UK Steel Beam Sizes — Universal Beam (UB), Universal Column (UC), PFC Sizes
Complete reference for Universal Beams (UB), Universal Columns (UC), and Parallel Flange Channels (PFC) per BS EN 10365 and the SCI Blue Book. Dimensions, weights, and section properties for the most commonly specified UK steel sections. All values are from published standards (SCI P363, Tata Steel sections database, BS EN 10365:2017). Verify against the current edition of the relevant mill certificate or standard before procurement.
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UK Section Families
UK steel construction uses four main hot-rolled section families:
| Family | Designation | Description | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Beam | UKB | Narrow flange, deeper for weight | Beams, girders, portal frames |
| Universal Column | UKC | Nearly square, thick flanges | Columns, heavily loaded beams |
| Parallel Flange Channel | PFC | C-shaped channel section | Purlins, bracing, edge beams |
| Universal Bearing Pile | UBP | Very thick flanges and web | Deep foundations, basement columns |
Universal Beams (UKB) — Common Sizes
The 20 most specified Universal Beam sections in UK construction. S275 and S355 are the standard structural steel grades per BS EN 10025-2.
| Designation | D (mm) | B (mm) | tw (mm) | tf (mm) | Mass (kg/m) | Iy (cm4) | Wel,y (cm3) | Wpl,y (cm3) | ry (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 152x89x16 UB | 152.4 | 88.7 | 4.5 | 7.7 | 16.0 | 834 | 109 | 123 | 6.57 |
| 178x102x19 UB | 177.8 | 101.2 | 4.8 | 7.9 | 19.0 | 1360 | 153 | 172 | 7.70 |
| 203x133x25 UB | 203.2 | 133.2 | 5.7 | 7.8 | 25.1 | 2340 | 230 | 258 | 8.80 |
| 203x133x30 UB | 206.8 | 133.9 | 6.4 | 9.6 | 30.0 | 2900 | 280 | 316 | 8.96 |
| 254x146x31 UB | 251.4 | 146.1 | 6.0 | 8.6 | 31.1 | 4410 | 351 | 394 | 10.83 |
| 254x146x37 UB | 256.0 | 146.4 | 6.3 | 10.9 | 37.0 | 5560 | 434 | 487 | 11.19 |
| 305x127x37 UB | 304.4 | 123.4 | 7.1 | 10.7 | 37.0 | 7170 | 471 | 538 | 12.70 |
| 305x165x40 UB | 303.4 | 165.0 | 6.0 | 10.2 | 40.3 | 8500 | 560 | 625 | 13.24 |
| 305x165x46 UB | 306.6 | 165.7 | 6.7 | 11.8 | 46.1 | 9900 | 646 | 722 | 13.35 |
| 356x171x45 UB | 351.4 | 171.1 | 7.0 | 9.7 | 45.0 | 12100 | 688 | 778 | 14.91 |
| 356x171x51 UB | 355.0 | 171.5 | 7.4 | 11.5 | 51.0 | 14100 | 796 | 900 | 15.16 |
| 406x178x54 UB | 402.6 | 177.7 | 7.7 | 10.9 | 54.1 | 18700 | 930 | 1050 | 16.94 |
| 406x178x60 UB | 406.4 | 177.9 | 7.9 | 12.8 | 60.1 | 21600 | 1060 | 1200 | 17.29 |
| 457x191x67 UB | 453.4 | 189.9 | 8.5 | 12.7 | 67.1 | 29400 | 1300 | 1480 | 19.09 |
| 457x191x74 UB | 457.0 | 190.4 | 9.0 | 14.5 | 74.3 | 33300 | 1460 | 1660 | 19.31 |
| 533x210x82 UB | 528.3 | 208.8 | 9.6 | 13.2 | 82.2 | 47500 | 1800 | 2060 | 21.93 |
| 533x210x92 UB | 533.1 | 209.3 | 10.1 | 15.6 | 92.1 | 55200 | 2070 | 2370 | 22.35 |
| 610x229x101 UB | 602.6 | 227.6 | 10.5 | 14.8 | 101.2 | 75800 | 2510 | 2880 | 25.00 |
| 610x229x113 UB | 607.6 | 228.2 | 11.1 | 17.3 | 113.0 | 87300 | 2870 | 3300 | 25.38 |
| 686x254x125 UB | 677.9 | 253.7 | 11.7 | 16.2 | 125.2 | 118000 | 3480 | 3990 | 28.02 |
Source: SCI P363 — Steel Building Design: Design Data (Blue Book). Values for S275/S355 steel. Check the current SCI edition for the most up-to-date values.
Universal Columns (UC) — Common Sizes
Universal Columns have nearly equal depth and width, with thicker flanges optimised for compression resistance. Used for columns, heavily loaded beams, and frame columns in multi-storey construction.
| Designation | D (mm) | B (mm) | tw (mm) | tf (mm) | Mass (kg/m) | Iy (cm4) | iz (cm) | A (cm2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 152x152x23 UC | 152.4 | 152.2 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 23.0 | 1250 | 3.70 | 29.3 |
| 152x152x30 UC | 157.6 | 152.9 | 6.5 | 9.4 | 30.0 | 1750 | 3.86 | 38.3 |
| 152x152x37 UC | 161.8 | 154.4 | 8.0 | 11.5 | 37.0 | 2210 | 3.93 | 47.3 |
| 203x203x46 UC | 203.2 | 203.6 | 7.2 | 11.0 | 46.1 | 4570 | 5.13 | 58.8 |
| 203x203x52 UC | 206.2 | 204.3 | 7.9 | 12.5 | 52.0 | 5260 | 5.18 | 66.5 |
| 203x203x60 UC | 209.6 | 205.8 | 9.4 | 14.2 | 60.0 | 6120 | 5.19 | 76.6 |
| 203x203x71 UC | 215.8 | 206.4 | 10.0 | 17.3 | 71.0 | 7690 | 5.33 | 90.6 |
| 254x254x73 UC | 254.1 | 254.6 | 8.6 | 14.2 | 73.1 | 11400 | 6.46 | 93.3 |
| 254x254x89 UC | 260.3 | 256.3 | 10.3 | 17.3 | 88.9 | 14300 | 6.53 | 113.5 |
| 254x254x107 UC | 266.7 | 258.8 | 12.8 | 20.5 | 107.1 | 17500 | 6.57 | 136.8 |
| 305x305x97 UC | 307.9 | 305.3 | 9.9 | 15.4 | 96.9 | 22200 | 7.79 | 123.5 |
| 305x305x118 UC | 314.5 | 307.4 | 12.0 | 18.7 | 117.9 | 27600 | 7.85 | 150.3 |
| 305x305x137 UC | 320.5 | 309.2 | 13.8 | 21.7 | 136.9 | 32800 | 7.91 | 174.7 |
| 356x368x129 UC | 355.6 | 368.6 | 10.4 | 17.5 | 129.0 | 40200 | 10.16 | 164.1 |
| 356x368x153 UC | 362.0 | 370.5 | 12.3 | 20.7 | 152.9 | 48600 | 10.23 | 195.1 |
Source: SCI P363 Blue Book. UC sections are also available in S460 steel per BS EN 10025-3 (verify mill availability).
Parallel Flange Channels (PFC) — Common Sizes
PFC sections are used as purlins, side rails, bracing members, and edge beams. They are also commonly used in built-up box columns and crane girders.
| Designation | D (mm) | B (mm) | tw (mm) | tf (mm) | Mass (kg/m) | Iy (cm4) | Wpl,y (cm3) | cy (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100x50x10 PFC | 100 | 50 | 5.0 | 8.5 | 10.2 | 207 | 25.5 | 14.1 |
| 125x65x15 PFC | 125 | 65 | 5.5 | 9.5 | 14.8 | 486 | 48.7 | 17.7 |
| 150x75x18 PFC | 150 | 75 | 5.5 | 10.0 | 17.9 | 861 | 73.6 | 20.2 |
| 150x90x24 PFC | 150 | 90 | 6.5 | 12.0 | 23.9 | 1110 | 97.4 | 23.7 |
| 180x75x20 PFC | 180 | 75 | 6.0 | 10.5 | 20.3 | 1380 | 98.5 | 19.6 |
| 180x90x26 PFC | 180 | 90 | 6.5 | 12.5 | 26.1 | 1760 | 130 | 23.4 |
| 200x75x23 PFC | 200 | 75 | 6.0 | 12.5 | 23.4 | 1950 | 129 | 20.5 |
| 200x90x30 PFC | 200 | 90 | 7.0 | 14.0 | 29.7 | 2490 | 172 | 23.9 |
| 230x75x26 PFC | 230 | 75 | 6.5 | 12.5 | 25.7 | 2800 | 171 | 20.1 |
| 230x90x32 PFC | 230 | 90 | 7.5 | 14.0 | 32.2 | 3510 | 220 | 23.4 |
| 260x75x28 PFC | 260 | 75 | 7.0 | 12.0 | 27.8 | 3830 | 223 | 19.3 |
| 260x90x35 PFC | 260 | 90 | 8.0 | 14.0 | 34.8 | 4880 | 294 | 22.8 |
| 300x90x41 PFC | 300 | 90 | 9.0 | 15.5 | 41.4 | 7230 | 399 | 23.1 |
| 300x100x46 PFC | 300 | 100 | 9.0 | 16.5 | 45.5 | 8200 | 452 | 26.2 |
| 380x100x54 PFC | 380 | 100 | 9.5 | 17.5 | 54.0 | 15000 | 686 | 27.1 |
| 430x100x64 PFC | 430 | 100 | 11.0 | 19.0 | 64.4 | 21900 | 911 | 28.2 |
Source: SCI P363 Blue Book / Tata Steel sections. The shear centre distance cy is measured from the back of the web and is needed for torsional checks and connection eccentricity.
UK Steel Grades for Sections
Standard steel grades for UK construction per BS EN 10025-2:
| Grade | Min Fy (MPa) t<=16 mm | Min Fu (MPa) | Comparable US Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S275 JR/J0/J2 | 275 | 410 | A36 (250 MPa) | Standard grade for internal steelwork |
| S355 JR/J0/J2 | 355 | 470 | A572 Gr 50 | Higher strength, common for beams |
| S460 N/NL | 460 | 540 | A572 Gr 65 | High strength, limited mill availability |
J0/J2 subgrades specify Charpy impact requirements. Use J0 for minimum service temperature to 0 deg C, J2 for -20 deg C. Refer to BS EN 1993-1-10 for fracture toughness based material selection.
UK vs European Section Designations
UK sections follow the BS EN 10365 designation system, which superseded the older BS 4-1 system. The designation gives approximate depth x breadth x mass per metre:
- UKB (Universal Beam): e.g., 457x191x67 — approximate 457 mm deep, 191 mm wide, 67 kg/m
- UKC (Universal Column): e.g., 254x254x73 — approximately 254 mm square, 73 kg/m
- PFC (Parallel Flange Channel): e.g., 200x75x23 — 200 mm deep, 75 mm wide, 23 kg/m
The corresponding European IPE and HEA sections have different proportions and are not directly interchangeable. Always check section properties before substituting an IPE for a UB.
Design to BS EN 1993-1-1
All beam design checks for UK projects should follow BS EN 1993-1-1:2005 + A1:2014 (Eurocode 3) with the UK National Annex (NA to BS EN 1993-1-1). Key references:
- SCI P363 — Steel Building Design: Design Data (Blue Book) — the definitive UK section properties source
- SCI P364 — Steel Building Design: Worked Examples — Open Sections
- SCI P385 — Design of Steel Beams in Torsion
- NCCI SN002 — Elastic Critical Moment for Lateral Torsional Buckling
- NCCI SN003 — Effective Length Factors for Columns
The partial factors gamma_M0 = 1.00 and gamma_M1 = 1.00 are specified in the UK National Annex.
Related Pages
- EN 1993-1-1 Beam Design Guide — Section classification, Mcr, chi_LT, and Mc,Rd per Eurocode 3
- EN 1993 Column Buckling — Buckling curves a0-d with the Perry-Robertson formulation
- EN 1993 Steel Grades — S235, S275, S355, S460 grade properties per BS EN 10025
- Steel Beam Capacity Calculator — Free calculator with EN 1993 checks
- Full Section Properties Database — 500+ sections including UKB, UKC, PFC
This page is for educational reference. All section data is sourced from SCI P363 (Blue Book) and BS EN 10365:2017. Verify dimensions and properties against the current SCI edition, mill certificates, and the applicable National Annex before procurement or design. Results are PRELIMINARY — NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION without independent PE/SE verification.