W 33X169 vs HE 800 B
W 33X169 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 800 B is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 10307.5 cm³ against 10200 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 1.1%. W 33X169 is the lighter of the two at 251.5 kg/m against 262 kg/m, a saving of 4.0% on steel weight. W 33X169 is deeper, 858.5 mm against 800 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 33X169 W | HE 800 B HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 251.5 kg/m | 262 kg/m | -4.0% |
| Depth | 858.5 mm | 800 mm | +7.3% |
| Width | 292.1 mm | 300 mm | -2.6% |
| Web thickness | 17 mm | 17.5 mm | -2.9% |
| Flange thickness | 31 mm | 33 mm | -6.1% |
| Area | 319.4 cm² | 334 cm² | -4.4% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 386,679 cm⁴ | 359,000 cm⁴ | +7.7% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 10,307.5 cm³ | 10,200 cm³ | +1.1% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 8,996.5 cm³ | 8,980 cm³ | +0.2% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 12,903 cm⁴ | 14,900 cm⁴ | -13.4% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,383.1 cm³ | 1,550 cm³ | -10.8% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.35 cm | 6.68 cm | -4.9% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 736.7 cm⁴ | 959 cm⁴ | -23.2% |
W 33X169 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 800 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 800 B.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 33X169 has the larger second moment of area: 386,679 cm⁴ against 359,000 cm⁴, a difference of 7.7%. This matters more often than the strength comparison, because on normal floor spans deflection rather than bending capacity sets the beam size - so if the two are close on modulus but apart on inertia, the stiffer one is usually the better answer even when it is not the stronger one.
Measured as bending capacity per kilogram of steel, W 33X169 is the more efficient section: 41.0 against 38.9 cm³ per kg/m, 5.3% better. Over a floor of repeated beams that difference is real tonnage, though it is often outweighed by whichever section the fabricator can actually source.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: HE 800 B has 1550 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 1383.1 cm³, 10.8% more. If the member sees any minor-axis bending, or if it is unrestrained over a long length and lateral-torsional buckling governs, that gap decides the comparison even though the major-axis numbers looked equivalent.
These come from different catalogues, so treat the swap as a design change rather than a like-for-like substitution. W sections are specified to AISC Shapes Database v16.0 and HE to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; the steel grades, tolerances and available lengths differ, connection details and bolt gauges are set out differently, and the two are rarely both stocked in the same market. Check availability before changing a section on a drawing to save 4.0% weight.
In short, W 33X169 is the stronger section and W 33X169 is the lighter one; where those are the same section, it is the clear choice, and where they are not, decide on whether your design is governed by capacity or by tonnage.