W 33X169 vs H-900x300x16x28-240
W 33X169 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; H-900x300x16x28-240 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 10307.5 cm³ against 10290 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 0.2%. H-900x300x16x28-240 is the lighter of the two at 240 kg/m against 251.5 kg/m, a saving of 4.8% on steel weight. H-900x300x16x28-240 is deeper, 900 mm against 858.5 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 33X169 W | H-900x300x16x28-240 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 251.5 kg/m | 240 kg/m | +4.8% |
| Depth | 858.5 mm | 900 mm | -4.6% |
| Width | 292.1 mm | 300 mm | -2.6% |
| Web thickness | 17 mm | 16 mm | +6.3% |
| Flange thickness | 31 mm | 28 mm | +10.7% |
| Area | 319.4 cm² | 306 cm² | +4.4% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 386,679 cm⁴ | 404,500 cm⁴ | -4.4% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 10,307.5 cm³ | 10,290 cm³ | +0.2% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 8,996.5 cm³ | 8,989 cm³ | +0.1% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 12,903 cm⁴ | 12,630 cm⁴ | +2.2% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,383.1 cm³ | 1,317 cm³ | +5.0% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.35 cm | 6.43 cm | -1.2% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 736.7 cm⁴ | 580 cm⁴ | +27.0% |
W 33X169 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; H-900x300x16x28-240 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-900x300x16x28-240.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-900x300x16x28-240 has the larger second moment of area: 404,500 cm⁴ against 386,679 cm⁴, a difference of 4.4%. 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, H-900x300x16x28-240 is the more efficient section: 42.9 against 41.0 cm³ per kg/m, 4.4% 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.
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 MB & MC to 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 4.8% weight.
In short, W 33X169 is the stronger section and H-900x300x16x28-240 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.