W 36X330 vs HE 1000 x 494
W 36X330 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 1000 x 494 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 23105.8 cm³ against 23400 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 1.3%. They weigh essentially the same, 491.1 kg/m and 494 kg/m. HE 1000 x 494 is deeper, 1036 mm against 957.6 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 36X330 W | HE 1000 x 494 HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 491.1 kg/m | 494 kg/m | -0.6% |
| Depth | 957.6 mm | 1036 mm | -7.6% |
| Width | 421.6 mm | 309 mm | +36.4% |
| Web thickness | 25.9 mm | 31 mm | -16.5% |
| Flange thickness | 47 mm | 54 mm | -13.0% |
| Area | 625.2 cm² | 629 cm² | -0.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 969,819 cm⁴ | 1,028,000 cm⁴ | -5.7% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 23,105.8 cm³ | 23,400 cm³ | -1.3% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 20,320 cm³ | 19,800 cm³ | +2.6% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 59,105 cm⁴ | 26,800 cm⁴ | +120.5% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 4,342.6 cm³ | 2,820 cm³ | +54.0% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 9.73 cm | 6.53 cm | +49.0% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 3,509 cm⁴ | 4,400 cm⁴ | -20.3% |
W 36X330 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 1000 x 494 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 1000 x 494.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 1000 x 494 has the larger second moment of area: 1,028,000 cm⁴ against 969,819 cm⁴, a difference of 5.7%. 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, the two are equally efficient (47.0 against 47.4 cm³ per kg/m), so on a pure steel-tonnage basis there is nothing to choose between them. The decision comes down to availability, connection detailing and what the rest of the frame uses.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: W 36X330 has 4342.6 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 2820 cm³, 54.0% 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 a marginal amount of weight.
In short, these two are genuine equivalents. Pick whichever your supplier stocks and the rest of the frame already uses.