What does IPE stand for and how are sections designated?

IPE stands for I Profile European - the standard European I-beam with parallel flange inner surfaces (unlike the tapered flanges of UKB sections). IPE sections are designated by the prefix IPE followed by nominal depth in mm. For example, IPE 300 is nominally 300 mm deep. The section geometry is standardised in EN 10365:2017.

Are IPE sections available in weathering steel?

Yes. IPE sections are available in S355J2W per EN 10025-5. The weathering grade develops a protective patina and eliminates painting needs in suitable environments. Not all mills carry weathering steel IPE stock; confirm availability and lead times. Avoid in marine environments, continuously damp conditions, or where de-icing salts are present.

What is the difference between IPE and IPN sections?

IPE has parallel flange inner surfaces with constant thickness; IPN has tapered inner flanges (14% slope) with thicker root and thinner toe. IPE is more efficient in bending and better for bolted connections. IPN is the older standard, now largely superseded by IPE for new construction. An IPE 300 (42.2 kg/m) is significantly lighter than IPN 300 (54.2 kg/m) with comparable bending capacity.

How do IPE sections compare with HEA and HEB for beam selection?

IPE sections are lighter and more efficient for pure bending than HEA or HEB of the same depth. IPE 300 (42.2 kg/m, Iy = 8,356 cm^4) has about 60% of HEA 300 weight (88.3 kg/m) but still provides substantial capacity. IPE gives the best strength-to-weight ratio for beams. However, IPE flanges are narrower, providing lower LTB resistance. If LTB governs, HEA or HEB may be more economical overall.

European IPE Section Guide — IPE 80 to 600, Properties, S235-S460, EN 1993

Q: Can IPE sections be used as columns?

IPE can be used as columns but are inefficient compared to HEA/HEB. The narrow flange gives low weak-axis iz, penalising buckling capacity. For Lcr = 3.5 m in S355: IPE 300 Nb,Rd ~ 800 kN vs HEB 200 Nb,Rd ~ 1,700 kN, despite HEB being 100 mm shallower. Only use IPE for columns when strong-axis bending is the dominant action.

Complete reference for European IPE sections — the standard I-profile beams used throughout continental Europe for structural steel framing. Covers IPE 80 to IPE 600, dimensional data, section properties (I, Wpl, Wel, i, Av), steel grades S235 through S460, and selection guidance for typical applications designed to EN 1993-1-1.

Quick access: Section Properties Search | Beam Capacity Calculator | HEA Section Guide | HEB Section Guide

IPE Section Designation

IPE sections follow a simple naming convention: IPE followed by the nominal depth in millimetres.

Element	Value	Example
Prefix	IPE (I Profile European)	IPE
Nominal depth (mm)	Section depth	300
Full designation	—	IPE 300

Standardised in EN 10365:2017 (superseding DIN 1025-5). Produced by all major European mills including ArcelorMittal, Salzgitter, British Steel, and Dillinger.

Key geometric characteristics:

Parallel flange inner and outer faces
Depth-to-flange-width ratio approx. 2.0
Flange thickness approx. 1.6-2.0x web thickness
Root radius 5-24 mm depending on size

IPE Section Properties Table

IPE 80 to IPE 240 (Light Sections)

Section	h (mm)	b (mm)	tw (mm)	tf (mm)	A (cm^2)	Mass (kg/m)	Iy (cm^4)	Wel,y (cm^3)	Wpl,y (cm^3)	iy (cm)	iz (cm)
IPE 80	80	46	3.8	5.2	7.64	6.0	80.1	20.0	23.2	3.24	1.05
IPE 100	100	55	4.1	5.7	10.3	8.1	171	34.2	39.4	4.07	1.24
IPE 120	120	64	4.4	6.3	13.2	10.4	318	53.0	60.7	4.90	1.45
IPE 140	140	73	4.7	6.9	16.4	12.9	541	77.3	88.3	5.74	1.65
IPE 160	160	82	5.0	7.4	20.1	15.8	869	109	124	6.58	1.89
IPE 180	180	91	5.3	8.0	23.9	18.8	1,317	146	161	7.42	2.05
IPE 200	200	100	5.6	8.5	28.5	22.4	1,943	194	221	8.26	2.24
IPE 220	220	110	5.9	9.2	33.4	26.2	2,772	252	286	9.11	2.48
IPE 240	240	120	6.2	9.8	39.1	30.7	3,892	324	368	9.97	2.69

IPE 270 to IPE 400 (Medium Sections)

Section	h (mm)	b (mm)	tw (mm)	tf (mm)	A (cm^2)	Mass (kg/m)	Iy (cm^4)	Wel,y (cm^3)	Wpl,y (cm^3)	iy (cm)	iz (cm)
IPE 270	270	135	6.6	10.2	45.9	36.1	5,790	429	484	11.2	3.02
IPE 300	300	150	7.1	10.7	53.8	42.2	8,356	557	628	12.5	3.35
IPE 330	330	160	7.5	11.5	62.6	49.1	11,770	713	804	13.7	3.55
IPE 360	360	170	8.0	12.7	72.7	57.1	16,270	904	1,019	15.0	3.79
IPE 400	400	180	8.6	13.5	84.5	66.3	23,130	1,156	1,308	16.5	3.95

IPE 450 to IPE 600 (Heavy Sections)

Section	h (mm)	b (mm)	tw (mm)	tf (mm)	A (cm^2)	Mass (kg/m)	Iy (cm^4)	Wel,y (cm^3)	Wpl,y (cm^3)	iy (cm)	iz (cm)
IPE 450	450	190	9.4	14.6	98.8	77.6	33,740	1,500	1,703	18.5	4.12
IPE 500	500	200	10.2	16.0	116	90.7	48,200	1,928	2,198	20.4	4.31
IPE 550	550	210	11.1	17.2	134	106	67,120	2,441	2,789	22.3	4.45
IPE 600	600	220	12.0	19.0	156	122	92,080	3,069	3,512	24.3	4.66

All values from EN 10365:2017. Mass at 7,850 kg/m^3.

IPE Steel Grades

Non-alloy structural steels (EN 10025-2)

Grade	fy (t<=16mm)	fu_min	Typical use
S235JR	235	360	Secondary members, handrails
S275J0	275	410	Floor beams, internal framing
S275J2	275	410	Bridges, cold regions
S355J0	355	470	Standard EU building grade
S355J2	355	470	Bridges, stadia, fatigue
S355J2W	355	470	Weathering steel, architectural

Fine-grain steels (EN 10025-3/4)

Grade	fy (t<=16mm)	Delivery	Application
S355N/NL	355	Normalised	Heavy sections, through-thickness
S420N/NL	420	Normalised	Seismic frames
S460M/ML	460	TMCR	Weight-critical, long-span

Grade selection: S355J0 is the standard European grade for IPE beams. S355J2 for bridges. S460M for weight-critical long-span structures (confirm availability).

Design Properties per EN 1993-1-1

Section classification

All IPE sections in S355 are Class 1 for flange and web in pure bending. Full plastic moment resistance Wpl,y x fy can be developed.

Flexural resistance (y-y axis)

Mc,Rd = Wpl,y x fy / gamma_M0

Example for IPE 300 in S355 (gamma_M0 = 1.00): Mc,Rd = 628 x 10^3 x 355 x 10^-6 = 223 kN-m

Shear resistance

Vpl,Rd = Av,z x (fy / sqrt(3)) / gamma_M0

For IPE 300: Av,z = 25.7 cm^2, Vpl,Rd = 527 kN.

IPE vs HEA vs HEB — Selection Matrix

Criterion	Best	Reason
Minimum weight for bending	IPE	Highest Iy per kg
Minimum depth for bending	HEA	Wider flange reduces depth need
LTB governs	HEB	Widest flange, best Cw
Pure axial compression	HEB	Maximum iz for buckling
Beam-column	HEA	Balance of bending + axial
Simple well-braced beam	IPE	Most economical

Typical Applications

Application	IPE range	Span	Key issues
Secondary floor beams	IPE 240-360	5-8 m	Composite action, deflection
Primary floor beams	IPE 360-500	7-12 m	LTB during construction
Roof purlins	IPE 120-200	4-7 m	Lateral restraint from sheeting
Portal frame rafters	IPE 360-550	12-30 m	Stability, haunch selection
Crane gantry girders	IPE 400-600	5-10 m	Fatigue, lateral deflection
Truss chords	IPE 200-400	3-6 m panel	Buckling between nodes

FAQ

What does IPE mean?

I Profile European — the standard European parallel-flange I-beam per EN 10365:2017. Parallel inner and outer flange faces with constant thickness.

What is the difference between IPE and IPN?

IPE has parallel flanges; IPN has tapered inner flanges (14% slope). IPE is lighter and more efficient. IPN is the older standard, largely superseded.

What is the lightest and heaviest standard IPE?

IPE 80 (6.0 kg/m) to IPE 600 (122 kg/m). Extended sizes (IPE 750) exist but are not standardised in EN 10365.

Can IPE sections be used as columns?

Yes but inefficient. Narrow flanges give low iz, penalising buckling. Only use IPE for columns when strong-axis bending dominates.

What grade for a European building frame?

S355J0 is default and most widely stocked. S355J2 for bridges and fatigue-critical structures. S460M for weight-critical long-span (confirm availability).

How do IPE sections compare with UKB?

IPE has parallel flanges; UKB has tapered flanges (5% slope). IPE 450 (77.6 kg/m) vs 457x191x67 UKB (67 kg/m). The two are not interchangeable.

References

EN 10365:2017 — Hot Rolled Steel Channel, I, and H Sections — Dimensions and Tolerances.
EN 10025-2:2019 — Hot Rolled Products of Structural Steels.
EN 1993-1-1:2005 + A1:2014 — Eurocode 3.
ArcelorMittal Sections and Merchant Bars — Sales Programme.