A Different Naming System for the Same Job
If you've spent your career reading AISC drawings, the first time you encounter a European structural steel drawing can feel like switching languages. Instead of W14X22, you see HEA200. Instead of C10X15.3, you see UPN120. The shapes serve the same structural purpose — but the naming convention, the dimension ordering, and the property databases are all different.
This guide explains the major European steel section families, how they map to familiar AISC shapes, and what you need to know to read them on drawings.
The Major European Section Families
HEA (Wide Flange, Light Series)
HEA sections are wide-flange beams with a broader, lighter profile. The number after "HEA" is the nominal depth in millimetres.
- HEA200 = 200mm deep wide flange, 42.3 kg/m
- HEA300 = 300mm deep, 88.3 kg/m
- HEA400 = 400mm deep, 125 kg/m
AISC comparison: HEA sections are roughly analogous to lighter W-shapes. HEA200 is comparable in weight to a W8X28 — similar depth range but different flange proportions. HEA flanges tend to be wider relative to depth than their AISC equivalents.
HEB (Wide Flange, Medium Series)
HEB sections are the workhorse of European wide-flange design — heavier flanges and web than HEA for the same depth.
- HEB200 = 200mm deep, 61.3 kg/m
- HEB300 = 300mm deep, 117 kg/m
- HEB400 = 400mm deep, 155 kg/m
AISC comparison: HEB profiles are closer to the heavier end of W-shapes. HEB300 at 117 kg/m (79 lbs/ft) sits between a W12X53 and W12X79 in weight. HEB flanges are typically equal to or wider than the depth, giving them a squarish cross-section profile.
HEM (Wide Flange, Heavy Series)
HEM sections are the heaviest European wide-flange profiles — thick flanges and web for maximum load capacity.
- HEM200 = 200mm nominal depth, 103 kg/m
- HEM300 = 300mm, 238 kg/m
- HEM400 = 400mm, 256 kg/m
AISC comparison: HEM profiles are analogous to the heaviest W-shapes in a given depth group. HEM300 at 238 kg/m (160 lbs/ft) is comparable to a W12X106.
IPE (I-Profile European)
IPE sections are the standard European I-beam — narrower flanges than HEA/HEB, optimised for bending efficiency.
- IPE200 = 200mm deep, 22.4 kg/m
- IPE270 = 270mm, 36.1 kg/m
- IPE600 = 600mm, 122 kg/m
AISC comparison: IPE sections are the closest European equivalent to standard W-shapes used as beams. IPE270 at 36.1 kg/m (24.3 lbs/ft) is similar to a W10X22. The flanges are narrower relative to depth than HEA/HEB, which makes them efficient as simple-span beams but less suitable where biaxial bending matters.
IPE is probably the most common European section you'll encounter on drawings — it's the default beam choice the way W-shapes are in US design.
UPN (U-Profile, European Channel)
UPN sections are European channels — C-shaped profiles with tapered flanges, used for edge beams, lintels, and secondary framing.
- UPN80 = 80mm deep, 8.64 kg/m
- UPN120 = 120mm, 13.4 kg/m
- UPN200 = 200mm, 25.3 kg/m
AISC comparison: UPN channels correspond to AISC C-shapes. UPN120 is similar in size to a C5X6.7. The key difference: UPN flanges are tapered (thicker at the web, thinner at the tips), while most modern AISC channels have parallel flanges.
IPN (I-Profile, Narrow Flange)
IPN sections are an older European I-beam series with tapered flanges — similar to how American Standard beams (S-shapes) relate to wide flanges (W-shapes).
- IPN80 = 80mm deep, 5.94 kg/m
- IPN180 = 180mm, 21.9 kg/m
- IPN300 = 300mm, 54.2 kg/m
AISC comparison: IPN sections are analogous to AISC S-shapes. They're less common in new construction but still appear on renovation projects and in regions where older European standards persist.
HD (Heavy Wide Flange Columns)
HD sections are heavy European column profiles — deep, thick, and designed for axial load.
- HD260×93 = 260mm deep, 93 kg/m
- HD320×158 = 320mm, 158 kg/m
- HD400×237 = 400mm, 237 kg/m
AISC comparison: HD profiles correspond to the heaviest W-shapes used as columns — the W14X range from W14X61 up to W14X730, where the section is roughly as wide as it is deep.
How to Read European Section Callouts on Drawings
European drawings typically show the section type followed by the depth:
HEA200 → "H-section, series A, 200mm deep"
IPE300 → "I-profile European, 300mm deep"
UPN120 → "U-profile (channel), 120mm deep"
HEB300×117 → Sometimes includes weight: 300mm deep, 117 kg/m
2×IPE270 → Two beams side by side (paired)
The depth number is always in millimetres. When weight is shown, it's in kilograms per metre. Dimensions are in millimetres. This is consistent across all European section callouts.
Mixed-Standard Drawings
UK structural drawings commonly mix European and British notation on the same sheet. You might see IPE300 beams alongside UC254×254×73 columns — the beams specified to European standards, the columns to British. This is normal practice in the UK market and doesn't indicate an error.
Quick Reference: EN to AISC Equivalents
This table shows approximate equivalents by weight class — not exact substitutions. Always verify properties from the relevant design standard.
| EN Section | Weight (kg/m) | Approx. AISC Equivalent | Weight (lbs/ft) | |---|---|---|---| | IPE200 | 22.4 | W8X15 | 15 | | IPE270 | 36.1 | W10X22 | 22 | | IPE400 | 66.3 | W16X40 | 40 | | HEA200 | 42.3 | W8X28 | 28 | | HEA300 | 88.3 | W12X58 | 58 | | HEB200 | 61.3 | W8X40 | 40 | | HEB300 | 117 | W12X79 | 79 | | UPN120 | 13.4 | C5X6.7 | 6.7 | | UPN200 | 25.3 | C8X18.75 | 18.75 |
Where European Sections Are Used
European steel sections are specified on drawings across:
- EU member states (Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, etc.)
- United Kingdom (mixed with BS sections — UC, UB)
- Middle East (many projects designed by European consultants)
- North Africa (following European engineering standards)
- Parts of South America (where European firms lead design)
- International projects with European structural consultants
If you're a fabricator bidding on any of these markets, you'll encounter EN sections on the drawings. For a broader look at how multi-standard detection works across all four supported standards, see Steel Takeoffs Beyond AISC. If you also work with Australian drawings, check out our guide for AS/NZS fabricators.
What Is an HEA Section in Steel?
HEA is a European wide-flange beam series with broad flanges and a lighter weight profile. The number indicates the nominal depth in millimetres — HEA200 is 200mm deep. HEA sections are roughly equivalent to lighter AISC W-shapes.
What Is the Difference Between HEA and HEB?
Both are European wide-flange profiles with the same depth numbering. HEB has thicker flanges and web than HEA at the same depth, making it heavier and stronger. HEB200 weighs 61.3 kg/m versus HEA200 at 42.3 kg/m.
What Is an IPE Beam?
IPE (I-Profile European) is the standard European I-beam with narrower flanges than HEA/HEB, optimised for bending. It's the most common beam section in European structural design — the European equivalent of AISC W-shapes used as beams.
What Is a UPN Section?
UPN is a European channel section — a C-shaped profile used for edge beams, lintels, and secondary framing. UPN channels have tapered flanges, unlike most modern AISC channels which have parallel flanges.
How Do European Steel Sections Compare to AISC Shapes?
European sections serve the same structural functions as AISC shapes but use different naming, dimensions in millimetres, and weights in kilograms per metre. HEA/HEB/HEM correspond to W-shapes, IPE to standard beams, UPN to channels. The profiles aren't identical — flange proportions and taper differ — but they fill the same roles.
Can Steelflo Detect European Steel Sections?
Yes. Steelflo auto-detects EN standard drawings and recognises HEA, HEB, HEM, IPE, UPN, IPN, and HD sections. Weight lookups use the ArcelorMittal section database with 1,104 profiles. Output is in metric units.
Try Steelflo on a European Drawing
If you work with EN-standard structural drawings, upload one to Steelflo and see the detection results. The free tier gives you one AI takeoff — enough to verify your sections are recognised and weighted correctly.
Start free at steelfloai.com.