HE 600 B vs H-600x300x16x30
HE 600 B is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-600x300x16x30 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. H-600x300x16x30 carries more bending: 6653 cm³ of plastic modulus against 6420 cm³, 3.5% more. HE 600 B is the lighter of the two at 212 kg/m against 217 kg/m, a saving of 2.3% on steel weight. Both are about 604 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 600 B HE | H-600x300x16x30 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 212 kg/m | 217 kg/m | -2.3% |
| Depth | 600 mm | 608 mm | -1.3% |
| Width | 300 mm | 304 mm | -1.3% |
| Web thickness | 15.5 mm | 16 mm | -3.1% |
| Flange thickness | 30 mm | 30 mm | same |
| Area | 270 cm² | 277 cm² | -2.5% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 171,000 cm⁴ | 179,300 cm⁴ | -4.6% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 6,420 cm³ | 6,653 cm³ | -3.5% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 5,700 cm³ | 5,896 cm³ | -3.3% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 13,500 cm⁴ | 14,090 cm⁴ | -4.2% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,390 cm³ | 1,431 cm³ | -2.9% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.08 cm | 7.13 cm | -0.7% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 677 cm⁴ | 702 cm⁴ | -3.6% |
HE 600 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-600x300x16x30 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-600x300x16x30.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-600x300x16x30 has the larger second moment of area: 179,300 cm⁴ against 171,000 cm⁴, a difference of 4.6%. 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 (30.3 against 30.7 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, H-600x300x16x30 is the stronger section and HE 600 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.