine required plastic modulus: (W*{pl,y,req} = M*{Ed} \times \gamma_{M0} / f_y = 280 \times 10^6 \times 1.0 / 355 = 788,732) mm³ = 789 cm³

Step 2 — Select section: Try IPE 360: (W*{pl,y} = 1,019) cm³ (> 789) cm³ — OK. (M*{c,Rd} = 1,019 \times 10^3 \times 355 / 1.0 = 361.7) kNm (> 280) kNm — OK.

Step 3 — Check section classification: Web: (c/t = (360 - 2 \times 12.7) / 8.0 = 334.6 / 8.0 = 41.8) Limit for Class 1: (72 \times \epsilon = 72 \times 0.814 = 58.6) → 41.8 < 58.6 → Class 1 web. Flange: (c/t = (170 - 8.0 - 2 \times 12.7) / (2 \times 12.7) = 136.6 / 25.4 = 5.38) Limit for Class 1: (9 \times \epsilon = 9 \times 0.814 = 7.33) → 5.38 < 7.33 → Class 1 flange. Section is Class 1 — plastic moment resistance applicable.

Step 4 — Deflection check: Total load: w = 280 (\times) 8 / 9.0² = 27.7 kN/m. (I_y = 16,270) cm⁴. Approximate deflection: (\delta = 5 \times 27.7 \times 9,000^4 / (384 \times 210,000 \times 16,270 \times 10^4) = 41.4) mm. L/250 = 36 mm — deflection governs. Use IPE 400 (I_y = 23,130 cm⁴) for deflection: (\delta = 41.4 \times 16,270/23,130 = 29.1) mm < 36 mm — OK.

Design Resources

• EN 1993 Steel Grades
• European Steel Properties
• EN 1993 Beam Design
• EN 1993 Column Buckling
• EN 1993 Bolt Capacity
• All European References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between IPE, HEA, and HEB beams? IPE are the standard European I-beams with parallel flanges and depth greater than flange width (h > b). HEA and HEB have wider flanges (h ≈ b) with HEB having thicker flanges and webs than HEA for the same nominal depth. IPE sections are most efficient for simply supported beams in bending (high Iy per kg). HEA/HEB are preferred for columns (better minor axis stiffness) and moment-resisting frames (better lateral-torsional buckling resistance). HEB sections can carry approximately 30-50% more load than the equivalent HEA at the same nominal depth.

What steel grades are standard for European beams? S235, S275, S355, S420, and S460 per EN 10025-2. S355JR and S355J2 are the most common grades for structural steel beams in European building construction. S275 is still used for secondary members, while S235 is increasingly rare for new construction. The UK market has largely standardised on S355J2 for all primary members. For heavily loaded sections, S460 can reduce mass by 20-25% but requires careful deflection and vibration checks.

How are European beam sections designated? European sections follow EN 10365 designation: e.g., "IPE 300" means IPE series with 300 mm nominal depth. HEA 300 means HEA series with 300 mm nominal depth (actual depth 290 mm). HEB 300 has the same 300 mm nominal depth (actual 300 mm). The designation includes the section shape prefix (IPE, HEA, HEB, HEM) and the nominal depth in millimetres. For design, always use the actual dimensions from the manufacturer's table — the nominal depth is approximate for HEA/HEB series.

Which European beam is equivalent to a UK UB section? Approximate equivalents: UK 406×140 UB46 ≈ IPE 400 (both ~400 mm deep, similar mass). UK 457×191 UB67 ≈ IPE 450 or HEA 320. UK 533×210 UB92 ≈ IPE 500. UK 610×229 UB113 ≈ IPE 550 or HEA 400. HEA sections are closer to UK UC (universal column) in proportions. Note that dimensions are not exact substitutes — connections and fit-up must be verified against the actual section dimensions. For projects specifying EN 10365 sections, always use the European sections directly rather than substituting from UK equivalents.

Reference only. Verify all values against the current edition of EN 10365:2017 and EN 10025-2:2019. Section properties are nominal — consult manufacturer data for fabrication and detailing. Educational reference only.