The HE profile is a type of laminated profile corresponding to European regulations whose cross section is shaped like a double T, with wider wings than a double T profile of type IPN or IPE. The exterior and interior faces of the flanges are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the web, so the flanges have a constant thickness. The joints between the faces of the web and the inner faces of the wings are rounded. In addition, the wings have sharp outer and inner edges.

The HE profiles comprise the following three series:.

These profiles are designated by the letters HEB, HEA or HEM, followed by a number that indicates the nominal total height (h) of the HEB base profile, expressed in millimeters. For profiles with nominal HEB profile height equal to or less than 300 mm, the width of the flanges (b) is equal to the height h. For profiles h > 300mm, the width of the wings is equal to 300 mm.

HE profiles are defined according to the following standards:.

Although HE profiles have a somewhat lower performance than IPE or IPN profiles, they have better torsional behavior and also have a significantly higher critical load due to having the two more balanced sectional moments of inertia. This means that in beams with certain bending or columns with moderate compression, an HEB profile is preferred to an IPE or IPN profile.

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