HE 600 A vs H-600x300x14x23-175
HE 600 A is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-600x300x14x23-175 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 600 A carries more bending: 5350 cm³ of plastic modulus against 5197 cm³, 2.9% more. They weigh essentially the same, 178 kg/m and 175 kg/m. Both are about 592 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 600 A HE | H-600x300x14x23-175 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 178 kg/m | 175 kg/m | +1.7% |
| Depth | 590 mm | 594 mm | -0.7% |
| Width | 300 mm | 302 mm | -0.7% |
| Web thickness | 13 mm | 14 mm | -7.1% |
| Flange thickness | 25 mm | 23 mm | +8.7% |
| Area | 226 cm² | 222 cm² | +1.8% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 141,000 cm⁴ | 137,300 cm⁴ | +2.7% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 5,350 cm³ | 5,197 cm³ | +2.9% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 4,790 cm³ | 4,624 cm³ | +3.6% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 11,300 cm⁴ | 10,590 cm⁴ | +6.7% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,160 cm³ | 1,085 cm³ | +6.9% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.05 cm | 6.9 cm | +2.2% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 407 cm⁴ | 356 cm⁴ | +14.3% |
HE 600 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-600x300x14x23-175 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-600x300x14x23-175.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 600 A has the larger second moment of area: 141,000 cm⁴ against 137,300 cm⁴, a difference of 2.7%. 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 (30.1 against 29.7 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 600 A is the stronger section and H-600x300x14x23-175 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.