American Wide Flange Beams
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Send your sizes and quantity on WhatsApp +971 56 227 5722 or through the quote request form, and you get a figure back with a lead time. Cut to length included, mill test certificates with the material, delivery to all seven emirates.
American wide flange beams, the W shapes, are the sections used on American specified projects in the UAE, which in practice means much of the oil and gas, petrochemical and international contractor work. They are hot rolled H sections to ASTM A6, normally supplied in ASTM A992 or A572 Grade 50. Seen Steel supplies W shapes from W4 up to W44, cut to length and delivered to all seven emirates.
Sizes and weights
The W designation is in imperial units: W12 x 40 is about 12 inches deep and weighs 40 pounds per foot. The table converts the common sizes to kg per metre.
| Section | lb per ft | kg per metre |
|---|---|---|
| W6 x 9 | 9 | 13.4 |
| W8 x 10 | 10 | 14.9 |
| W8 x 18 | 18 | 26.8 |
| W8 x 31 | 31 | 46.1 |
| W10 x 22 | 22 | 32.7 |
| W10 x 33 | 33 | 49.1 |
| W12 x 26 | 26 | 38.7 |
| W12 x 40 | 40 | 59.5 |
| W12 x 65 | 65 | 96.7 |
| W14 x 30 | 30 | 44.6 |
| W14 x 53 | 53 | 78.9 |
| W16 x 36 | 36 | 53.6 |
| W18 x 35 | 35 | 52.1 |
| W18 x 50 | 50 | 74.4 |
| W21 x 44 | 44 | 65.5 |
| W24 x 55 | 55 | 81.9 |
| W27 x 84 | 84 | 125 |
| W30 x 99 | 99 | 147 |
| W36 x 135 | 135 | 201 |
| W40 x 149 | 149 | 222 |
To convert any W shape yourself, multiply pounds per foot by 1.488. More sections are in the steel weight chart.
Grades
- ASTM A992, 50 ksi (345 MPa) yield, the standard grade for W shapes today
- ASTM A572 Grade 50, widely accepted as equivalent for most structural work
- ASTM A36, 36 ksi (250 MPa), still specified on lighter and older work
A992 and A572 Grade 50 are close to EN S355. A36 sits near S235 and SS400. Our guide to steel grades sets them side by side.
W shapes, HP and S shapes
W shapes are the general purpose wide flange sections. HP shapes are bearing piles, with flange and web of about equal thickness, made to be driven. S shapes are the older American standard beams with sloped inner flanges, now used mostly for repairs and matching existing steel. Check which one the drawing calls for, because a W and an HP of the same nominal size are different sections.
If your drawing uses another system
For IPE, HEA and HEB, see European beams. For British sections, see universal beams. For Japanese H sections, see JIS wide flange. Cross system substitutions need the engineer's approval, because depth, width and section properties rarely line up exactly.
Common applications
- Oil, gas and petrochemical plant structures
- Pipe racks and modular skids
- Warehouses and industrial buildings built to American codes
- Mezzanines, platforms and access structures
- Crane and monorail supports
- Offshore and marine fabrication
Cutting and delivery
Lengths are supplied to your cutting list where the mill length allows. Deliveries go to workshops and sites across all seven emirates, including Al Quoz, Jebel Ali, Mussafah, Sajaa, Ajman Industrial and Al Hamra. Mill test certificates are supplied with the material.
What to send for a quote
- Full designation, for example W12 x 40
- Grade, for example ASTM A992 or A572 Gr 50
- Lengths and quantity
- Any inspection or certification requirement
- Delivery location
Working across systems? Our guide to steel beam sizes compared sets IPE, HEA, universal beams, W shapes and JIS H beams side by side by depth and weight.
Frequently asked questions
What does W12 x 40 mean?
Nominal depth 12 inches, weight 40 pounds per foot, which is about 59.5 kg per metre.
What is the metric equivalent of a W shape?
There is no exact equivalent. W shapes sit between HEA and HEB in proportion. Any substitution has to be checked and approved by the designer.
Is A992 the same as A572 Grade 50?
They have the same 50 ksi yield and are commonly accepted as interchangeable, but A992 has tighter chemistry and a maximum yield to tensile ratio. If the specification names one, supply that one.
Do you supply mill test certificates?
Yes, MTCs are issued with the material.
Send your wide flange beam requirement through the steel quote request form or on WhatsApp at +971 56 227 5722.