HE 260 B vs H-250x250x12x19
HE 260 B is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-250x250x12x19 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. H-250x250x12x19 carries more bending: 1330 cm³ of plastic modulus against 1280 cm³, 3.8% more. HE 260 B is the lighter of the two at 93 kg/m against 98.1 kg/m, a saving of 5.2% on steel weight. Both are about 260 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 260 B HE | H-250x250x12x19 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 93 kg/m | 98.1 kg/m | -5.2% |
| Depth | 260 mm | 260 mm | same |
| Width | 260 mm | 253 mm | +2.8% |
| Web thickness | 10 mm | 12 mm | -16.7% |
| Flange thickness | 17.5 mm | 19 mm | -7.9% |
| Area | 118 cm² | 125 cm² | -5.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 14,900 cm⁴ | 15,340 cm⁴ | -2.9% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 1,280 cm³ | 1,330 cm³ | -3.8% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 1,150 cm³ | 1,180 cm³ | -2.5% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 5,140 cm⁴ | 5,134 cm⁴ | +0.1% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 602 cm³ | 618 cm³ | -2.6% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.58 cm | 6.41 cm | +2.7% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 127 cm⁴ | 141 cm⁴ | -9.9% |
HE 260 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-250x250x12x19 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-250x250x12x19.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-250x250x12x19 has the larger second moment of area: 15,340 cm⁴ against 14,900 cm⁴, a difference of 2.9%. 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 (13.8 against 13.6 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-250x250x12x19 is the stronger section and HE 260 B 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.