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The heaviest 254 x 146, used where a deeper 305 section will not fit the available zone.

254 x 146 x 43 dimensions and weight

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

What is a 254 x 146 x 43 used for?

The 254 x 146 x 43 is the top of the 254 x 146 series and is usually specified for one of two reasons: the loading has increased beyond what the 37 will take, or the design needs more capacity but cannot accommodate the extra depth of a 305 section. Its 12.7mm flange and 7.3mm web make it a substantially stiffer member than the 31, at the cost of 12 kg per metre. It appears in heavily loaded domestic openings, in situations where a beam is picking up multiple floors or a large area of roof, and in light commercial alterations. Worth noting for site planning: at 260mm it is 9mm deeper than the 254 x 146 x 31, so a design that was originally drawn around the lighter section may need the bearing pockets adjusting if the specification changes late.

Indicative span

Under typical UK domestic loading, published load tables place the 254 x 146 x 43 in the region of 5m to 5.8m. 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 254 x 146 x 43 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 254 x 146 x 43 weighs approximately 260kg. At that weight the beam needs mechanical offload at the kerb and, in most cases, mechanical assistance to get it into position. 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: 254x146x43, 254 x 146 x 43 UB, UB 254x146x43, 254×146 UB43. 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.