Beginners Guide to Structural Steel Beams
Thanks to their versatility, strength, and affordability, structural steel beams are used in a variety of applications. Edcon Steel stocks and sells a range of structural beams, columns, and channels, which are great solutions for a range of applications, including house building and renovations, construction, infrastructure, strutting beams, floor bearer beams, verandah beams, and lintel beams and rafters.
Using Structural Steel in Housing, we have compiled a guide for beginners to assist you in choosing the right product from our range. Builder’s Steel 101 has more useful information on steel terms, ideas and applications of structural steel beams.
Benefits of structural beams
Structural steel beam offers a number of benefits for builders and homeowners alike, including:
- Significantly lower in beam depth (or height) compared to timber: this not only provides you with more space but is important in buildings with low headroom where you need to maximise ceiling heights.
- Minimal deflection over the long term: Steel is very stable and does not generally sag further over time. Structural beams do not bow, warp, or twist, ensuring no long-term movement problems.
- Sustainability: Steel is infinitely recyclable. Learn more about the steel recycling journey.
- Steel beams can be pre-cambered (charges apply). This means that after your beams come under load and deflect, they will be straight (consult with your engineer if this is of interest).
Characteristics
Hot-rolled steel structural beams are available in a range of shapes and sizes.
The Australian manufacturer’s guide, Hot Rolled Structural Steel Products, provides information on sizes, dimensions, and weights, as well as mechanical properties and yield strengths for structural steel beams.
Browse Edcon’s range of Structural Steel
Types of structural steel beams
Universal Beams (UB)
‘I’ – Beams or H-Beams are often referred to in the industry as universal beams (UBs). UBs are made using mild steel grade 300 plus (300 MPa yield strength) and are stocked at Edcon Steel in a mill finish.
Being such a widely used product, different customers will have different names for structural beam, including H-shaped beam or H-beam, I-shaped beam or I-beam, RSJ, steel joist, steel beam or even just steels. Universal Beams are designed to carry high loads over long spans
UBs are ‘I’ shaped (when standing up like an ‘I’ and viewed from the end) with the following features. :
- Thick flanges (top and base of the ‘I’) and thinner web (upright of the ‘I’).
- The I is higher than the base.
But what do all the numbers mean?
Many people are a bit confused by the way we talk about Universal Beams; for example, what is a 250UB37?
We have a range of info sheets for structural materials, as well as tubular sections (CHS/RHS/SHS) and merchant bars (flats, rounds, squares, etc.) to assist. Here is an example: universal beam sizing chart.
Taper Flange Beams (TFB or RSJ)
Taper Flange Beams are very similar to the universal beams apart from the flanges, which are typically tapered at an angle of 98 degrees to the web.
Universal Columns (UC)
Universal Columns have thicker and wider ‘I’ sections. As the name suggests, they are designed to carry high axial loads for uses such as columns and piles. Generally heavier than other steel sections, they are useful as supports for retaining walls and beam sections where headroom is of concern.
Parallel Flange Channels (PFC)
Parallel Flange Channels (PFC) are general purpose, hot rolled ‘C’ sections, often called a channel or a ‘C-section’. The web of a PFC is out to one edge of the flange, changing the cross-section from an ‘I’ to a ‘C’ (hence the name). It is often used for columns, lintels above doors and as simple beams supporting floor joists.
Unequal Angles (UA) and Equal Angles (EA)
Both types of angles are L-shaped sections with a 90 degree corner that are perfect for use as lintels. An unequal angle is a metal angle section with two legs of unequal length, whereas an equal angle has two legs of the same length.
One leg of the ‘L’ can rest under brickwork while the other resists the bending load over the window or door opening.
Edcon steel’s range of structural steels
Edcon Steel can supply all of your structural steel for your next job. We specialise in custom-fabricated and cut-to-size structural steel beams and are proud to say we stock Australian-made structural steel beams wherever possible. All of our stocked beams are made to AS/NZS 3679.1 and can be certified to this standard where requested prior to your order (charges may apply).
Please check out our blog, Builder’s Steel 101, for some useful information on common building applications.
