The Differences Between H Beams, W Beams, and S Beams

Steel beams—like h beams, w beams, and s beams—support heavy loads. In fact, they make up the most common component of structural framing systems. They can be used to build bridges, warehouses and other large buildings, and can even be used in machinery or to frame truck beds. Beams can be positioned on their sides or at an angle and connect to columns via bolts, welds, and beam supports.

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The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) sets the technical parameters for each structural steel shape. AISC’s definition for a beam is, “a horizontal or inclined structural member that carries a load and is supported at two or more points.” Sounds simple enough.

The first step in understanding the distinctions between h beams, w beams, and s beams is to understand what all these letters mean, and what goes into naming steel beams.

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How are beams named?

Some of the most frequently asked questions about steel beams concern how beam shapes are named. What do the names tell us about the structural shape? Broadly, the names given to beams and other structural steel shapes refer directly to the product’s shape, cross section, or quality.

Excepting the T-beam, every steel beam has a vertical section called the web, and horizontal sections at the top and bottom of the web called legs or flanges. This forms the shape of an uppercase I, or an uppercase H, depending on how the beam is rotated.

The “S” in S beams means “standard,” and the “W” in W beams means “wide flange.” The I beam is a type of standard beam, and H beams are a type of wide beam. Read more about what is an I-beam.

These are the factors that will influence naming:

• Support Conditions
• Construction Materials
• Geometries
• Cross Sections
• Equilibrium Conditions
• Methods of Construction

Beams’ unique geometry and high strength make them capable of resisting shear stress and bending, and they are extensively used for general construction and civil engineering. But the exact application will depend on the specific geometry of the beam. For example, beams can act as critical support columns in large building construction. These are referred to as H-Piles, bearing piles, or HP-beams. They tend to be heavier and thicker than either S or W beams.

Therefore, a few considerations to make when comparing beam types include the metal type (aluminum vs. carbon steel), metal grade, size/dimensions, mechanical properties, and the relationship between the web and the legs on the beam.

What are the parts of a steel beam?

The vertical web and the horizontal legs/flanges make up the basic beam parts.

Tapered vs. untapered flanges

As with other structural steel shapes, the flanges on beams can taper. This creates a slope on the four inner corners where the legs connect to the web, making it thicker there than at other sections on the beam. This slope extends along the legs to form a rounded edge.

Legs can also be parallel or untapered, which creates blockier edges from uniform thickness around the beam. When legs are tapered, they better resist bending due to greater thickness at critical points on the structure. However, their rounded ends make joining to other structures more difficult, and engineers might opt for a W beam instead.

S shapes, W shapes, and H shapes

In this AISC illustration, the S beam is located on the far left. The W beam is in the center. And the H-beam is on the right.

S beams

Examining the S beam (sometimes referred to as the American Standard Beam) you’ll notice that tapered legs is one its main design differences. Where W- and H-beams have even, blocky angles where the legs meet the web, S-beams are rounded. And they are always rounded. Its slope of 2:12 (approximately 16.67%) on the inner flange surfaces is one of the key characteristics of S-beams.

The width of the legs is another key characteristic for S-beams, as they are narrower than both W- and H-beams. Lastly, S-beams are available in the smallest size range. S-beams are most commonly found in the construction and shipbuilding industries.

Kloeckner Metals stocks A36 S beam, A572-50 S beam, and A992 S beam.

W beams

The W in its name refers to “wide flanges.” The main difference between W beams is that the inner and outer flange surfaces are parallel. Furthermore, the overall beam must have a depth that is at least equal to the flange width. Usually, its depth is significantly greater than its width.

One of the advantages of W beams is that the flanges are thicker than the web. This aids in resisting bend stress.

Compared with H- or S-beams, W beams have many more standard sections to choose from. Given they have a greater range of sizes (smallest is W4x14 and the largest is W44x355) they are also considered the most commonly used beam in modern day construction worldwide.

Kloeckner Metals proudly stocks A992 W beams, A709-50 W beams, A572-50 W beams.

H beams

H shapes are the largest and heaviest beams available and can tolerate larger weight loads. They are sometimes called HP, H-Piles, or bearing piles, which stems from their use in underground foundation support (load bearing columns) for skyscrapers and other large buildings.

Similar to W beams, H beams have inner and outer flange surfaces that run parallel. However, in H beams the width of the flanges is approximately equal with the beam depth. The beam also displays an even thickness throughout.

Beams serve as the basis for support in many constructions and engineering projects. They are just one structural steel shape, but with various beam types available, it’s good to be able to tell them apart.

What do h beams, w beams, and s beams have in common?

Forget the differences between H beams, W beams, and S beams. What do they have in common?

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H beams, W beams, and S beams are all types of beams. Beams in general are chosen for their capacity to bend under high stress rather than buckle. Most beams use structural steel or high-strength, low-alloy steel fabricated by a structural steel fabricator. You’ll find different kinds of beams in a wide range of applications, including building frames in construction, bridges, and general structural purposes, with the type of beam determined by the specific application.

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Which beams are right for your commercial project? Kloeckner Metals is a full-line metals supplier and service center that is proud to supply a range of beam grades and dimensions across North America. Kloeckner Metals combines a national footprint with the latest fabrication and processing technologies and most innovative customer service solutions. Contact our qualified team today.

The question of the day! Do you know how H-beams and I-beams are used differently? Keep reading and we will help you answer this important question. In the construction industry, many people still cannot explain this information properly. Steel beams are extremely important to understand because they support heavy loads.

What is an I-Beam?

An l -beam is shaped like an I. The I beam consists of two horizontal planes, known as flanges, connected by one vertical component, or the web. I-beam has tapered edges and it gets its name from the fact that it looks like a capital I when you see it from its cross section. With an I-beam, the height of the cross section is higher than the width of its flange.

What is an H-Beam?

H-beams are shaped like an H. H-beam is a structural beam made of rolled steel. It is incredibly strong. It gets its name because it looks like a capital H over its cross section.

Differences Between I-Beam and H-Beam

Weight

H-beam: The H-beam is often a lot heavier than the I-beam, which means it can take more force.

I-beam: With some buildings where weight and force on a wall may pose a structural issue, the I-beam may be better since it is often lighter.

Center Web

H-beam: An H-beam has a thicker center web, which means it is often stronger.

I-beam: An I-beam often has a thinner center web, which means it is often not able to take as much force as an h-beam.

Built-Up

H-beam: An H-beam can possibly be built up which means it can be built up to any size or height.

I-beam: An I-beam can only be built up as much as the manufacturer’s milling equipment allows.

Spans

H-beam: H-beams can be used for spans up to 330 feet.

I-beam: An I-beam may be used for spans of between 33 and 100 feet.

Flanges

H-beam: H-beams have top and bottom flanges that stick out further from the web than the flanges on I-beams.

I-beam: I-beams have top and bottom flanges, and they are shorter and not as wide as H-beams.

Number of Pieces

H-beam: The H-beam looks like one piece of metal but it has a bevel where three pieces of metal come together.

I-beam: An I-beam is not made by welding or riveting sheets of metal together and is only one piece of metal throughout.

What Are I-Beams Used For?

I-beams have a variety of important uses in the structural steel construction industry. They are often used as critical support trusses, or the main framework, in buildings. Steel I-beams ensure a structure’s integrity with relentless strength and support. The immense power of I beams reduces the need to include numerous support structures, saving time and money, as well as making the structure more stable. The versatility and dependability of I-beams make them a coveted resource to every builder.

Commonly termed an “I” beam because of its shape, beams provide great load bearing support when used horizontally or standing as columns. I-beams are the choice shape for structural steel builds because the I-beam makes it uniquely capable of handling a variety of loads. The shape of I-beams makes them excellent for unidirectional bending parallel to the web. The horizontal flanges resist the bending movement, while the web resists the shear stress.

Understanding the I-beam is a basic necessity for the modern civil engineer or construction worker. Engineers use I-beams widely in construction, forming columns and beams of many different lengths, sizes, and specifications.

An I-beam is made by rolling or milling steel which means the I-beam is often limited by the capacity or size of the milling equipment.

I-beams come in a variety of weights, section depths, flange widths, web thicknesses, and other specifications for different purposes. When ordering I-beams, buyers classify them by their material and dimensions. For example, an 11×20 I-beam would have an 11-inch depth and a weight of 20 pounds per foot. Builders choose specific sizes of I-beams according to the needs of the particular building. A builder has to take many factors into account, such as:

1. The builder chooses an I-beam with a web thickness that won’t fail, buckle, or ripple under tension.
2. The flanges are chosen to prevent buckling locally, sideways, or torsionally.
3. The builder will choose a thickness to minimize the deformation of the beam.
4. A certain mass and stiffness are selected to prevent vibrations in the building.
5. The strength of the I-beam’s cross-section should accommodate yield stress.

NOTE: The Customer must fully evaluate every process and application in all aspects, including suitability, compliance with applicable law, and non-infringement of the rights of others. Tampa Steel & Supply shall have no liability with respect thereto. The customer is solely responsible for determining the suitability and application of products offered by Tampa Steel & Supply. It is possible that certain information may be incomplete or incorrect in this blog.

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