IPE 600 vs H-600x200x12x20-120
IPE 600 is an IPE section from the European (Continental) range; H-600x200x12x20-120 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. IPE 600 carries more bending: 3510 cm³ of plastic modulus against 3432 cm³, 2.3% more. They weigh essentially the same, 122 kg/m and 120 kg/m. Both are about 603 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | IPE 600 IPE | H-600x200x12x20-120 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 122 kg/m | 120 kg/m | +1.7% |
| Depth | 600 mm | 606 mm | -1.0% |
| Width | 220 mm | 201 mm | +9.5% |
| Web thickness | 12 mm | 12 mm | same |
| Flange thickness | 19 mm | 20 mm | -5.0% |
| Area | 156 cm² | 152 cm² | +2.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 92,100 cm⁴ | 90,400 cm⁴ | +1.9% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 3,510 cm³ | 3,432 cm³ | +2.3% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 3,070 cm³ | 2,983 cm³ | +2.9% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 3,390 cm⁴ | 2,723 cm⁴ | +24.5% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 486 cm³ | 429 cm³ | +13.3% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 4.66 cm | 4.23 cm | +10.2% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 165 cm⁴ | 167 cm⁴ | -1.2% |
IPE 600 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-600x200x12x20-120 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-600x200x12x20-120.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, IPE 600 has the larger second moment of area: 92,100 cm⁴ against 90,400 cm⁴, a difference of 1.9%. 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 (28.8 against 28.6 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.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: IPE 600 has 486 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 429 cm³, 13.3% more. If the member sees any minor-axis bending, or if it is unrestrained over a long length and lateral-torsional buckling governs, that gap decides the comparison even though the major-axis numbers looked equivalent.
In short, IPE 600 is the stronger section and H-600x200x12x20-120 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.