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Start with the project’s design basis, not a preferred shape
A section name or shape family does not establish that a member is adequate. The right choice depends on what the member must do and the conditions under which the building will be designed and built. Before comparing shapes, identify the member’s place in the structural system and the criteria that govern its design.
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Identify the member’s role
Classify the element as a primary beam or girder, column, bracing member, truss component or secondary framing member. Its role affects the forces it must carry, the way it connects to surrounding members, and the form of stability checks that matter. A member that is efficient for bending in one direction may not be the best fit when it also carries substantial axial force or must resist actions in more than one direction.
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Establish the governing requirements
Document the adopted building code and the applicable editions of the standards it references. AISC 360 provides generally applicable requirements for structural steel building design and construction and includes both Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) and Allowable Strength Design (ASD). ASCE/SEI 7-22 addresses minimum design loads for hazards and load combinations and is adopted by reference in building codes. The version adopted by the jurisdiction—not simply the newest edition available—controls the project basis. See the AISC 360 standards page and ASCE/SEI 7-22 page.
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Set out the project-specific loading and performance assumptions before sizing candidates. These include gravity and lateral actions, equipment and floor loads, load combinations, the lateral-force-resisting system, and serviceability requirements. For a data center, obtain equipment loading and any sensitivity or vibration criteria from the owner’s requirements and relevant equipment information. Do not substitute a generic rack load, floor load, framing span or vibration threshold for project criteria.
Separate known inputs from assumptions
Some design inputs will be established in the project documents; others may depend on coordination with the owner, equipment vendors or the broader design team. Record which values are confirmed, which are provisional and who must confirm them. This is particularly important when an equipment layout, operating requirement or future expansion allowance could affect the loads or framing arrangement. A provisional value can be useful for comparing concepts, but it should not quietly become a final design criterion.
Similarly, distinguish a member-level choice from a system-level decision. A beam can satisfy its own checks and still be a poor fit if its depth interferes with service routing, its connection complicates the load path, or the surrounding bracing and restraints do not support the assumed behavior. Keep the framing plan, connection concept and structural system in view while screening sections.
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Compare the shape families that fit the member’s role
Use the following as a screening framework, not a prescriptive design table. A candidate that looks advantageous on one measure still needs complete member, connection and system checks under the project’s design basis.
| Shape family | When to include it | Key considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Wide-flange (W-shape) | Conventional beams, girders and columns where its directional bending behavior and connection approach suit the frame. | Compare strength and stiffness about both axes, stability, local limit states, depth and headroom, connection demands, fire protection and availability. |
| Rectangular or square HSS | Columns, vertical bracing, truss members or exposed framing where a hollow closed section fits the geometry or force path. | Check wall behavior and connection design; confirm material specification, size availability and fabrication details. |
| Round HSS or structural pipe | Bracing, trusses or architectural elements where a circular profile fits the forces or appearance. | Verify the applicable product specification and connection method. The available evidence does not establish a universal data-center preference for this form. |
| Channels and angles | Secondary framing, edge members or bracing where their geometry can be accommodated. | Account for torsion, unsymmetric behavior, connection eccentricity and bracing. Their suitability depends on the member’s actual demands and details. |
| Built-up plate girders or trusses | Long spans, concentrated loads or framing layouts where a rolled section does not meet project constraints. | Compare fabrication, shipping, erection, connections, deflection, vibration and redundancy with rolled alternatives. |
Use W-shapes as a baseline, not a default answer
For a conventional beam or girder comparison, a wide-flange section is a sensible starting point because its strength, stiffness, depth and weight can be assessed against the same member demands as other candidates. The comparison should include the consequences of its directional bending behavior: examine both axes where relevant, and consider how the member is restrained and connected. A nominally attractive section may lose its advantage if it creates a difficult connection, conflicts with headroom or requires an unsuitable protection detail.
The baseline comparison is most useful when each candidate is evaluated against the same span, support conditions, loading assumptions and serviceability limits. A lighter or shallower candidate is not automatically preferable: it still has to meet applicable strength and stability requirements and fit the connection and coordination plan. Likewise, comparing a beam’s nominal strength alone does not capture whether its stiffness is appropriate for the project’s deflection criteria.
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Consider HSS when closed-section geometry is useful
HSS includes square, rectangular and circular hollow sections. AISC identifies columns, vertical bracing and conventional or staggered trusses among common HSS applications. A closed shape may fit a particular force path, framing arrangement or exposed appearance, but that does not make it automatically more efficient than a W-shape. The connection and local wall behavior need deliberate attention, as do the specified material and the availability of the chosen size. AISC’s HSS resource page describes the section forms, uses and related material references.
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For HSS, do not treat the member dimensions as the whole detail. The connection must transfer the required forces into or out of the hollow section, and the design needs to account for local wall behavior and the actual connection arrangement. Confirm which material specification applies to the product being considered and coordinate fabrication details early. A shape that works in a preliminary member comparison may need reconsideration if the connection cannot be detailed or fabricated as intended.
Keep less conventional options in the comparison when they solve a real constraint
Channels and angles can suit secondary framing or bracing when their eccentricities and connection geometry are manageable. Built-up girders or trusses can address span, concentrated-load or layout constraints that a rolled section does not satisfy. These are alternatives to evaluate, not solutions that can be selected from the shape name alone. Their fabrication and erection implications belong in the comparison alongside structural performance.
For channels and angles, unsymmetric behavior and connection eccentricity can affect how the member responds, so do not assume the force acts through a convenient axis or that torsional effects are irrelevant. For built-up girders and trusses, a possible structural benefit must be weighed against the work of fabrication, shipping, erection and connection detailing. Compare these implications with rolled alternatives under the same project constraints; the shape family itself does not establish which option will be more economical or easier to build.
Evaluate each candidate on the same criteria
A fair comparison applies the same demands, assumptions and project constraints to each section. Keep the decision traceable: record why a candidate remains in consideration or is rejected rather than ranking shapes by weight or depth alone.
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- Stiffness and serviceability: Compare deflection against the project’s limits. Include floor vibration or equipment sensitivity only where the project specifies relevant criteria.
- Stability: Consider member buckling, lateral restraint, bracing and the stability of the structural system. A section’s nominal strength does not remove the need to evaluate its restraints and behavior in the frame.
- Connections: Assess force transfer, constructability, access and tolerances. Pay particular attention to connection detailing at HSS walls or wherever the member geometry makes the load path less straightforward.
- Space and coordination: Check clear spans, floor-to-floor height, service routes, equipment interfaces and allowances for future expansion against the actual building layout.
- Fire and durability: Coordinate the required fire-resistance strategy, corrosion exposure and protection details with the site conditions and owner criteria.
- Fabrication, erection and supply: Include producer availability, rolling schedules, shop capability, shipping, erection sequence and schedule risk.
- Appearance: Where steel remains visible, include the specified exposed-steel requirements as design and fabrication criteria.
Look beyond the member schedule
For a useful comparison, note the assumptions behind each candidate: member role, support and restraint conditions, applicable load effects, serviceability criteria, connection concept and any coordination limit that controls the geometry. This makes it possible to identify what is driving the selection. For example, the deciding issue may be headroom, an HSS connection detail, a specified appearance requirement or the availability of a particular size—not simply the member’s weight.
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Consider fabrication and erection at the same stage as member checks rather than after the section has been selected. Confirm that the shop can execute the proposed details, that the pieces can be shipped, and that the erection sequence can be coordinated. These are project-specific checks; the sources do not establish a general cost premium or schedule advantage for one shape family. Obtain project pricing and schedule input from the relevant fabricator and construction team rather than inferring it from the shape name.
Use this sequence to narrow and document the options
- Map the framing function. Mark whether each member is a beam, girder, column, brace, truss component or secondary element. Note the spans, support conditions, restraint assumptions and relevant connections from the structural layout.
- Confirm the design basis. Record the jurisdiction’s adopted code and referenced standard editions, the selected LRFD or ASD basis, load combinations, project loads and serviceability requirements. Identify information that must come from the owner, equipment vendors or other project criteria before comparing sections.
- Set space and coordination limits. Establish available depth, headroom, service clearances, equipment interfaces and expansion assumptions. Treat these as project constraints rather than inferring a standard data-center framing arrangement.
- Screen suitable shape families. Start with a W-shape for a conventional beam or girder comparison. Add HSS, round sections, channels, angles or built-up options when their geometry or structural role makes them plausible candidates.
- Compare structural performance under common assumptions. Evaluate the same member actions and applicable strength, stability and serviceability checks for each option. Do not select solely on weight, depth or a single strength value.
- Resolve connections and construction. Review connection force transfer, access, tolerances and detailing, then coordinate fabrication and erection requirements with the project team. An apparent member-level benefit is not decisive if the connection or construction sequence is impractical.
- Check supply before design decisions become schedule constraints. Confirm likely producer availability and rolling schedules for the actual candidate sizes. AISC notes that producer listings can be updated in real time and that periodically rolled shapes are more readily available than shapes subject to accumulation of orders. See the AISC HSS resource page.
- Record the selection rationale. Capture the controlling criteria, candidate sections, unresolved inputs and reasons for the chosen option. Keep the decision tied to the project’s design basis so a later change to loads, geometry, supply or appearance requirements can be assessed consistently.
Check the supply picture early
Availability is not a final purchasing detail to leave until the design is fixed. AISC notes that producer listings can be updated in real time, while periodically rolled shapes are more readily available than shapes that depend on accumulated orders. That means the practical supply picture can vary by size and timing. Check the actual candidate section with current producer information and coordinate rolling schedules before treating it as a reliable schedule assumption.
If a preferred size is not readily available, revisit the comparison with the structural engineer rather than making an informal substitution. A change in section can affect member strength or stiffness, connections, detailing, coordination and construction assumptions. Record the reason for any revised candidate and repeat the relevant checks under the project’s design basis.
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When members remain visible, appearance becomes an additional design and fabrication criterion. AISC’s Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel (AESS) category system can apply to fabricated beams, bracing, columns, connection materials and trusses. Define the intended exposed-steel requirements early enough for them to inform detailing and coordination; they do not replace structural checks. Consult AISC’s Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel resource and the referenced ANSI/AISC 303-22 requirements for the applicable project details.
Exposed framing can make connection materials and fabrication details part of the visible result, not just the member profile. Coordinate the applicable AESS expectations with the design team and fabricator so they are reflected in the project details. Do not assume that selecting a particular shape automatically meets an appearance requirement: the AESS category system addresses fabricated members and related materials, while structural capacity and stability still need their own checks.
Confirm standards and references before relying on them
AISC describes AISC 360 as the generally applicable specification for structural steel building design and construction, with LRFD and ASD methods. ASCE describes ASCE/SEI 7-22 as addressing minimum design loads and load combinations. Neither description establishes which editions a particular jurisdiction has adopted. Confirm the code basis for the project rather than assuming these editions govern everywhere.
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AISC design guides cover different subjects and have different publication dates and referenced standards. Before applying a guide, verify that its subject matches the design question and check its edition, references, revisions and errata. AISC’s design guides collection and publications catalog provide starting points for locating relevant material.
The AISC Steel Construction Manual is a relevant reference for engineers checking section properties and structural steel design information. AISC lists it alongside related publications in its catalog. Confirm the applicable edition and current listing before relying on it for a project or adding a purchase link; no price or specific current edition is established here. If using a design guide for a particular HSS or framing question, match the guide to that subject and check its referenced standards and any revisions or errata rather than assuming all guides follow the same publication date.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Information that must come from the project
General shape-selection guidance cannot establish data-center-specific operating criteria. In particular, the available sources do not set a universal equipment load, floor load, vibration limit, redundancy target, future-capacity assumption or site-hazard basis. Those values should not be filled in with an assumed “typical” number. Obtain the applicable criteria from the owner, equipment vendors, the project’s geotechnical and hazard basis, and the responsible structural engineer. If a key input is unresolved, treat it as a design assumption to be confirmed—not as a property of a steel shape.
Do not infer a data-center framing span, rack load or vibration threshold from a general shape comparison. The required information depends on the actual project and its performance criteria. When owner or equipment requirements change, revisit the affected candidate comparisons rather than assuming the original selection remains appropriate. The same applies to a change in layout, supply, protection strategy or appearance requirements: identify the affected checks and have the responsible structural engineer assess them.
This guide supports comparison and coordination; it does not size a member or replace project-specific structural design. Final selections depend on calculations, detailing and the adopted requirements for the particular building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which steel beam shape should I use for a data center?
There is no universal best shape. For a conventional beam or girder, use a wide-flange section as a sensible baseline, then compare plausible alternatives against the project loads, strength, stiffness, stability, serviceability, connection details, available depth, fabrication and supply. The final selection depends on project-specific calculations and the adopted code basis.
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When should I use HSS instead of a wide-flange shape?
Consider square, rectangular or round HSS when its closed-section geometry fits the member’s role or force path, such as columns, vertical bracing or truss members. HSS is not automatically more efficient. Check local wall behavior, connection design, the applicable material specification, fabrication details and size availability before selecting it.
How do I account for data-center equipment loads and floor vibration?
Obtain equipment and floor loading information and any vibration or equipment-sensitivity criteria from the owner’s project requirements and relevant equipment information. Use the project’s serviceability requirements when comparing candidates. Do not substitute a generic rack load, floor load or vibration threshold; no universal data-center value is established by the cited guidance.
Which steel design standards apply to a data-center project?
AISC 360 provides generally applicable structural steel design requirements and includes LRFD and ASD. ASCE/SEI 7-22 addresses minimum design loads and load combinations. Confirm the editions adopted by the local jurisdiction and referenced by the project’s building code; the newest published edition does not automatically govern.
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Not by itself. Compare strength and stiffness, stability, applicable serviceability limits, connections, headroom, fire protection, fabrication, erection and availability under the same project assumptions. A single measure such as weight, depth or nominal strength cannot establish that a candidate is the best fit.
How should steel availability affect shape selection?
Check producer availability and rolling schedules for the actual candidate size early. AISC says its producer listings can be updated in real time and that periodically rolled shapes are more readily available than shapes subject to accumulation of orders. If availability changes, reassess the proposed alternative with the structural engineer because a section substitution can affect structural checks and connections.
What changes when structural steel is exposed?
Appearance and fabrication requirements become additional criteria. AISC’s AESS category system can apply to fabricated beams, bracing, columns, connection materials and trusses. Establish the intended exposed-steel requirements early, while keeping structural strength, stability and connection checks separate.
Can this guide determine a member size or a project cost?
No. It is a comparison framework, not a member design or cost estimate. The sources do not establish a universal shape preference, project cost premium, equipment load, vibration limit or framing span. Final member selection and pricing require project-specific engineering and current input from the relevant fabricator and construction team.
The Bottom Line
Choose steel shapes by comparing them against the data center’s actual design basis and construction constraints—not by relying on a universal preferred profile. Start with W-shapes for conventional beam and girder comparisons, add HSS or other families when their geometry and function fit, and evaluate strength, stiffness, stability, serviceability, connections, coordination, appearance and current availability together. Confirm project loads and criteria with the owner, equipment vendors and responsible structural engineer; final selection requires project-specific design.
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