India's structural steel industry uses its own section standard — IS 808 — with designation systems that look unfamiliar to estimators trained on AISC or British standards. If you're working on Indian projects or with Indian fabricators, this page is the reference: what IS 808 covers, what every designation prefix means, full weight tables for the common ISMB, ISLB, ISWB, ISHB, ISMC, and ISA sizes, and how they map to AISC and UK sections.
What Is IS 808?
IS 808 is the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for hot rolled steel sections — beams, columns, channels, and angles. It was first established in 1957 and has been revised multiple times. The third revision (IS 808:1989) was the working document for three decades; the fourth revision (IS 808:2021) is current. Both are still referenced on drawings in circulation.
IS 808 covers section dimensions and geometry. It does not tell you what the steel is made of — that's IS 2062, the material specification (more on that below).
Indian sections differ from AISC and European sections in their dimensional profiles. Most of the classic Indian series are taper-flange sections, and many are narrower in flange width relative to depth than equivalent AISC shapes — which affects both structural behavior and estimating.
IS 808 vs IS 2062: Dimensions vs Material
These two standards get confused constantly because they appear side by side on every Indian structural drawing.
| IS 808 | IS 2062 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it specifies | Section dimensions, geometry, and weight per meter (ISMB 300, ISMC 150, etc.) | Steel material: chemistry, yield strength, tensile strength, grades |
| Answers the question | "What shape and size is this member?" | "What is this member made of?" |
| Common callout | ISMB 300, ISA 75x75x8 | E250 (Fe 410W) Grade A/B/C, E350, E410 |
| US analogue | AISC Shapes Database / Manual dimension tables | ASTM A36, A572, A992 |
A typical drawing note reads something like "All structural steel shall conform to IS 2062 E250; sections per IS 808." One standard for the material, one for the shapes. For takeoff purposes, IS 808 is the one you work from — it gives you the kg/m that turns lengths into tonnage. IS 2062 matters for pricing (grade affects rate per tonne) and procurement.
IS 808:2021 vs IS 808:1989 — What Changed
The 2021 fourth revision is the biggest update to the standard in 30 years. What it means in practice:
- Parallel-flange sections are now inside IS 808. The 2021 revision brings the parallel-flange beam and column series (NPB and WPB, previously covered separately under IS 12778) into the main standard alongside the traditional taper-flange ISMB/ISLB/ISWB/ISHB series. NPB/WPB sections are dimensionally aligned with European IPE/HE profiles, so you'll increasingly see European-style sections on Indian drawings.
- Some published weights were reconciled. A well-known example: ISMB 300 appears as 46.1 kg/m in some older producer charts but 44.2 kg/m in modern references consistent with IS 808:2021. If two references disagree on a weight, check which edition each traces back to — on a big job, a couple of percent per member adds up.
- Designations didn't change. ISMB 300 is still called ISMB 300. Takeoff labels look identical across editions, which is exactly why the weight-table edition matters.
- Older, rarely rolled sections were pruned while the commonly stocked sizes carried through.
If you're estimating from a recent drawing set, work from IS 808:2021 values. The tables below use weights consistent with the current revision.
IS 808 Designation Prefixes: Full Forms
Every Indian section designation starts with "IS" (Indian Standard) plus a series letter code:
| Prefix | Full form | Used for | Rough Western analogue |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISMB | Indian Standard Medium Weight Beam | General beams — the workhorse | AISC W shapes / UK UB |
| ISLB | Indian Standard Light Weight Beam | Lighter framing, lower loads | Light UB |
| ISWB | Indian Standard Wide Flange Beam | Longer spans, heavier loads | Wider W shapes |
| ISHB | Indian Standard Heavy Weight Beam (H-beam) | Columns | AISC column W shapes / UK UC |
| ISJB | Indian Standard Junior Beam | Very light framing (rare on modern drawings) | — |
| ISMC | Indian Standard Medium Weight Channel | Purlins, secondary framing, bracing | AISC C shapes / UK PFC |
| ISLC | Indian Standard Light Weight Channel | Lighter channel applications | Light channel |
| ISA | Indian Standard Angle | Truss members, bracing, connections | AISC L shapes / UK EA-UA |
The number after the prefix is the nominal depth in millimeters (ISMB 300 = 300mm deep). Angles carry leg sizes and thickness: ISA 75x75x8 = 75mm × 75mm legs, 8mm thick.
IS 808 Section Weight Tables
Weights below are kg/m per current IS 808 references. To convert: 1 kg/m = 0.672 lb/ft. Piece weight in kg = kg/m × length in meters.
ISMB — Medium Weight Beams
| Designation | Depth (mm) | Flange Width (mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISMB 100 | 100 | 75 | 11.5 |
| ISMB 125 | 125 | 75 | 13.0 |
| ISMB 150 | 150 | 80 | 14.9 |
| ISMB 175 | 175 | 90 | 19.3 |
| ISMB 200 | 200 | 100 | 25.4 |
| ISMB 225 | 225 | 110 | 31.2 |
| ISMB 250 | 250 | 125 | 37.3 |
| ISMB 300 | 300 | 140 | 44.2 |
| ISMB 350 | 350 | 140 | 52.4 |
| ISMB 400 | 400 | 140 | 61.6 |
| ISMB 450 | 450 | 150 | 72.4 |
| ISMB 500 | 500 | 180 | 86.9 |
| ISMB 550 | 550 | 190 | 103.7 |
| ISMB 600 | 600 | 210 | 122.6 |
Note the narrow flanges relative to depth — ISMB 500 carries a 180mm flange on a 500mm deep section, where an AISC W18 of similar depth runs a much wider flange.
ISLB — Light Weight Beams
| Designation | Depth (mm) | Flange Width (mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISLB 75 | 75 | 50 | 6.1 |
| ISLB 100 | 100 | 50 | 8.0 |
| ISLB 125 | 125 | 75 | 11.9 |
| ISLB 150 | 150 | 80 | 14.2 |
| ISLB 175 | 175 | 90 | 16.7 |
| ISLB 200 | 200 | 100 | 19.8 |
| ISLB 225 | 225 | 100 | 23.5 |
| ISLB 250 | 250 | 125 | 27.9 |
| ISLB 275 | 275 | 140 | 33.0 |
| ISLB 300 | 300 | 150 | 37.7 |
| ISLB 325 | 325 | 165 | 43.1 |
| ISLB 350 | 350 | 165 | 49.5 |
| ISLB 400 | 400 | 165 | 56.9 |
| ISLB 450 | 450 | 170 | 65.3 |
| ISLB 500 | 500 | 180 | 75.0 |
| ISLB 550 | 550 | 190 | 86.3 |
| ISLB 600 | 600 | 210 | 99.5 |
At the same nominal depth, an ISLB runs 15–25% lighter than the ISMB (ISLB 300 at 37.7 kg/m vs ISMB 300 at 44.2 kg/m). Misreading the series letter is one of the easiest tonnage errors to make on an Indian drawing.
ISWB — Wide Flange Beams
| Designation | Depth (mm) | Flange Width (mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISWB 150 | 150 | 100 | 17.0 |
| ISWB 175 | 175 | 125 | 22.3 |
| ISWB 200 | 200 | 140 | 28.8 |
| ISWB 225 | 225 | 150 | 33.9 |
| ISWB 250 | 250 | 200 | 40.9 |
| ISWB 300 | 300 | 200 | 48.1 |
| ISWB 350 | 350 | 200 | 56.9 |
| ISWB 400 | 400 | 200 | 66.7 |
| ISWB 450 | 450 | 200 | 79.4 |
| ISWB 500 | 500 | 250 | 95.2 |
| ISWB 550 | 550 | 250 | 112.0 |
| ISWB 600 | 600 | 250 | 134.0 |
| ISWB 600A | 600 | 250 | 145.0 |
The wider flanges give better lateral-torsional buckling resistance for longer spans. ISWB 600A at 145 kg/m is among the heaviest standard Indian beam sections.
ISHB — Heavy Weight Beams (Column Sections)
| Designation | Depth (mm) | Flange Width (mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISHB 150 | 150 | 150 | 27.1 |
| ISHB 200 | 200 | 200 | 37.3 |
| ISHB 225 | 225 | 225 | 43.1 |
| ISHB 250 | 250 | 250 | 51.0 |
| ISHB 300 | 300 | 250 | 58.8 |
| ISHB 350 | 350 | 250 | 67.4 |
| ISHB 400 | 400 | 250 | 77.4 |
| ISHB 450 | 450 | 250 | 87.2 |
Near-square profiles up to ISHB 250 (depth ≈ flange width), like AISC W14 column shapes or British UCs. Several ISHB sizes were historically rolled in two weights per depth — verify against the drawing schedule if the callout carries a weight suffix.
ISMC — Medium Weight Channels
| Designation | Depth (mm) | Flange Width (mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISMC 75 | 75 | 40 | 6.8 |
| ISMC 100 | 100 | 50 | 9.2 |
| ISMC 125 | 125 | 65 | 12.7 |
| ISMC 150 | 150 | 75 | 16.4 |
| ISMC 175 | 175 | 75 | 19.1 |
| ISMC 200 | 200 | 75 | 22.1 |
| ISMC 225 | 225 | 80 | 25.9 |
| ISMC 250 | 250 | 80 | 30.4 |
| ISMC 300 | 300 | 90 | 35.8 |
| ISMC 350 | 350 | 100 | 42.1 |
| ISMC 400 | 400 | 100 | 49.4 |
The ISLC (light) series parallels these at the same depths with lower weights (ISLC 200 = 20.6 kg/m vs ISMC 200 = 22.1 kg/m) — again, watch the series letter.
ISA — Angles
Equal leg angles (common sizes):
| Designation | Legs (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA 50x50x6 | 50 x 50 | 6 | 4.5 |
| ISA 65x65x6 | 65 x 65 | 6 | 5.8 |
| ISA 75x75x6 | 75 x 75 | 6 | 6.8 |
| ISA 75x75x8 | 75 x 75 | 8 | 8.9 |
| ISA 90x90x8 | 90 x 90 | 8 | 10.8 |
| ISA 100x100x8 | 100 x 100 | 8 | 12.1 |
| ISA 100x100x10 | 100 x 100 | 10 | 14.9 |
| ISA 110x110x10 | 110 x 110 | 10 | 16.5 |
| ISA 130x130x10 | 130 x 130 | 10 | 19.7 |
| ISA 150x150x12 | 150 x 150 | 12 | 27.3 |
| ISA 200x200x16 | 200 x 200 | 16 | 48.5 |
Unequal leg angles (common sizes):
| Designation | Legs (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA 75x50x6 | 75 x 50 | 6 | 5.7 |
| ISA 100x65x8 | 100 x 65 | 8 | 9.8 |
| ISA 100x75x8 | 100 x 75 | 8 | 10.5 |
| ISA 125x75x8 | 125 x 75 | 8 | 12.2 |
| ISA 150x75x10 | 150 x 75 | 10 | 16.8 |
| ISA 150x115x10 | 150 x 115 | 10 | 20.0 |
| ISA 200x100x12 | 200 x 100 | 12 | 27.3 |
ISA sections turn up everywhere in trusses, bracing, and connection elements. Each leg/thickness combination is a distinct section — ISA 75x75x6 and ISA 75x75x8 differ by 30% in weight, so the thickness digit matters as much as the leg size.
How IS 808 Sections Compare to AISC and UK Sections
This is where estimators get tripped up. IS, AISC, and BS sections are not interchangeable by nominal size. A section labeled ISMB 300 is not the same as a W12 (300mm ≈ 12 inches) or a 305x165 UB.
| Property | ISMB 300 | W12x50 (AISC) | 305x165x40 UB (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 300 mm | 306 mm | 303 mm |
| Flange width | 140 mm | 205 mm | 165 mm |
| Weight | 44.2 kg/m | 74.4 kg/m | 40.3 kg/m |
The ISMB 300 is far lighter than the W12x50 because its flange is much narrower; it's closer in weight to the British UB, but still a different profile. Application-level equivalents (what each series is used for):
| IS 808 series | AISC equivalent role | UK equivalent role |
|---|---|---|
| ISMB / ISLB | W shapes (beams) | UB (Universal Beam) |
| ISWB | Wider W shapes, long spans | Heavier UB |
| ISHB | W column shapes (W10–W14) | UC (Universal Column) |
| ISMC / ISLC | C (American Standard Channel) | PFC (Parallel Flange Channel) |
| ISA | L (angles) | Equal / Unequal Angles |
For estimating, never substitute across standards by nominal depth. Use the actual kg/m from the IS 808 tables and convert (1 kg/m = 0.672 lb/ft) if you need to compare tonnage. Structural substitution is an engineering decision based on section properties, not a takeoff decision. The wide flange beam sizes guide covers the AISC side of this comparison.
Estimating Implications for IS 808 Projects
Weight calculations use kg/m, not lb/ft
Indian projects work in metric. Piece weight = weight per meter × length in meters, result in kilograms. Divide by 1,000 for metric tonnes.
ISMB 250 at 6 meters: 37.3 kg/m × 6 m = 223.8 kg = 0.224 tonnes. The steel weight calculation guide walks through the full method, including unit conversion pitfalls.
Material pricing is in INR per metric tonne
As of early 2026, structural steel (IS 2062 Grade E250) is trading approximately ₹65,000–₹75,000 per metric tonne ex-Mumbai/Delhi for standard sections. Regional variation is significant.
Section availability is different
IS 808 sections may not be stocked at the same depths as AISC. Some ISMB/ISLB variants have limited availability outside major distribution centers. Engineers designing to IS 808 typically work with sections that are readily stocked in the Indian market.
Drawing labeling conventions
Indian structural drawings typically label sections with their full IS designation: ISMB 200, ISMC 150, ISA 75x75x8. Unlike AISC drawings where you might see "W14x30" as a shorthand, Indian drawings usually use the full series name. Some drawings append the weight (ISMB 300 @ 44.2 kg/m) or the material grade in the same callout — read the whole string before assigning a section.
Automating IS 808 Takeoffs
If your shop handles projects across multiple standards — or you're an international estimator covering Indian, European, and American work — keeping separate reference tables for each standard is manageable but slow, and edition mismatches (1989 vs 2021 weights) creep in.
SteelFlo detects IS 808 section labels directly from uploaded PDF drawings — ISMB, ISLB, ISWB, ISHB, ISMC, ISLC, and ISA callouts — and maps each one to the correct weight automatically, alongside AISC, UK, European, Australian, and Chinese sections: 4,500+ steel sections across 6 standards in one database. Every detection gets a bounding box on the drawing for you to verify, then exports to a BOM with tonnage computed. You get 3 free takeoffs to test it on your own drawings.
The steel takeoffs beyond AISC post covers the multi-standard estimating landscape in more depth, and why a steel takeoff tool needs multiple standards explains what breaks when a tool only knows one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between IS 808 and IS 2062?
IS 808 is the dimensions standard — it defines section geometry and weight per meter for beams, channels, and angles (ISMB 300, ISMC 150, etc.). IS 2062 is the material standard — it defines the steel's chemistry and strength grades (E250, E350, E410). Every Indian structural member is specified by both: IS 808 says what shape it is, IS 2062 says what steel it's made from.
What changed in IS 808:2021 compared to IS 808:1989?
The 2021 fourth revision brought parallel-flange sections (the NPB and WPB series, dimensionally aligned with European IPE/HE profiles) into IS 808 alongside the traditional taper-flange series, reconciled some published weights (ISMB 300 is 44.2 kg/m in current references; some older charts show 46.1), and pruned rarely rolled sizes. Section designations did not change, so drawings referencing either edition use the same labels.
What is the full form of ISMB, ISMC, and ISA?
ISMB is Indian Standard Medium Weight Beam, ISMC is Indian Standard Medium Weight Channel, and ISA is Indian Standard Angle. Related series: ISLB (Light Weight Beam), ISWB (Wide Flange Beam), ISHB (Heavy Weight Beam, used as columns), and ISLC (Light Weight Channel).
What is the difference between ISMB and ISWB sections?
ISMB (Medium Weight Beam) has narrower flanges relative to depth, while ISWB (Wide Flange Beam) has broader flanges. ISWB sections provide better resistance to lateral-torsional buckling and are preferred for longer spans and heavier loads. For equivalent depth, ISWB sections are heavier: at 300mm deep, ISWB 300 is 48.1 kg/m vs ISMB 300 at 44.2 kg/m.
How do I convert IS 808 sections to AISC equivalents for pricing?
There is no direct conversion — the sections have different geometries. The correct approach is to use the actual weight per meter for the IS section and convert to weight per foot (1 kg/m = 0.672 lb/ft) for comparison. For structural adequacy, sections should be selected based on their actual section properties, not nominal size matching.
What steel grade is used with IS 808 sections?
IS 2062 is the standard material specification for hot rolled steel in India. The most common grade is E250 (formerly Fe 410), roughly equivalent to ASTM A36 with a 250 MPa yield strength. Higher grades (E300, E350, E410) are available and used in higher-stress applications.
Are IS 808 sections used outside India?
Yes, particularly in South Asia (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) and in projects using Indian contractors in the Middle East and Africa. If you're estimating for Indian EPC contractors working internationally, expect IS 808 section specifications even on non-Indian projects.
Where can I find the official IS 808 section tables?
The official source is the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) — IS 808:2021 is the current edition. IS 808 tables are also published by major Indian steel producers including Tata Steel (Tata Blue Book) and SAIL, both of which provide dimensional and section property data for all IS 808 series. When two references disagree on a weight, check which edition each traces back to.