UB · IPE · W (narrow)
Universal beams
I-sections for bending. AU 150UB–610UB · EU IPE 80–600 · US W shapes with narrow flanges.

Products · Hot-rolled steel sections
Universal beams, universal columns and parallel flange channels are the backbone of every steel frame. World Steel sources hot-rolled sections to the standard of your market – AS/NZS 3679.1, EN 10365 / EN 10025 or ASTM – and delivers them fabricated, coated and certified, ready to erect.

Universal beams (UB) are deep, narrow I-sections that work best in bending – floor beams, rafters and girders. Universal columns (UC) are wide-flange H-sections with depth close to width – strong about both axes for columns and heavy struts. Parallel flange channels (PFC) are C-shaped sections with parallel flanges for trimmers, girts, bracing, stair stringers and edge members.
The same families exist in every market under different names. In Australia they are designated by depth, type and mass – 310UB40.4 is a 310 mm-series universal beam of 40.4 kg/m. Europe uses series names – IPE 300, HEB 300, UPE 300. The USA uses nominal depth in inches and weight in lb/ft – W12x26. World Steel works with all three.
Families
Main hot-rolled families and their standards.
UB · IPE · W (narrow)
I-sections for bending. AU 150UB–610UB · EU IPE 80–600 · US W shapes with narrow flanges.
UC · HEA / HEB / HEM · W (wide)
H-sections for columns. AU 100UC–310UC · EU HE 100–1000 · US W shapes with wide flanges, HP bearing piles.
PFC · UPE / UPN · C / MC
Parallel or taper flange channels. AU 75PFC–380PFC · EU UPE / UPN 80–400 · US C3–C15 and MC.
规范与合规
Dimensions, tolerances and steel grades by market.
摘要仅供参考——以项目技术规格书、所采用的规范版本及主管机构要求为准。
Where each section works
UC sections carry axial load and bending about both axes – building columns, crane columns and heavy struts. UB sections are efficient in bending – floor beams, rafters of portal frames, crane and transfer girders. PFC sections frame openings and stairs, act as girts, trimmers, bracing and edge beams, and are often used back to back. For spans and loads beyond rolled sizes, see built-up (welded) sections.


Substitution and compliance
Many export projects are designed to one standard while the steel is rolled to another. Substitution is possible, but section properties, grade and tolerances all change. World Steel proposes the nearest section, the structural engineer of record checks and approves it, and every member is delivered with EN 10204 3.1 mill certificates traceable to the heat number. The project's specification and local code always govern. Read more about our steel sourcing.
Size ranges
Common designations to AS/NZS 3679.1 – availability depends on mill rolling schedules; confirm with us for each project.
| Family | Designations |
|---|---|
| UB 150 – 250 | 150UB14.0 · 150UB18.0 · 180UB16.1 · 180UB18.1 · 180UB22.2 · 200UB18.2 · 200UB22.3 · 200UB25.4 · 200UB29.8 · 250UB25.7 · 250UB31.4 · 250UB37.3 |
| UB 310 – 460 | 310UB32.0 · 310UB40.4 · 310UB46.2 · 360UB44.7 · 360UB50.7 · 360UB56.7 · 410UB53.7 · 410UB59.7 · 460UB67.1 · 460UB74.6 · 460UB82.1 |
| UB 530 – 610 | 530UB82.0 · 530UB92.4 · 610UB101 · 610UB113 · 610UB125 |
| UC | 100UC14.8 · 150UC23.4 · 150UC30.0 · 150UC37.2 · 200UC46.2 · 200UC52.2 · 200UC59.5 · 250UC72.9 · 250UC89.5 · 310UC96.8 · 310UC118 · 310UC137 · 310UC158 |
| PFC | 75PFC · 100PFC · 125PFC · 150PFC · 180PFC · 200PFC · 230PFC · 250PFC · 300PFC · 380PFC |
| Market | Beams | Columns | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe (EN 10365) | IPE 80 – 600 | HEA · HEB · HEM 100 – 1000 | UPE · UPN 80 – 400 |
| USA (ASTM A6 / AISC) | W shapes W4 – W44 | W shapes (wide flange) · HP 8 – 18 | C3 – C15 · MC |
Nearest equivalents
Nearest section by depth and mass per metre. Not a direct substitute – properties differ, so the structural engineer must check every substitution.
| Australia | Europe | USA | Approx. mass, kg/m (AU / EU / US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150UB14.0 | IPE 160 | W6x9 | 14.0 / 15.8 / 13.4 |
| 200UB25.4 | IPE 220 | W8x18 | 25.4 / 26.2 / 26.8 |
| 250UB31.4 | IPE 240 | W10x22 | 31.4 / 30.7 / 32.7 |
| 310UB40.4 | IPE 300 | W12x26 | 40.4 / 42.2 / 38.7 |
| 360UB50.7 | IPE 330 | W14x34 | 50.7 / 49.1 / 50.6 |
| 410UB59.7 | IPE 360 | W16x40 | 59.7 / 57.1 / 59.5 |
| 460UB74.6 | IPE 450 | W18x50 | 74.6 / 77.6 / 74.4 |
| 530UB92.4 | IPE 500 | W21x62 | 92.4 / 90.7 / 92.3 |
| 610UB125 | IPE 600 | W24x84 | 125 / 122 / 125 |
| Australia | Europe | USA | Approx. mass, kg/m (AU / EU / US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100UC14.8 | HEA 100 | W4x13 | 14.8 / 16.7 / 19.3 |
| 150UC37.2 | HEB 160 | W6x25 | 37.2 / 42.6 / 37.2 |
| 200UC52.2 | HEA 220 | W8x35 | 52.2 / 50.5 / 52.1 |
| 250UC89.5 | HEB 260 | W10x60 | 89.5 / 93.0 / 89.3 |
| 310UC118 | HEB 300 | W12x79 | 118 / 117 / 118 |
| 310UC158 | HEB 360 | W12x106 | 158 / 142 / 158 |
| Australia | Europe | USA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100PFC | UPE 100 | C4x5.4 | US C-shapes have tapered flanges |
| 150PFC | UPE 160 | C6x13 | UPE has parallel flanges like PFC; UPN is tapered |
| 200PFC | UPE 200 | C8x13.75 | Check flange width for connections |
| 250PFC | UPE 270 | C10x25 | — |
| 300PFC | UPE 300 | C12x25 · MC12x31 | — |
| 380PFC | UPN 380 | C15x40 | — |
FAQ
A universal beam in the 310 mm depth series weighing 40.4 kg per metre, to AS/NZS 3679.1.
A UB is deeper than it is wide and is used mainly as a beam; a UC has depth close to its flange width and is used mainly as a column.
A PFC has parallel flanges, like the European UPE. UPN and the US C-shapes have tapered inner flange faces, which matters for bolting.
Often, but not one for one. The nearest section has different properties and grade; the engineer of record must check and approve each substitution.
Yes – EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificates traceable to the heat number for every section.
UB, UC, PFC, IPE, HEB or W shapes – we source, fabricate and deliver with mill certificates.