Universal Columns
United Kingdom · BS 4-1 / BS EN 10365
Universal Columns (UC) are hot-rolled steel I-sections whose flange width is close to their depth, giving a roughly square profile. That balance produces similar stiffness about both axes, which is what a compression member needs to resist buckling in any direction.
UCs are used as columns and posts, and as beams where lateral stability or minor-axis capacity matters more than raw bending efficiency. For pure bending where depth is available, a Universal Beam carries more load per kilogram.
Reading the size: A UC is named by nominal depth then mass per metre: "310UC96.8" is about 310 mm deep and weighs 96.8 kg/m.
Properties are indicative - verify against the governing standard before professional use.
Universal Columns sizes (31)
| Designation | Profile | Mass kg/m | Depth mm | Width mm | tw mm | tf mm | Area mm² | Ix mm⁴ | Zx mm³ | Sx mm³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC 152x152x23 | 23 | 152.4 | 152.2 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 2,920 | 12,500,000 | 164,000 | 182,000 | |
| UC 152x152x30 | 30 | 157.6 | 152.9 | 6.5 | 9.4 | 3,830 | 17,500,000 | 222,000 | 248,000 | |
| UC 152x152x37 | 37 | 161.8 | 154.4 | 8 | 11.5 | 4,710 | 22,100,000 | 273,000 | 309,000 | |
| UC 203x203x46 | 46.1 | 203.2 | 203.6 | 7.2 | 11 | 5,870 | 45,700,000 | 450,000 | 497,000 | |
| UC 203x203x52 | 52 | 206.2 | 204.3 | 7.9 | 12.5 | 6,630 | 52,600,000 | 510,000 | 567,000 | |
| UC 203x203x60 | 60 | 209.6 | 205.8 | 9.4 | 14.2 | 7,640 | 61,200,000 | 584,000 | 656,000 | |
| UC 203x203x71 | 71 | 215.8 | 206.4 | 10 | 17.3 | 9,040 | 76,200,000 | 706,000 | 799,000 | |
| UC 254x254x73 | 73.1 | 254.1 | 254.6 | 8.6 | 14.2 | 9,310 | 114,000,000 | 898,000 | 992,000 | |
| UC 203x203x86 | 86.1 | 222.2 | 209.1 | 12.7 | 20.5 | 11,000 | 94,500,000 | 850,000 | 977,000 | |
| UC 254x254x89 | 88.9 | 260.3 | 256.3 | 10.3 | 17.3 | 11,300 | 143,000,000 | 1,100,000 | 1,220,000 | |
| UC 305x305x97 | 96.9 | 307.9 | 305.3 | 9.9 | 15.4 | 12,300 | 222,000,000 | 1,450,000 | 1,590,000 | |
| UC 254x254x107 | 107.1 | 266.7 | 258.8 | 12.8 | 20.5 | 13,600 | 175,000,000 | 1,310,000 | 1,480,000 | |
| UC 305x305x118 | 117.9 | 314.5 | 307.4 | 12 | 18.7 | 15,000 | 277,000,000 | 1,760,000 | 1,960,000 | |
| UC 356x368x129 | 129 | 355.6 | 368.6 | 10.4 | 17.5 | 16,400 | 402,000,000 | 2,260,000 | 2,480,000 | |
| UC 254x254x132 | 132 | 276.3 | 261.3 | 15.3 | 25.3 | 16,800 | 225,000,000 | 1,630,000 | 1,870,000 | |
| UC 305x305x137 | 136.9 | 320.5 | 309.2 | 13.8 | 21.7 | 17,400 | 328,000,000 | 2,050,000 | 2,300,000 | |
| UC 356x368x153 | 152.9 | 362 | 370.5 | 12.3 | 20.7 | 19,500 | 486,000,000 | 2,680,000 | 2,960,000 | |
| UC 305x305x158 | 158.1 | 327.1 | 311.2 | 15.8 | 25 | 20,100 | 387,000,000 | 2,370,000 | 2,680,000 | |
| UC 254x254x167 | 167.1 | 289.1 | 265.2 | 19.2 | 31.7 | 21,300 | 300,000,000 | 2,080,000 | 2,420,000 | |
| UC 356x368x177 | 177 | 368.2 | 372.6 | 14.4 | 23.8 | 22,600 | 571,000,000 | 3,100,000 | 3,460,000 | |
| UC 305x305x198 | 198.1 | 339.9 | 314.5 | 19.1 | 31.4 | 25,200 | 509,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 3,440,000 | |
| UC 356x368x202 | 201.9 | 374.6 | 374.7 | 16.5 | 27 | 25,700 | 663,000,000 | 3,540,000 | 3,970,000 | |
| UC 356x406x235 | 235.1 | 381 | 394.8 | 18.4 | 30.2 | 29,900 | 791,000,000 | 4,150,000 | 4,690,000 | |
| UC 305x305x240 | 240 | 352.5 | 318.4 | 23 | 37.7 | 30,600 | 642,000,000 | 3,640,000 | 4,250,000 | |
| UC 305x305x283 | 282.9 | 365.3 | 322.2 | 26.8 | 44.1 | 36,000 | 789,000,000 | 4,320,000 | 5,110,000 | |
| UC 356x406x287 | 287.1 | 393.6 | 399 | 22.6 | 36.5 | 36,600 | 999,000,000 | 5,070,000 | 5,810,000 | |
| UC 356x406x340 | 339.9 | 406.4 | 403 | 26.6 | 42.9 | 43,300 | 1,230,000,000 | 6,030,000 | 7,000,000 | |
| UC 356x406x393 | 393 | 419 | 407 | 30.6 | 49.2 | 50,100 | 1,470,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 8,220,000 | |
| UC 356x406x467 | 467 | 436.6 | 412.2 | 35.8 | 58 | 59,500 | 1,830,000,000 | 8,380,000 | 10,000,000 | |
| UC 356x406x551 | 551 | 455.6 | 418.5 | 42.1 | 67.5 | 70,200 | 2,270,000,000 | 9,960,000 | 12,100,000 | |
| UC 356x406x634 | 633.9 | 474.6 | 424 | 47.6 | 77 | 80,800 | 2,750,000,000 | 11,600,000 | 14,200,000 |
tw web thickness · tf flange thickness · Ix second moment of area · Zx elastic / Sx plastic section modulus, major axis. Open any size for the full table, an SI / imperial toggle and a scaled cross-section.
Frequently asked
- What is a Universal Column?
- A Universal Column (UC) is a hot-rolled steel I-section with flange width close to its depth, giving balanced major- and minor-axis stiffness suited to axial compression. It is the standard column section.
- Can a Universal Column be used as a beam?
- Yes. A UC works well as a beam where lateral-torsional stability or minor-axis bending matters, though a Universal Beam of the same mass carries more major-axis bending where depth is available.
- Why are UCs roughly square?
- Near-equal depth and width give similar stiffness about both axes, so the column resists buckling about its weak axis nearly as well as its strong axis - the controlling case for compression members.
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