UB 305×165×46 vs IPE O 300
UB 305×165×46 is an UB section from the UK Blue Book (SCI P363); IPE O 300 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. IPE O 300 carries more bending: 744 cm³ of plastic modulus against 720 cm³, 3.2% more. UB 305×165×46 is the lighter of the two at 46.1 kg/m against 49.3 kg/m, a saving of 6.5% on steel weight. Both are about 305 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | UB 305×165×46 UB | IPE O 300 IPE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 46.1 kg/m | 49.3 kg/m | -6.5% |
| Depth | 306.6 mm | 304 mm | +0.9% |
| Width | 165.7 mm | 152 mm | +9.0% |
| Web thickness | 6.7 mm | 8 mm | -16.2% |
| Flange thickness | 11.8 mm | 12.7 mm | -7.1% |
| Area | 58.7 cm² | 62.8 cm² | -6.5% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 9,900 cm⁴ | 9,990 cm⁴ | -0.9% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 720 cm³ | 744 cm³ | -3.2% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 646 cm³ | 658 cm³ | -1.8% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 896 cm⁴ | 746 cm⁴ | +20.1% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 166 cm³ | 153 cm³ | +8.5% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 3.9 cm | 3.45 cm | +13.0% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 22.2 cm⁴ | 31 cm⁴ | -28.4% |
UB 305×165×46 to BS EN 10365:2017; IPE O 300 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to IPE O 300.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, IPE O 300 has the larger second moment of area: 9,990 cm⁴ against 9,900 cm⁴, a difference of 0.9%. 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 of steel, UB 305×165×46 is the more efficient section: 15.6 against 15.1 cm³ per kg/m, 3.5% 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.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: UB 305×165×46 has 166 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 153 cm³, 8.5% 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.
These come from different catalogues, so treat the swap as a design change rather than a like-for-like substitution. UB sections are specified to BS EN 10365:2017 and IPE to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; the steel grades, tolerances and available lengths differ, connection details and bolt gauges are set out differently, and the two are rarely both stocked in the same market. Check availability before changing a section on a drawing to save 6.5% weight.
In short, IPE O 300 is the stronger section and UB 305×165×46 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.