Product Overview
Hot-dip galvanized carbon steel H beams and I beam profiles are structural sections used as beams and columns in industrial and civil buildings, steel pile supports and underground engineering, petrochemical and power plant equipment structures, long-span steel bridges, ship and machinery frames, rail vehicle supports, and conveyor or highway guardrail posts. Hot rolling delivers a one-piece section with continuous flanges and a uniform grain structure, while hot-dip galvanizing adds a metallurgically bonded zinc coating that protects the steel in outdoor, humid and mildly corrosive service.
Because galvanizing is applied to the finished, cut and drilled member, cut ends, drilled holes and edges receive the same protection as the rolled surfaces, which is a decisive advantage over paint systems applied before fabrication.
Grades, Standards and Material Options
| Material | Reference standard | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Q195, Q215, Q235B | GB/T 700 | General building and rack frames |
| Q345B, S355JR | GB/T 1591, EN 10025-2 | Heavily loaded beams and columns |
| S235JR, S275JR | EN 10025-2 | European-spec frames and supports |
| SS400 | JIS G3101 | Machinery frames and general structures |
| ASTM A36 | ASTM A36/A36M | American-spec structural framing |
European HEA, HEB and IPE sections and their Asian equivalents are rolled with the same practice, so a project can combine designations while keeping consistent web and flange proportions.
Section Range and Dimensional Data
Hot rolled H and I sections are supplied from 100 × 68 mm up to 900 × 300 mm, in lengths of 1-12 m or as specified. The table below lists representative IPE sections with nominal dimensions.
| Section | Height (mm) | Width (mm) | Web thickness (mm) | Flange thickness (mm) | Mass (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPE 100 | 100 | 55 | 4.1 | 5.7 | 8.1 |
| IPE 120 | 120 | 64 | 4.4 | 6.3 | 10.4 |
| IPE 160 | 160 | 82 | 5.0 | 7.4 | 15.8 |
| IPE 200 | 200 | 100 | 5.6 | 8.5 | 22.4 |
| IPE 240 | 240 | 120 | 6.2 | 9.8 | 30.7 |
| IPE 300 | 300 | 150 | 7.1 | 10.7 | 42.2 |
| IPE 360 | 360 | 170 | 8.0 | 12.7 | 57.1 |
| IPE 400 | 400 | 180 | 8.6 | 13.5 | 66.3 |
| IPE 450 | 450 | 190 | 9.4 | 14.6 | 77.6 |
| IPE 500 | 500 | 200 | 10.2 | 16.0 | 90.7 |
| IPE 600 | 600 | 220 | 12.0 | 19.0 | 122 |
Mass values are nominal and follow the European section tables; actual delivery mass is verified against the theoretical value during final inspection.
Hot-Dip Galvanizing and Surface Finishes
Hot-dip galvanizing to ISO 1461 or ASTM A123 forms a zinc-iron alloy layer at the steel surface. For steel 6 mm thick and above, ISO 1461 requires a minimum average coating thickness of 70 micrometres and a minimum local thickness of 55 micrometres. The coating protects the section as a barrier and continues to protect it by sacrificial action at scratches, drilled holes and cut faces.
Oiling: short-term protection for transit and indoor storage.
Abrasive blasting: surface preparation before priming or coating.
Painting: shop primer or top coat for colour coding and added chemical resistance.
Cutting and drilling: performed before galvanizing so that every cut face stays protected.
Fabrication, Packing and Applications
Sections are cut, drilled and formed to ordered lengths before coating, then packed in water-proof plastic cloth, woven bags or PVC wrapping and secured in bundles with steel strapping. Production lead time is normally 10-20 days depending on quantity and section size.
Building and engineering structures: floor beams, columns and bracing
Transmission towers and lifting and transport machinery
Bridges, ship frames, industrial furnaces and reaction towers
Container frames, warehouse racking and guardrail supports
FAQ
Q: What does hot-dip galvanizing add to an H beam?
It forms a bonded zinc coating that protects the whole member, including cut ends and drilled holes, giving long-term corrosion resistance in outdoor, humid and mildly corrosive environments.
Q: What sizes of H beam and I beam are available?
Sections are supplied from 100 × 68 mm up to 900 × 300 mm, in lengths of 1-12 m or cut to a specified length.
Q: Which steel grades can be supplied?
Common grades include Q195, Q215, Q235B and Q345B to GB/T 700 and GB/T 1591, S235JR, S275JR and S355JR to EN 10025-2, SS400 to JIS G3101 and ASTM A36.
Q: How is the material packed for shipment?
Beams are wrapped in water-proof plastic cloth, woven bags or PVC, then bundled with steel strapping; bundle size and marking follow the agreed packing list.
Q: What coating thickness does ISO 1461 require?
For steel sections 6 mm thick and above, the standard requires a minimum average coating thickness of 70 micrometres and a minimum local thickness of 55 micrometres.
Q: Where are galvanized H and I beams typically used?
They are used for building frames, underground pile and support works, petrochemical and power structures, bridges, ship and machinery frames, rail vehicle supports and guardrail posts.