Type A
Kitchen Knock-Through
Removing a wall between kitchen and dining room to create an open-plan living space. Typically requires a single UB beam with padstones at each end.
Typical beam range: 152×89 to 254×146 UB
Sheet 01 — Steel beam calculationsCEng MIStructE · Chartered Structural EngineerHuddersfield, West Yorkshire
Eurocode 3 Compliant • Building Control Ready
Steel Beam Calculations for UK Homeowners
RSJ and Universal Beam calculations by a Chartered Structural Engineer (CEng MIStructE). Full Eurocode 3 design, padstone checks, and Building Control-ready PDF — delivered within 5 working days of acceptance and receipt of all information. From £295.
- £295
- From, single beam
- 5 days
- Working days
- Eurocode 3
- BS EN 1993-1-1
Prices are for straightforward openings — harder cases cost more, and you get one fixed fee in writing first (see Note 1).
Sheet 02
What's Included in Every Steel Beam Calculation
Every calculation pack is produced to Eurocode 3 (BS EN 1993) standards and set out for direct submission to your Building Control officer.
01
Beam Sizing to Eurocode 3
Dead load, imposed load, and wind load analysis to BS EN 1993-1-1. I select the lightest compliant Universal Beam section.
02
Padstone Bearing Design
Bearing pressure check on the supporting masonry. Padstone dimensions and material specified to prevent crushing.
03
Deflection & Lateral Check
Serviceability deflection limits verified. Lateral torsional buckling check and restraint requirements specified.
04
Building Control PDF
Complete calculation report formatted for direct submission to your local Building Control authority.
05
Connection Details
Beam-to-masonry connection detail, including bearing length, packing plate, and DPC requirements.
06
Signed by a Chartered Engineer
Every calculation is checked and signed by me, a Chartered Structural Engineer (CEng MIStructE).
Sheet 03
Steel Beam Calculation Pricing
Single Beam
From£295
- Eurocode 3 beam sizing calculation
- Padstone bearing design
- Deflection and lateral stability check
- Building Control PDF report
- 5 working day delivery
Best Value · Multi-Beam Bundle
From£495
2–3 beams, same property
- Everything in Single Beam × 2–3
- Coordinated design across all openings
- Single combined PDF for Building Control
- Save up to £390 vs individual calcs
- 5 working day delivery
Note 1
These prices are for straightforward openings. An outside or party wall, an opening wider than about 3 metres, two or more floors above the wall, or work already carried out costs more. You get one fixed fee in writing before anything starts.
Sheet 04
How Steel Beam Calculations Work
Step 01
Submit Your Plans
Send your architect's drawings or a sketch of the proposed opening. I acknowledge every enquiry within 24 hours and confirm the scope and fixed fee within 2 working days of receiving what I need to price it.
Step 02
Site Visit or Desktop Review
For straightforward wall removals, I can work from plans alone. Complex projects may require a site visit — see my Site Attendance schedule (Tier 1 from £250).
Step 03
Eurocode 3 Calculations
I calculate dead loads, imposed loads, wind loads, and lateral restraint requirements to BS EN 1993 (Eurocode 3) and relevant British Standards.
Step 04
Building Control PDF
You receive a full calculation pack with beam size, padstone design, connection details, and a PDF report ready for your Building Control officer.
Sheet 05
Common Steel Beam Projects I Calculate
From simple kitchen knock-throughs to complex double-height openings — I size the beam and give you the calculations Building Control asks for.
Type B
Bifold Door Opening
Creating a wide opening in an external wall for bifold or sliding doors. Requires careful consideration of wind loads and lateral restraint.
Typical beam range: 203×133 to 305×165 UB
Type C
Load-Bearing Wall Removal
Full removal of an internal load-bearing wall supporting first floor joists and/or roof structure. May require temporary props during installation.
Typical beam range: 203×133 to 356×171 UB
Type D
Double-Height Opening
Creating an opening through a wall that supports two storeys of loading. Heavier beam sections required with enhanced padstone design.
Typical beam range: 254×146 to 457×191 UB
Sheet 06
Understanding Steel Beam Calculations in the UK
Steel beam calculations are a legal requirement under Part A (Structure) of the Building Regulations whenever you remove or alter a load-bearing wall. The calculations prove that the proposed beam — typically a Universal Beam (UB), commonly called an RSJ (Rolled Steel Joist) — can safely carry all the loads that the wall previously supported.
In the UK, steel beam calculations must comply with Eurocode 3 (BS EN 1993-1-1), which is the current British-adopted European standard for the design of steel structures. The calculations consider ultimate limit states (strength) and serviceability limit states (deflection), ensuring the beam is both strong enough and stiff enough for its purpose.
What Loads Are Considered?
A steel beam calculation accounts for several categories of loading:
- Dead loads — the permanent weight of the structure above: masonry walls, floor joists, plasterboard, roof tiles, and any other fixed elements.
- Imposed loads — variable loads from occupancy: furniture, people, storage. These are specified in BS EN 1991-1-1 (typically 1.5 kN/m² for domestic floors).
- Wind loads — applicable where the beam supports an external wall or roof element exposed to wind pressure.
- Point loads — concentrated loads from struts, purlins, or columns bearing onto the wall above the proposed opening.
Why Online Beam Tables Are Not Sufficient
Online steel beam calculators and span tables assume generic, simplified loading conditions. They typically do not account for point loads from roof struts, asymmetric loading from adjacent openings, masonry weight variations, or the specific deflection limits required by your floor type. A Building Control officer will reject calculations that are not project-specific and signed by a qualified engineer.
Building Control Compliance
When you apply to Building Control (full plans or a building notice), they will ask for structural calculations showing the beam meets Approved Document A. My calculation pack is set out for that purpose, to keep questions from Building Control to a minimum. The completion certificate itself is issued by Building Control when they are satisfied with the finished work.
Sheet 07
Steel Beam Calculation FAQs
What is a steel beam calculation?
A steel beam calculation determines the correct section size (e.g. 203×133×30 UB) required to safely support the loads above a wall opening. It accounts for dead loads (masonry, floors, roof), imposed loads (furniture, people), padstone bearing pressure, and deflection limits — all to Eurocode 3 (BS EN 1993) standards.
Can my builder size the beam instead?
Under Part A (Structure) of the Building Regulations, the new beam has to be shown to be adequate, and Building Control will normally ask for structural calculations, which a structural engineer provides. A beam chosen on "experience" or from online tables gives Building Control nothing to check, and is unlikely to be accepted.
What is an RSJ?
RSJ stands for Rolled Steel Joist — a common term for the I-shaped steel beams used in domestic wall removals. The technically correct term is Universal Beam (UB), but RSJ is widely used by homeowners and builders. The calculations are identical regardless of which term you use.
Do I need a padstone?
Almost always, yes. A padstone sits beneath each end of the steel beam and spreads the load into the supporting masonry. My calculations include padstone bearing checks to ensure the brickwork or blockwork can safely carry the beam reaction forces.
CEng
Chartered Engineer
MIStructE
Member, Institution of Structural Engineers
5 Days
Standard turnaround
£295
Single beam, all-in
Sheet 08 · Next step
Need Steel Beam Calculations?
Send me your plans. Your Building Control-ready PDF follows within 5 working days of acceptance and receipt of all information.
07999 384 132 help@thebeamdoctor.co.uk Huddersfield, West Yorkshire