Steel is one of the most versatile building materials available. This metal is used extensively as structural support. Over time, engineers and builders have used the material to create many strategic shapes that will hold loads and improve the integrity of structures. Residential and commercial contractors and DIY enthusiasts use an extensive inventory of steel parts to create everything from decking and fences to foundations.

7 Steel Shapes Used in Construction

1. American Standard Beam (S-shaped)

S beams feature a web connecting two narrow parallel flanges and a roll section. You can tell how much they weigh and their width by looking at their designation, like S18x75 means a foot-and-a-half-deep beam. Each foot of this beam weighs 75 pounds. S beams are most frequently found in lifts, hoists, truck bed frames, and construction.

2. Angle (L-shaped)

These beams feature two equal or unequal legs that meet at a 90-degree angle. They are often used in flooring because their shape offers multi-dimensional support without the need for added depth, which could take away vertical square footage.

3. Bearing Pile (H-shaped)

H-shaped bearing piles help deepen foundation systems on existing structures with shallow foundations. One pile can hold over 1,000 tons of weight, hence their use as the structural base of buildings.

4. Channel (C-shaped)

Channel beams are often found in bridges, buildings, and piers where they provide support for medium- and short-span structures. They are made up of a bottom and top flanges with a c-shaped cross section that connects. These structures offer immense strength while remaining bendable and lightweight, making them perfect for marine environments.

5. Hollow Steel Section (HSS)

These shapes feature a hollow, tube-like cross-section, which can be circular, elliptical, or rectangular. They are always available to provide support to frames holding loads in several directions and are frequently used in columns or exposed structures to add architectural appeal. 

6. I-beam

Two horizontal flanges and a vertical web make up this structure also known as a universal or H beam. These building materials are used many ways throughout the construction industry because they can hold immense weight.

7. Tee

Load-bearing t-beams carry weight in a T shape with a top flange and vertical web. They can reinforce concrete, wood, or metal but do not handle tensile forces due to their lack of a second flange. 

If you’re working on a building project and need to add structural support, contact the expert team at Magna Steel Sales Inc. in Beacon Falls, CT, by calling (203) 888-0300. Visit the website for information on how they sell to homeowners without requiring consumers to buy in bulk. This way, you can tackle those fun projects at home without having to buy more materials than you need. You’re guaranteed to find the materials you need among their inventory.