HE 200 B vs H-200x200x9x14
HE 200 B is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-200x200x9x14 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 200 B carries more bending: 642 cm³ of plastic modulus against 617 cm³, 4.1% more. H-200x200x9x14 is the lighter of the two at 57.8 kg/m against 61.3 kg/m, a saving of 6.1% on steel weight. Both are about 202 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 200 B HE | H-200x200x9x14 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 61.3 kg/m | 57.8 kg/m | +6.1% |
| Depth | 200 mm | 204 mm | -2.0% |
| Width | 200 mm | 201 mm | -0.5% |
| Web thickness | 9 mm | 9 mm | same |
| Flange thickness | 15 mm | 14 mm | +7.1% |
| Area | 78.1 cm² | 73.6 cm² | +6.1% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 5,700 cm⁴ | 5,603 cm⁴ | +1.7% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 642 cm³ | 617 cm³ | +4.1% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 570 cm³ | 549 cm³ | +3.8% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 2,000 cm⁴ | 1,897 cm⁴ | +5.4% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 306 cm³ | 287 cm³ | +6.6% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 5.07 cm | 5.08 cm | -0.2% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 59.7 cm⁴ | 45.8 cm⁴ | +30.3% |
HE 200 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-200x200x9x14 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-200x200x9x14.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 200 B has the larger second moment of area: 5,700 cm⁴ against 5,603 cm⁴, a difference of 1.7%. 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 (10.5 against 10.7 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.
In short, HE 200 B is the stronger section and H-200x200x9x14 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.