HE 220 A vs HP 8X36
HE 220 A is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; HP 8X36 is the closest equivalent in the American AISC Shapes Database. HE 220 A carries more bending: 568 cm³ of plastic modulus against 550.61 cm³, 3.2% more. HE 220 A is the lighter of the two at 50.5 kg/m against 53.6 kg/m, a saving of 5.8% on steel weight. HE 220 A is deeper, 210 mm against 203.7 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | HE 220 A HE | HP 8X36 HP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 50.5 kg/m | 53.6 kg/m | -5.8% |
| Depth | 210 mm | 203.7 mm | +3.1% |
| Width | 220 mm | 207.3 mm | +6.1% |
| Web thickness | 7 mm | 11.3 mm | -38.1% |
| Flange thickness | 11 mm | 11.3 mm | -2.7% |
| Area | 64.3 cm² | 68.4 cm² | -6.0% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 5,410 cm⁴ | 4,953 cm⁴ | +9.2% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 568 cm³ | 550.61 cm³ | +3.2% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 515 cm³ | 488.33 cm³ | +5.5% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 1,960 cm⁴ | 1,677 cm⁴ | +16.9% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 271 cm³ | 249.08 cm³ | +8.8% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 5.51 cm | 4.95 cm | +11.3% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 28.6 cm⁴ | 32.05 cm⁴ | -10.8% |
HE 220 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; HP 8X36 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Difference is expressed relative to HP 8X36.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 220 A has the larger second moment of area: 5,410 cm⁴ against 4,953 cm⁴, a difference of 9.2%. 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, HE 220 A is the more efficient section: 11.2 against 10.3 cm³ per kg/m, 9.5% 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 220 A has 271 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 249.08 cm³, 8.8% 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. HE sections are specified to EN 10365 · Continental Steel and HP to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; 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 5.8% weight.
In short, HE 220 A is the stronger section and HE 220 A 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.