Hot-Rolled Structural Steel
H section steel — also called H-beam or wide flange beam — is a hot-rolled structural section with a tall web and two wide, parallel flanges. The even flange thickness and broad face give it strong bending and torsional resistance, which is why it carries columns, beams, frames and piles across steel-structure projects. Lengge supplies the full range: HW wide flange, HM medium flange, HN narrow flange and HP bearing pile, in Q235B and Q355B.
We cut to length, drill and galvanize to your drawing, and ship factory-direct by container for construction, infrastructure and industrial builds worldwide.
| Series | Flange | Common Size Range H×B (mm) | Best For | Steel Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HW (Wide Flange) | Width ≈ height | 100×100 – 400×400 | Columns, piles, frames | Q235B / Q355B |
| HM (Medium Flange) | Width about 3/4 of height | 150×100 – 588×300 | Beam-columns | Q235B / Q355B |
| HN (Narrow Flange) | Width about half of height | 100×50 – 900×300 | Beams, purlins, joists | Q235B / Q355B |
| HP (Bearing Pile) | Width ≈ height | 200×200 – 400×400 | Foundation piles | Q235B / Q355B |
Standard lengths are 6 m, 9 m and 12 m, with custom cut-to-length available. Surface finish: black (mill), painted or hot-dip galvanized.
H section steel is a hot-rolled section with wide, parallel flanges of even thickness and a near-square profile in the HW series. An I-beam has narrower flanges with sloped inner faces that thicken toward the web. The wide flange gives H section steel better bending and torsional resistance for its weight, so it works as columns as well as beams, while I-beam is mostly used for beams and bending members.
Sizes are grouped into four series. HW is wide flange (width about equal to height), used for columns and piles. HM is medium flange (width around three-quarters of the height), used for beam-columns. HN is narrow flange (width about half the height), used for beams and purlins. HP is the bearing-pile series. Common sizes run from around 100×100 up to 900×300 depending on the series.
Q235B is the general-purpose structural grade and suits most standard buildings. Q355B has a higher yield strength, so it carries the same load at less weight, which helps on long spans, heavy frames and where you want to trim steel tonnage. Send us the design and we will confirm which grade the job needs.
Yes. We cut to your length, drill or punch connection holes to the drawing, and finish the steel black, painted or hot-dip galvanized. Galvanizing is the usual pick for exposed or coastal work. Doing this at the factory means the sections land on site ready to erect.
Columns generally use the HW wide flange series, because the broad, near-square section resists buckling under axial load. Beams generally use HN narrow flange, where the extra depth gives bending strength along the span. HM sits in between for members that carry both. We can match the series to your structural role.
Stock sizes ship quickly; cutting, drilling and galvanizing add some production time, which we confirm when you order. Sections bundle and load into containers efficiently, so freight per ton stays low. We arrange export packing, marking and documents for overseas projects.
H section steel is one of the most-used structural shapes in modern building. Its wide, parallel flanges let it work as a column, a beam or a pile, where an I-beam is mostly a beam. This guide explains the four series, how H section steel differs from an I-beam, and how to pick the right section and grade for your structure.
The two shapes look similar but behave differently. An I-beam has narrow flanges that slope and thicken toward the web, which makes it strong in one bending direction but weaker against sideways loads. H section steel has wide flanges of even thickness, so it resists bending and twisting better for the same weight and can carry axial column loads as well as bending. Here is the short comparison:
| Aspect | H Section Steel (H-Beam) | I-Beam |
|---|---|---|
| Flange | Wide, parallel inner faces, even thickness | Narrower, sloped inner faces, thicker at the web |
| Cross-section | Broad, near-square in HW | Tall and narrow |
| Load behaviour | Strong in bending and resists twisting | Strong about one axis, weaker sideways |
| Common use | Columns, beams, frames, piles | Beams, lintels, cantilever members |
| Size system | HW / HM / HN / HP series | I-numbers like 16# or 20a |
H section steel is sorted by the ratio of flange width to section depth, and each series has a job it does best:
Two decisions cover most jobs: the series follows the structural role, and the grade follows the load and the weight you can accept.
For the role, use HW where the member is mainly carrying axial load (columns, piles), HN where it is mainly spanning and bending (beams, purlins), and HM for members doing both. For the grade, Q235B is the general structural choice and covers most standard buildings. Q355B has a higher yield strength, so a Q355B member can carry the same load at a smaller section and less weight. On long spans, tall frames or projects where steel tonnage drives cost, Q355B often pays back. If a design references EN sizes, the HEA/HEB families map closely to the HW and HM series, and the US wide-flange (W) shapes are the same family of section.
H section steel comes in standard 6 m, 9 m and 12 m lengths, with cut-to-length on request. Connection holes can be drilled or punched at the factory to your drawing, which removes site rework. Finish is black (mill finish) for enclosed work, painted for general exposure, or hot-dip galvanized for coastal and outdoor service where corrosion is the main concern. Rolled to GB/T 11263, dimensions and weight per metre stay within standard tolerance, and each batch carries a mill test certificate covering chemistry and mechanical properties.
Pin down the series and exact section size against your structural drawings; the grade (Q235B or Q355B) against the load and span; the cut lengths and any hole patterns; and the finish against the service condition. Confirm that the mill certificate ships with the steel so the grade on paper matches the section delivered. A supplier who can read your drawing and pull the right sections saves a round of back-and-forth and a wrong delivery.
