In the current (11th) edition of the Handbook of Steel Construction, wide-flange (W‑shape) sections that are commonly used and readily available are highlighted in yellow colour, as shown on the accompanying figure.
The availability of these sections was assessed by means of a survey of Canadian steel service centres during the preparation of the 11th Edition of the Handbook, and the criteria used were described in a previous blog post:
https://www.cisc-icca.ca/w-shape-availability-in-the-new-handbook/
107 out of a total of 283 sections listed in ASTM A6/A6M-13 are included as “readily available” sections. The remaining usually require a longer lead time in most regions.
Figure 1 – W-Shapes in the Handbook
For the convenience of designers and fabricators, the list of W-shape sections (with readily available sizes indicated in yellow) can be downloaded at the link below. Both metric and imperial section designations are provided.
