Built-up beam fabrication — welded plate beams when rolled sections are not enough
Built-up beams are fabricated I-sections assembled from plate — top flange, bottom flange, and web — when the required depth, weight, or span exceeds standard rolled UB/UC availability, or when the designer needs a non-standard section for a specific load case. Sun Corporation fabricates built-up beams for pipe rack longitudinals, platform girders, crane runway segments, and industrial building primary frames.
When EPC specs call for built-up sections
- Pipe rack beams spanning between bents with heavy piping clusters
- Transfer beams supporting multiple equipment lines
- Long-span platform girders in process areas
- Crane runway beams where rolled sections cannot meet IS 807 span/loading
- Plate girders for access bridges and conveyor supports
Quality controls
Each built-up beam is fabricated to approved shop drawings with piece marks linked to the GA. Flange-to-web welds are executed under qualified WPS with NDT as listed in the ITP. Camber and sweep are checked against fabrication tolerances in IS 800 Annex F before dispatch. Material is IS 2062 with MTCs in the project dossier.
Companion scope: built-up column fabrication and plate girder fabrication.
Quick Answer
Built-up beam fabrication is the workshop assembly of fabricated steel beams from IS 2062 flange and web plates — welded into custom I-sections per approved shop drawings when rolled structural steel beams cannot meet depth, span or load requirements on industrial EPC packages across India.
Key Takeaways
- Built-up beams are specified when rolled UB/UC sections are unavailable or uneconomical for pipe racks, platforms and crane runways.
- Material is IS 2062 E250 or E350 plate with mill test certificates indexed to piece marks on every dispatch.
- Fabrication follows IS 800:2007 tolerances with WPS/PQR-backed flange-to-web welds and ITP-driven NDT.
- Loads on GA drawings are developed per IS 875 by the structural engineer — we fabricate to approved member sizes, not redesign.
- Suncorporation supplies built-up beam fabrication from Jeedimetla, Hyderabad for EPC and industrial programmes with pan-India dispatch.
EPC contractors, procurement managers and plant engineers evaluating built-up beam fabrication vendors need workshop capacity for plate cutting, SAW welding, stiffener attachment and documentation that passes PMC hold points — not a rolled-section trader. Sun Corporation Fabricators & Engineers fabricates welded steel beams and heavy steel beams for defined structural scope from issued-for-fabrication drawings. For design theory on plate assemblies, see our Plate Girder Design Guide; this section covers what buyers should specify and what our workshop delivers.
Technical Specifications — Built-Up Beams
| Parameter | Typical Range / Standard |
|---|---|
| Material grade | IS 2062 E250 BR / E350 BR (project specified) |
| Section type | Welded I-section; parallel or haunched flanges per drawing |
| Web thickness | 6 mm – 16 mm (heavier on engineering review) |
| Flange width | 150 mm – 600 mm typical industrial range |
| Overall depth | 300 mm – 2,000 mm+ per structural design |
| Design & fabrication code | IS 800:2007; loads per IS 875 on GA drawings |
| Welding | SAW / FCAW on flange-web joints; IS 816 / IS 9595 WPS |
| NDT | UT / MPI per project ITP on coded welds |
| Surface treatment | Shot blast Sa 2.5; primer / paint or HDG per spec |
| Documentation | MTCs, weld maps, NDT reports, dimensional records |
IS 2062 E250 vs E350 for Built-Up Beams
| Grade | Yield (MPa) | Typical Built-Up Use | Procurement Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS 2062 E250 | 250 | Pipe rack longitudinals, secondary platform girders, light industrial frames | Lower material cost; may need deeper section |
| IS 2062 E350 | 350 | Crane runway segments, heavy transfer beams, long-span industrial girders | Standard for heavy IS 2062 beam fabrication packages |
Grade selection is defined on structural GA drawings. See IS 2062 Steel Grades Guide for full comparison.
Applications — Where EPC Teams Specify Built-Up Beams
- Warehouses & logistics — long-span roof girders and mezzanine primary beams where rolled sections are insufficient
- Industrial plants — process area platform girders, transfer beams and pipe rack longitudinals
- Refineries & petrochemical — multi-tier pipe rack beams sized for piping clusters and wind per IS 875
- Data centers — heavy roof and equipment support girders over long bay widths
- Manufacturing facilities — crane runway segments, machine base tie beams and access bridge girders
Built-up members are often released in the same purchase order as built-up column fabrication and rack bents for coordinated erection sequencing on site.
Manufacturing Process
Each built-up section follows controlled shop steps from drawing approval through dispatch:
- Drawing release — shop drawings approved; piece marks and splice locations locked
- Plate procurement — IS 2062 plate verified against MTC before cutting
- CNC cutting — web and flange plates cut to length and bevel as required
- Fit-up & welding — jig-aligned assembly; SAW on long flange-web seams
- Stiffeners & attachments — bearing, intermediate and connection plates per drawing
- NDT & dimensional check — camber, sweep and weld inspection per ITP
- Blast, paint & dispatch — marked modules sequenced to site erection programme
Full workshop capability is outlined on our Structural Steel Fabrication Guide.
Quality Control
QC aligns with EPC inspection test plans: material heat-number traceability, WPS ID on every coded weld, UT or MPI on flange-web joints where specified, and dimensional reports against IS 800 fabrication tolerances before dispatch release. Non-conforming beams are held until rework or documented concession — supporting PMC and licensor review without programme delay.
Applicable Standards
| Standard | Role on Built-Up Beam Packages |
|---|---|
| IS 2062 | Plate and section material grades; MTC requirements |
| IS 800:2007 | Design basis on GA; fabrication tolerances and acceptance |
| IS 875 | Dead, live and wind loads used by consultant in member sizing |
| IS 816 / IS 9595 | Welding procedure and welder qualification |
| IS 807 | Crane loads where built-up runway beams are in scope |
Code references: IS 800 Guide · IS 875 Structural Design Loads Guide
People Also Ask
A built-up beam is a fabricated I-section made from welded steel plates — top flange, web and bottom flange — rather than a single rolled mill section.
When required depth, span or load exceeds standard rolled beam catalogues, or when the designer needs a non-standard proportion for pipe racks, cranes or long industrial spans.
IS 2062 E250 for moderate industrial beams; E350 for heavy crane and long-span girders — as specified on structural drawings.
Plates are cut, fitted in jigs and welded (typically SAW on flange-web joints), with stiffeners and NDT per approved shop drawings before blast, paint and dispatch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What built-up beam sizes can you fabricate?
We fabricate to approved shop drawings — typical industrial depths from 300 mm to 2,000 mm+ with web and flange plates per structural design. Send GA or enquiry drawings for capacity confirmation.
Do you supply material test certificates?
Yes. IS 2062 plate and sections are supplied with mill test certificates indexed to heat numbers and piece marks in the EPC dispatch dossier.
What is the difference between built-up beam and plate girder fabrication?
Both use welded plates; plate girders often imply longer spans with formal stiffener design per IS 800. We fabricate both — see plate girder fabrication and the Plate Girder Design Guide.
What should an EPC RFQ include for built-up beams?
IFC or enquiry GA, coating specification, fabrication vs fabrication-and-erection scope, ITP/NDT requirements and required documentation format for submittal registers.
What is your response time for built-up beam enquiries?
Technical acknowledgement within 24 hours; quotation within 48–72 hours when drawings and scope boundaries are available.
Related fabricated products
- Plate girder fabrication
- Built-up column fabrication
- Pipe rack fabrication
- Conveyor gallery structures
Workshop credentials and enquiry
Plate and built-up fabrication at Jeedimetla, Hyderabad — IS 2062 plate and sections, IS 800:2007, WPS/PQR to IS 9595, in-house UT/MPI. Manufacturer credentials · Structural steel fabrication · Heavy steel fabrication
RFQ: Send IFC drawings or enquiry GA to Contact Sun Corporation. Response within 24 hours; quotation within 48–72 hours when drawings are available.