HE 800 B vs H-800x300x17x34
HE 800 B is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-800x300x17x34 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. H-800x300x17x34 carries more bending: 10680 cm³ of plastic modulus against 10200 cm³, 4.5% more. They weigh essentially the same, 262 kg/m and 267 kg/m. Both are about 808 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 800 B HE | H-800x300x17x34 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 262 kg/m | 267 kg/m | -1.9% |
| Depth | 800 mm | 816 mm | -2.0% |
| Width | 300 mm | 303 mm | -1.0% |
| Web thickness | 17.5 mm | 17 mm | +2.9% |
| Flange thickness | 33 mm | 34 mm | -2.9% |
| Area | 334 cm² | 340 cm² | -1.8% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 359,000 cm⁴ | 383,600 cm⁴ | -6.4% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 10,200 cm³ | 10,680 cm³ | -4.5% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 8,980 cm³ | 9,402 cm³ | -4.5% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 14,900 cm⁴ | 15,820 cm⁴ | -5.8% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,550 cm³ | 1,625 cm³ | -4.6% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.68 cm | 6.82 cm | -2.1% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 959 cm⁴ | 1,003 cm⁴ | -4.4% |
HE 800 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-800x300x17x34 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-800x300x17x34.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-800x300x17x34 has the larger second moment of area: 383,600 cm⁴ against 359,000 cm⁴, a difference of 6.4%. 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 of steel, H-800x300x17x34 is the more efficient section: 40.0 against 38.9 cm³ per kg/m, 2.7% better. Over a floor of repeated beams that difference is real tonnage, though it is often outweighed by whichever section the fabricator can actually source.
In short, H-800x300x17x34 is the stronger section and HE 800 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.