HE 260 A vs H-250x250x9x14-71.8
HE 260 A is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-250x250x9x14-71.8 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. H-250x250x9x14-71.8 carries more bending: 953 cm³ of plastic modulus against 920 cm³, 3.5% more. HE 260 A is the lighter of the two at 68.2 kg/m against 71.8 kg/m, a saving of 5.0% on steel weight. Both are about 250 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 260 A HE | H-250x250x9x14-71.8 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 68.2 kg/m | 71.8 kg/m | -5.0% |
| Depth | 250 mm | 250 mm | same |
| Width | 260 mm | 250 mm | +4.0% |
| Web thickness | 7.5 mm | 9 mm | -16.7% |
| Flange thickness | 12.5 mm | 14 mm | -10.7% |
| Area | 86.8 cm² | 91.4 cm² | -5.0% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 10,400 cm⁴ | 10,750 cm⁴ | -3.3% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 920 cm³ | 953 cm³ | -3.5% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 836 cm³ | 860 cm³ | -2.8% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 3,670 cm⁴ | 3,648 cm⁴ | +0.6% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 430 cm³ | 443 cm³ | -2.9% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.5 cm | 6.32 cm | +2.8% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 54.2 cm⁴ | 55.8 cm⁴ | -2.9% |
HE 260 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-250x250x9x14-71.8 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-250x250x9x14-71.8.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-250x250x9x14-71.8 has the larger second moment of area: 10,750 cm⁴ against 10,400 cm⁴, a difference of 3.3%. 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 (13.5 against 13.3 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, H-250x250x9x14-71.8 is the stronger section and HE 260 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.