Wide Flange Beams are used primarily for support and framework in structural steel construction, most commonly in commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings, bridges, mezzanines and platforms, walers, wallsystems, trailer and truck-bed framing, machine bases, and much more.īeams are used in the civil construction industry, as foundations or as containing supports for buildings that have numerous floors. The W or H beam tends to be heavier than the I-beam, and that is why some say that it is better than the I-beam, but that is subjective, as the W beam is generally heavier. The difference between both H-beams and I-beams is the flange by web ratio. The width is the flange, and the height is the Web. The W or H beam has wider flanges than an I-beam, but the I-beam has tapered edges. It gets its name because it looks like a capital H over its cross section. W or H beam is a structural beam made of rolled steel. For example, a "IR250x33" beam is approximately 250 mm (9.8 in) in depth (height of the I-beam from the outer face of one flange to the outer face of the other flange) and weighs approximately 33 kg/m (22 lb/ft). In Mexico, steel I-beams are called IR and commonly specified using the depth and weight of the beam in metric terms.In the case of the W14 series, they may be as deep as 22.84 in (58.0 cm). It should be noted that wide flange section often vary from their nominal depth. For example, a "W10x22" beam is approximately 10 in (25 cm) in depth (nominal height of the I-beam from the outer face of one flange to the outer face of the other flange) and weighs 22 lb/ft (33 kg/m). In the United States, steel I-beams are commonly specified using the depth and weight of the beam.Beam is available in Aluminum, Stainless Steel and Hot Rolled varieties. Beam is mostly used to support heavy structures. They are generally used in construction, civil engineering, heavy machinery, truck construction and other heavy duty tasks. Beams are characterized by their profile, length and material.The most common types resemble a Capital I or a Capital H. Its horizontal span is much broader than its width or depth. A construction beam is a structural element that bears load by resisting bending from downward forces. Beams come in different shapes and sizes.