HE 900 A vs H-900x300x16x28-243
HE 900 A is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-900x300x16x28-243 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 900 A carries more bending: 10800 cm³ of plastic modulus against 10450 cm³, 3.3% more. H-900x300x16x28-243 is the lighter of the two at 243 kg/m against 252 kg/m, a saving of 3.7% on steel weight. Both are about 895 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 900 A HE | H-900x300x16x28-243 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 252 kg/m | 243 kg/m | +3.7% |
| Depth | 890 mm | 900 mm | -1.1% |
| Width | 300 mm | 300 mm | same |
| Web thickness | 16 mm | 16 mm | same |
| Flange thickness | 30 mm | 28 mm | +7.1% |
| Area | 320 cm² | 310 cm² | +3.2% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 422,000 cm⁴ | 411,300 cm⁴ | +2.6% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 10,800 cm³ | 10,450 cm³ | +3.3% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 9,480 cm³ | 9,139 cm³ | +3.7% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 13,600 cm⁴ | 12,650 cm⁴ | +7.5% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,410 cm³ | 1,324 cm³ | +6.5% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.5 cm | 6.39 cm | +1.7% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 749 cm⁴ | 633 cm⁴ | +18.3% |
HE 900 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-900x300x16x28-243 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-900x300x16x28-243.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 900 A has the larger second moment of area: 422,000 cm⁴ against 411,300 cm⁴, a difference of 2.6%. 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 (42.9 against 43.0 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 900 A is the stronger section and H-900x300x16x28-243 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.