Fixadores e Espaçadores

UB

UB Universal Beam - Hot Rolled Structural Steel Section | British Standard

UB (Universal Beam) is a hot-rolled I-shaped structural steel section manufactured to British Standard dimensions, widely used as the load-bearing skeleton of steel-framed buildings, bridges, and industrial structures across the UK, the Middle East, and Commonwealth markets. A typical UB is designated by its serial size in millimetres followed by its mass per metre in kilograms (for example, UB 457 x 152 x 60 = 457 mm deep x 152 mm wide flange x 60 kg/m). The UB range spans light sections such as UB 127 x 76 x 13 up to heavy sections like UB 1016 x 305 x 487, with parallel inner and outer flange surfaces that simplify bolted end-plate and bearing-plate connections. A Universal Beam is a category of hot-rolled structural steel section whose cross-section forms the capital letter I - a tall vertical web flanked by two horizontal flanges. Within the British Standards family it sits alongside the Universal Column (UC), which has a near-square flange and is optimised for axial compression; the UB, in contrast, is optimised for bending about its strong axis. In the structural steel taxonomy, UBs fall under the parent category of hot-rolled sections, then I-sections, then beams, then long products used in construction. British Steel is the only UK manufacturer of UB sections and produces them under BES 6001 certification with CE and UKCA marking. Key features of UB sections include parallel flanges for simpler connection detailing, a wide size range covering spans from approximately 1 m to over 30 m, and availability in multiple steel grades: S235JR, S275JR/J0/J2 and S355JR/J0/J2 to EN 10025-2:2004, plus equivalent ASTM A36, A572 Gr 50 and A992 Gr 50 grades for export markets. Lengths are typically supplied 6 m to 18 m as standard, with project-specific cutting and cambering available from service centres. Technically, UB sections are rolled from continuously-cast billets through a sequence of breakdown, intermediate, and finishing stands that progressively shape the I profile. The parallel-flange geometry - distinct from the older tapered-flange RSJ - allows moment-resisting connections to use flush end-plates without major cope-cutting. Mass-per-metre values, section depths, flange widths, web and flange thicknesses, root radii, and second-moment-of-area values are tabulated in the British Steel Universal Beams datasheet. Typical applications of UB sections include primary beams in multi-storey commercial buildings, rafters in portal-framed warehouses, crane girders in industrial facilities, bridge girders for short- to medium-span highway and rail crossings, and mezzanine floor joists. The choice between UB, UC, IPE, HEA and HEB depends on regional design code (BS 5950 / Eurocode 3 / AISC), loading type (predominantly bending vs axial) and connection detailing preferences. When specifying a UB, the designer should confirm grade, length, tolerance class (EN 10034), and any supplementary requirements such as CE marking, third-party inspection, or impact testing at sub-zero temperatures. For seismic or fatigue-sensitive applications, through-thickness property guarantees (Z15/Z25/Z35 to EN 10164) should be considered. This page synthesises British Steel datasheet values, regional equivalent mapping (UB vs IPE vs W-shape), and practical specification guidance not consolidated in a single manufacturer document.