The 254 x 102 UB22 steel beam is the lightest section in the 254 x 102 serial size and one of the most efficient RSJs in the range — a full 254mm deep for only 22kg per metre. That depth-to-weight ratio makes it a common choice where an opening needs stiffness over a longer span but the beam still has to be manoeuvred into place by hand. Rolled to S355J0 structural steel and supplied cut free to any length from 1m to 12m, with free UK mainland delivery included in the price.
Steel grade — S355J0 to BS EN 10025-2
This beam is rolled in S355J0: a 355 N/mm² minimum yield structural steel with impact toughness certified at 0°C. S355 is the grade UK structural engineers design to by default, carrying roughly 29% more yield strength than the older S275 material some merchants still stock. If your engineer has calculated to S275, an S355 section of the same size will always satisfy that design — but never substitute in the opposite direction without going back to them first.
For a fuller comparison see our guide to S275 vs S355 steel, or the steel grades & standards reference for the full specification we supply against.
Why choose a 254 x 102 section
Depth is what resists deflection, and at 254mm this beam offers a second moment of area of 2,848 cm⁴ — comparable to much heavier 203mm sections while weighing significantly less. For a 5m cut that difference is around 40kg off the total, which is often what decides whether a beam can be lifted in by two people or needs plant on site.
The trade-off is the narrow 101.6mm flange. Slender sections are more sensitive to lateral-torsional buckling, so restraint at the compression flange matters more here than on a wider 133mm beam. Your engineer will account for this — but it is the reason a 254 x 102 is not always a straight swap for a 203 x 133 of similar capacity.
This size is often specified when removing a load-bearing wall where access is awkward. The UK steel beam size chart lists every UB, UC and PFC size with weights if you are still comparing.
Finish
The 254 x 102 UB22 is supplied in mill finish — bare structural steel exactly as it leaves the rolling mill, carrying the usual blue-grey mill scale. This is the correct specification where the beam will be encased in plasterboard, boxed in, fire-protected, or painted on site by your own decorator — see our guide to boxing in a steel beam, or whether RSJs need painting at all. If you need a factory-applied primer, several other sections in the range are available in red oxide.
Cut to size — free, to the millimetre
Tell us the length you need and we cut it. There is no charge for cutting and no minimum order beyond a single metre. Enter your dimensions in the calculator above — you can specify several different cut lengths on one order and the tool works out what you need. Steel is supplied and billed in whole metres, so a 4.2m requirement is charged as 5m; where you order more than one cut, the total is rounded once rather than cut by cut, which keeps the cost down on multi-beam jobs.
Cut tolerance is ±3mm on length. If your opening is tight, allow the usual bearing at each end and confirm the padstone detail with your engineer before ordering. More on what lengths RSJ beams come in.
Section dimensions
| Depth of section (h) | 254.0 mm |
| Width of section (b) | 101.6 mm |
| Web thickness (s) | 5.7 mm |
| Flange thickness (t) | 6.8 mm |
| Root radius (r) | 8.0 mm |
| Depth between fillets (d) | 224.4 mm |
| Mass per metre | 22.0 kg/m |
| Cross-sectional area | 28.0 cm² |
| Surface area per metre | 0.889 m²/m |
Section properties
| Second moment of area, y-y (Iy) | 2,848 cm⁴ |
| Second moment of area, z-z (Iz) | 119.3 cm⁴ |
| Elastic modulus, y-y (Wel,y) | 224.2 cm³ |
| Elastic modulus, z-z (Wel,z) | 23.49 cm³ |
| Plastic modulus, y-y (Wpl,y) | 259.6 cm³ |
| Plastic modulus, z-z (Wpl,z) | 37.30 cm³ |
| Radius of gyration, y-y (iy) | 10.0 cm |
| Radius of gyration, z-z (iz) | 2.0 cm |
Nominal dimensions and properties to BS EN 10365. Figures are published for reference only.
Structural engineer notice
Beam sizing is not something to work out from a table. The correct section for your opening depends on span, the loads carried above, bearing conditions, lateral restraint and the padstone detail — all of which must be calculated by a qualified structural engineer, and in most cases will form part of your building control submission. We supply steel to the specification you give us; we do not provide structural design.
Delivery
Cut-to-size beams are dispatched on a 5–10 working day lead time, with free delivery to UK mainland addresses included in the price — no carriage is added at checkout. A 254 x 102 UB22 weighs 22kg per metre, so a 5m beam is 110kg. Deliveries are kerbside and offloading assistance is required — please have suitable labour or lifting equipment available.
See how RSJ steel beams are delivered for what to expect on the day, or our delivery & lead times page. Ordering several beams for one project? Trade discounts are available.
Related sections
- 254 x 102 UB25 steel beam — next section up in the same serial size
- 254 x 102 UB28 steel beam — heaviest in the same serial size
- 203 x 102 UB23 steel beam — shallower alternative for shorter spans
- All RSJ steel beams & columns
- Universal beams (UB)