HE 400 A vs H-400x300x12x19
HE 400 A is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-400x300x12x19 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. H-400x300x12x19 carries more bending: 2620 cm³ of plastic modulus against 2560 cm³, 2.3% more. They weigh essentially the same, 125 kg/m and 127 kg/m. Both are about 393 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 400 A HE | H-400x300x12x19 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 125 kg/m | 127 kg/m | -1.6% |
| Depth | 390 mm | 396 mm | -1.5% |
| Width | 300 mm | 302 mm | -0.7% |
| Web thickness | 11 mm | 12 mm | -8.3% |
| Flange thickness | 19 mm | 19 mm | same |
| Area | 159 cm² | 162 cm² | -1.9% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 45,100 cm⁴ | 46,660 cm⁴ | -3.3% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 2,560 cm³ | 2,620 cm³ | -2.3% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,310 cm³ | 2,357 cm³ | -2.0% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 8,560 cm⁴ | 8,735 cm⁴ | -2.0% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 873 cm³ | 884 cm³ | -1.2% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.34 cm | 7.35 cm | -0.1% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 193 cm⁴ | 185 cm⁴ | +4.3% |
HE 400 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-400x300x12x19 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-400x300x12x19.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-400x300x12x19 has the larger second moment of area: 46,660 cm⁴ against 45,100 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 (20.5 against 20.6 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-400x300x12x19 is the stronger section and HE 400 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.