HEB Beam

The HEB beam is a European wide flange steel section that represents the standard-weight series in the HE profile family, defined by EN 10034. The full form of HEB is “H-beam European type B.” HEB beams have wider flanges and thicker webs compared to HEA beams, providing higher load-carrying capacity and stiffness. They are the most commonly specified HE series for primary structural members in European construction and industrial projects.

HEB Beam Dimensions and Weight Chart

Size	Height (h) mm	Width (b) mm	Web (tw) mm	Flange (tf) mm	Weight kg/m
HEB 100	100	100	6.0	10.0	20.4
HEB 120	120	120	6.5	11.0	26.7
HEB 140	140	140	7.0	12.0	33.7
HEB 160	160	160	8.0	13.0	42.6
HEB 180	180	180	8.5	14.0	51.2
HEB 200	200	200	9.0	15.0	61.3
HEB 220	220	220	9.5	16.0	71.5
HEB 240	240	240	10.0	17.0	83.2
HEB 260	260	260	10.0	17.5	93.0
HEB 280	280	280	10.5	18.0	103
HEB 300	300	300	11.0	19.0	117
HEB 320	320	300	11.5	20.5	127
HEB 340	340	300	12.0	21.5	134
HEB 360	360	300	12.5	22.5	142
HEB 400	400	300	13.5	24.0	155
HEB 450	450	300	14.0	26.0	171
HEB 500	500	300	14.5	28.0	187
HEB 550	550	300	15.0	29.0	199
HEB 600	600	300	15.5	30.0	212
HEB 650	650	300	16.0	31.0	225
HEB 700	700	300	17.0	32.0	241
HEB 800	800	300	17.5	33.0	262
HEB 900	900	300	18.5	35.0	291
HEB 1000	1000	300	19.0	36.0	314

Dimensions per EN 10034. Fillet radius varies by size (12-30 mm). Material grades: S235, S275, S355 per EN 10025.

Key Points About HEB Beams

Nominal size equals actual height: Unlike HEA beams where the actual height is less than the nominal designation, HEB beams up to HEB 300 have an actual height that matches the nominal size exactly. This simplifies design and detailing. From HEB 320 upward, the flange width remains constant at 300 mm.

Primary structural use: HEB is the default choice for columns, primary beams, and heavily loaded frames in European practice. The thicker flanges provide higher bending resistance and better lateral-torsional buckling performance compared to HEA sections of the same nominal size.

Weight comparison with HEA: HEB beams are approximately 30-45% heavier than the corresponding HEA size. For example, HEB 200 weighs 61.3 kg/m versus 42.3 kg/m for HEA 200. This additional weight translates to roughly 50% more bending capacity.

Material grades: HEB beams are supplied in S235JR, S275JR/J0/J2, and S355JR/J0/J2/K2 per EN 10025-2. For oil and gas structures, S355J2 is the most common grade, providing 355 MPa yield strength with impact toughness at -20 deg. C.

Pro Tip

For pipe rack column sizing, HEB 200 to HEB 300 covers most applications. Use HEB 200 for single-tier racks under 6 meters and HEB 300 for multi-tier racks up to 12 meters. Final sizing must be confirmed per Eurocode 3, accounting for axial load, bending, and lateral forces.

Read the full guide to HEA and HEB beams