Home › Universal Beams › 203 x 102 x 23

A narrow-flange 203mm section, chosen when depth is needed but the wall or cavity is too tight for a wider beam.

203 x 102 x 23 dimensions and weight

Approximate total weight by length — this is what determines how the beam is offloaded on site.

What is a 203 x 102 x 23 used for?

The 203 x 102 x 23 offers the structural depth of a 203 section on a 102mm flange, which makes it the practical choice where the beam has to sit within a narrow wall, a tight cavity, or between existing structure that will not accommodate a 133mm wide flange. Published tables put it in the region of 3.5 to 4.2 metres under typical domestic loading, so it covers rear extension openings and larger knock-throughs. The trade-off against the wider 203 x 133 x 25 is lateral stability: a narrow flange is less resistant to lateral torsional buckling, so the engineer’s calculations may require restraint that the wider section would not. It is worth checking which of the two your calculations actually call for before ordering, because the two sections are close in weight and cost but not interchangeable.

Indicative span

Under typical UK domestic loading, published load tables place the 203 x 102 x 23 in the region of 3.5m to 4.2m. That assumes a simply supported beam with an evenly distributed load, an imposed load of around 1.5 kN/m² and a dead load of 0.5–0.8 kN/m².

Grades, lengths and finishes

The 203 x 102 x 23 is normally supplied to BS EN 10025-2 in S275JR or S355JR. S355 is the higher strength grade and is increasingly the default across the supply network; if your calculations specify one grade, tell us, because the two are not interchangeable. Mill certificates can be supplied with the order on request.

Beams are supplied cut to your lengths rather than as standard mill lengths, and we can arrange:

• Cutting to size — supplied ready to install, no cutting on site
• Drilling, notching and holes to your engineer’s details
• Welded cleats, end plates and connections
• Painting and priming, including intumescent coatings
• Galvanising for external or exposed applications

Delivery

A 6m length of 203 x 102 x 23 weighs approximately 140kg. That is beyond safe manual handling, so plan for mechanical offload and a clear route to the opening. We deliver direct to site across London, the South and the Midlands, with HIAB lorry crane offload available on request. If access is restricted — a terraced street, a rear garden, limited headroom — tell us at quote stage rather than on the day, and we’ll plan the delivery around it.

Other sizes in the range

Also searched as: 203x102x23, 203 x 102 x 23 UB, UB 203x102x23, 203×102 RSJ. The term “RSJ” is still widely used for universal beams, though strictly it refers to the older rolled steel joist section with tapered flanges.

• All universal beam sizes
• Universal columns (UC) — where the load is vertical rather than spanning
• RSJ beams
• PFC parallel flange channels

Common questions

Dimensional data shown is nominal and for guidance. Span figures are indicative and must not be used in place of structural calculations.