STANDARD
STRUCTURAL STEEL
SHAPES
Structural steel shapes
provide support to
buildings of all kinds.
They’re integral to weight
distribution and ensure the
integrity, safety, and
durability of buildings.
Though structural steel
shapes can be customized,
they usually fall into one of
four categories: beams,
angles, channels, or
plates. Each shape has
defining features and
optimal applications.
Structural Steel
Angles is a hot rolled
product with an L-
shaped cross-section
that’s appropriate for
a number of
applications. A
standard structural
angle is 90 degrees
and is measured by
L-Shapes, commonly known
as Angles, L-shapes are
produced with both equal and
unequal leg lengths. When
notating unequal leg angles in
measurement, the longer leg
is always first, and thickness
last. All measurements are
always taken from the
outside.
Applications: include
structural reinforcement,
framework, shelving, and
repair.
Hollow Structural Section (HSS) refers to high-
strength welded steel tubing. Sometimes referred to as
hollow steel sections, they are produced in round,
square, and rectangular shapes that support
multidirectional load bearing. As the name suggests,
Structural Steel Beams
• Structural steel beams are
the basis of support. The
basic design is built to
handle a maximum bending
load with minimum material.
• Beams have a flat top and
bottom, called flanges
(sometimes, legs). Often
these flanges taper. The
vertical section of the beam
is called the web. The web is
built to resist blunt force,
while flanges resist
bending. The angle which
I-beams are
sometimes called the
universal beam or
wide flange beams.
The name describes
the shape of the
cross-section and legs
that are parallel. I-
beams act as the
critical support
trusses in
construction
framework.
S Beams are designed to
offer superior strength with
wider flanges that have a
slope on the inside surface.
They are used in home and
building construction, truck
bed frames, hoists, lifts, and
more.
T-beams have a T-
shape, like the
universal beam but
without a bottom
flange. T-beams are
best for
reinforcement, as
they do not resist
bending to bear
equal weight as well
Bearing piles are
similar to I-beams in
that they have the
same shape.
However, bearing
piles have uniform
thickness across all
sections. They are
primarily used to
support vertical
H-piles are a type of Bearing
Pile, but not all Bearing Piles are
H-Piles. H-piles have the same I-
shape but are often placed in the
ground to provide deep
foundation support for
superstructures.
Structural Steel Channels
• Structural channels are a hot-rolled product with
a C-shaped cross-section with various
construction and manufacturing applications.
They are identified by channel depth, the
distance from top to bottom; leg height; leg
thickness; and web thickness.
C-channels have a slight slope on the inner flange
surface. They are not typically applied as primary load-
bearing beams. Rather, they provide a great amount of
structural support, most useful as frames and for bracing.
Structural Steel Plates
Plates are flat and are
produced in a variety of
thicknesses to meet
construction needs where
durability and weight-savings
is necessary.
Structural steel is usually
welded to build the framework
for buildings and bridges.
Structural steel welders will
cut and restore metal beams,
