IPE vs HEA vs HEB Profiles — Investor Guide to Steel Sections
IPE, HEA, HEB — three designations every investor must understand. Here's a clear overview from an engineer's perspective.
If you're planning a steel structure — a hall, canopy, platform, or bridge — you've surely encountered the designations IPE, HEA, and HEB. What do they mean? Which profile to use? And which costs more?
Here's a clear overview — from the perspective of an engineer who works with them every day.
Profile Cross-Sections
Quick comparison
| Characteristic | IPE | HEA | HEB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Narrow flanges | Wide flanges, lighter | Wide flanges, heavier |
| Weight | Lightest | Medium | Heaviest |
| Application | Beams | Columns + beams | Heavy-loaded columns |
| Price per kg | Same | Same | Same |
| Price per meter | Lowest | Medium | Highest |
IPE — I Profile European
Flat sides, narrow flanges. Weight 8.1 kg/m (IPE 100) to 122 kg/m (IPE 600). Excellent bending resistance with minimal mass. Used for roof and floor beams, building frames.
HEA — European Wide Flange Light
Wide flanges, equal wall thickness. Weight 16.7 kg/m (HEA 100) to 272 kg/m (HEA 1000). Resistance to eccentric loading. For columns of tall buildings and beams with large spans.
HEB — European Wide Flange Heavy
Widest flanges, thickest walls. Weight 20.4 kg/m (HEB 100) to 314 kg/m (HEB 1000). Outstanding rigidity. For heavy-loaded columns, crane beams.
Practical examples
| Project | Recommended profile | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Prefab hall roof | IPE 300-500 | Bending, low mass |
| Hall column 8 m | HEA 200-300 | Compression + bending |
| Crane beam 10 t | HEB 300-400 | Heavy dynamic loading |
| Mezzanine beam | IPE 200-360 | Deflection, economy |
| Multi-story column | HEB 200-300 | Vertical force, stability |