A typical single-span steel warehouse uses HEA/HEB or W-series columns, IPE/W roof rafters, and galvanized C/Z purlins — total steel intensity runs 18–35 kg/m² depending on span and crane load. A 24 × 60 m warehouse (1,440 m²) orders roughly 30–45 tons of sections plus purlins.
Warehouse and industrial-building builders are the most common buyers of structural H beams — and the section choices follow a pattern that repeats from Vietnam to West Africa. This guide walks through the building part by part, so you can check your own bill of materials against what usually works.
Which Section Goes Where
| Building Part | Typical Section | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Columns (frame) | HEA 200–400 / W10–W14 / HW 250×250 | Wide flanges resist buckling both ways under axial load |
| Roof rafters (10–20 m span) | IPE 300–600 / W16–W24 | Deep, efficient in bending along the span |
| Rafters 20–30 m | Welded tapered web or W27–W36 | Hot-rolled sections cap out; welded plate girders take over |
| Mezzanine beams | IPE 200–400 / W8–W14 | Floor loads, 2.5–6 kPa live load typical |
| Crane runway beams | W21–W36 or box girder | Fatigue + dynamic wheel loads |
| Purlins & girts | C/Z galvanized 1.5–3.0 mm | Light secondary steel spanning between frames |
| Bracing | Angle bars / round rods | Stability against wind and crane surge |
Steel Intensity Benchmarks (kg per m² of floor)
| Building Type | Steel Intensity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Light warehouse, span 18–24 m, no crane | 18–25 kg/m² | Hot-rolled frames + cold-formed purlins |
| Standard warehouse + 5 t crane | 25–32 kg/m² | Crane runway adds 4–6 kg/m² |
| Heavy industrial + overhead crane 10–20 t | 32–45 kg/m² | Heavier columns and runway girders |
| Two-storey with mezzanine offices | +12–20 kg/m² | Mezzanine framing on its own grid |
Benchmarks for budgeting only — final tonnage comes from the structural design.
Worked Example: 24 × 60 m Warehouse
- 6 frames at 10 m spacing, 24 m clear span → welded tapered rafters or W27/W30 hot-rolled, columns HEA 300–400 class.
- Steel intensity at 24 kg/m² → ≈ 35 tons total: frames ≈ 22 t, purlins ≈ 8 t, bracing & secondary ≈ 5 t.
- Container plan: 35 t ≈ 2 × 40GP (26–28 t each) — see shipping guide.
- Budget: at indicative FOB $600/t for Q355B sections (price table here), the section package lands around $21,000 FOB before purlins and sheeting.
Size your frame members precisely with the weight calculator and H beam size chart; European sections reference: Polish HEA/HEB table →
What We Supply for Warehouse Projects
- Columns and rafters in S235JR/S275JR/S355JR, ASTM A572 Gr50, GB Q235B/Q355B — one grade family or mixed to drawing.
- Cut-to-length, drilled end plates, shot blasting + primer — frames arrive ready to bolt: processing services →
- Purlins, sheeting rails, bracing angles in the same container to fill weight — one shipment, one clearance.
- MOQ 5 t; typical warehouse frame package 20–45 t; EN 10204 3.1 MTC with every order.
Building a warehouse? Send the frame list.
Drawings or a section list to [email protected] or WhatsApp +86 191 5745 8011 — we return tonnage, container plan and FOB/CIF price within one working day.
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