Free Engineering Data

FRP Span Tables & Load Charts

Allowable uniform load for every published F1 pultruded profile — I-beams, channels, square and round tubes — over 1 to 6 m simple spans. EN 13706 E23 material, LRFD strength checks per ASCE/SEI 74-23, and L/250 deflection with the Timoshenko shear correction FRP needs. Every row opens pre-loaded in the calculator.

Published

Jul 11, 2026

Updated

Jul 11, 2026

Author

Yifan Liu

Senior Application Engineer — pultruded FRP structural design

Technical Review

Yifan Liu, Application Engineer

Standards and application check

Standards and References

ASCE/SEI 74-23EN 13706-3CEN/TS 19101:2022GB 50608-2020

Design Basis

Material: EN 13706 Grade E23 (E-glass pultruded) — E_L 23 GPa, G_LT 3.5 GPa

Strength: LRFD — ASCE/SEI 74-23 (φ = 0.65, γ_Q = 1.6) — allowable bending 110.5 MPa, shear 16.6 MPa after knockdown

Environment: Outdoor exposed (Ω_E = 0.85)

Load case: Simply supported, uniform distributed load, strong-axis bending

Deflection: L/250 at service load (Timoshenko shear deflection included)

Values are the maximum service UDL in kN/m (1 kN/m ≈ 68.5 lb/ft). Superscript marks the governing check: ^d deflection, ^b bending, ^v shear. “—” = below practical loading. Local buckling, lateral-torsional buckling, connections, and long-term creep are not covered — review per ASCE/SEI 74-23 / CEN/TS 19101. For a different deflection limit, point loads, cantilevers, or another code, use the FRP profile calculator.

FRP I-Beam Span Table

Allowable uniform load for pultruded fiberglass I-beams and wide-flange beams — the primary walkway, platform, and pipe-rack members.

Section (mm)	kg/m	Ix ×10⁶ mm⁴	1 m	1.5 m	2 m	2.5 m	3 m	4 m	5 m	6 m
I 76×38×6.4	1.2	0.73	4.6^d	1.4^d	0.62^d	0.32^d	0.19^d	0.08^d	—	—	Check →
I 100×50×6	1.6	1.67	9.8^d	3.2^d	1.4^d	0.73^d	0.43^d	0.18^d	0.09^d	0.05^d	Check →
I 120×60×6	2	2.97	13.4^v	5.5^d	2.4^d	1.3^d	0.75^d	0.32^d	0.17^d	0.10^d	Check →
I 152×76×6.4	2.9	6.60	18.5^v	11.4^d	5.2^d	2.8^d	1.6^d	0.71^d	0.37^d	0.21^d	Check →
I 160×80×8	3.6	9.39	23.9^v	15.9^v	7.3^d	3.9^d	2.3^d	1.0^d	0.52^d	0.30^d	Check →
I 200×100×10	5.8	22.93	37.3^v	24.9^v	16.9^d	9.2^d	5.5^d	2.4^d	1.3^d	0.73^d	Check →
I 240×120×12	8.4	47.54	53.7^v	35.8^v	26.9^v	18.1^d	11.0^d	4.9^d	2.6^d	1.5^d	Check →
I 300×150×15	13.5	116.07	83.9^v	55.9^v	42.0^v	33.6^v	25.3^d	11.5^d	6.1^d	3.6^d	Check →
I 305×305×12.7	16	188.71	73.6^v	49.0^v	36.8^v	29.4^v	24.5^v	17.2^d	9.4^d	5.6^d	Check →

FRP Channel Span Table

Allowable uniform load for pultruded fiberglass channels (U-profiles), commonly used as stringers, cable-tray supports, and frame rails.

Section (mm)	kg/m	Ix ×10⁶ mm⁴	1 m	1.5 m	2 m	2.5 m	3 m	4 m	5 m	6 m
U 38×13×4.8	0.4	0.04	0.30^d	0.09^d	—	—	—	—	—	—	Check →
U 50×25×5	0.7	0.15	1.0^d	0.32^d	0.13^d	0.07^d	—	—	—	—	Check →
U 76×25×6.4	1	0.52	3.4^d	1.1^d	0.45^d	0.23^d	0.14^d	0.06^d	—	—	Check →
U 76×38×6.4	1.4	0.73	4.6^d	1.4^d	0.62^d	0.32^d	0.19^d	0.08^d	—	—	Check →
U 100×30×6	1.5	1.14	7.1^d	2.2^d	0.97^d	0.50^d	0.29^d	0.12^d	0.06^d	—	Check →
U 100×50×6	1.8	1.67	9.8^d	3.2^d	1.4^d	0.73^d	0.43^d	0.18^d	0.09^d	0.05^d	Check →
U 120×50×6	2	2.58	13.4^v	4.9^d	2.1^d	1.1^d	0.66^d	0.28^d	0.14^d	0.08^d	Check →
U 150×40×6	2.1	3.80	17.2^v	7.1^d	3.1^d	1.6^d	0.96^d	0.41^d	0.21^d	0.12^d	Check →
U 152×43×6.4	2.2	4.36	18.5^v	8.0^d	3.6^d	1.9^d	1.1^d	0.47^d	0.24^d	0.14^d	Check →
U 152×43×9.5	3.2	6.02	26.2^v	11.1^d	4.9^d	2.6^d	1.5^d	0.65^d	0.34^d	0.20^d	Check →
U 160×48×8	3	6.43	23.9^v	11.6^d	5.2^d	2.8^d	1.6^d	0.69^d	0.36^d	0.21^d	Check →
U 200×60×8	3.8	13.01	30.5^v	20.3^v	10.1^d	5.4^d	3.2^d	1.4^d	0.72^d	0.42^d	Check →
U 200×60×10	4.6	15.70	37.3^v	24.9^v	12.2^d	6.5^d	3.9^d	1.7^d	0.87^d	0.51^d	Check →
U 240×72×8	4.6	23.00	37.1^v	24.8^v	16.9^d	9.2^d	5.5^d	2.4^d	1.3^d	0.74^d	Check →
U 240×72×12	6.8	32.56	53.7^v	35.8^v	24.0^d	13.1^d	7.8^d	3.4^d	1.8^d	1.0^d	Check →
U 254×76×9.5	5.6	31.87	46.3^v	30.8^v	23.0^d	12.6^d	7.6^d	3.3^d	1.7^d	1.0^d	Check →
U 300×90×15	10.4	79.48	83.9^v	55.9^v	42.0^v	30.0^d	18.3^d	8.1^d	4.3^d	2.5^d	Check →
U 305×89×12.7	8.8	71.45	73.6^v	49.0^v	36.8^v	26.9^d	16.4^d	7.3^d	3.8^d	2.3^d	Check →
U 360×108×18	15	164.81	120.8^v	80.6^v	60.4^v	48.3^v	36.0^d	16.4^d	8.7^d	5.1^d	Check →

FRP Square & Rectangular Tube Span Table

Allowable uniform load for pultruded fiberglass SHS / RHS hollow sections — solar purlins, guardrail posts, and light framing.

Section (mm)	kg/m	Ix ×10⁶ mm⁴	1 m	1.5 m	2 m	2.5 m	3 m	4 m	5 m	6 m
SHS 25×25×3.2	0.4	0.02	0.16^d	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Check →
SHS 38×38×4.8	0.9	0.12	0.83^d	0.25^d	0.11^d	0.05^d	—	—	—	—	Check →
RHS 40×20×7	1	0.10	0.68^d	0.20^d	0.09^d	—	—	—	—	—	Check →
RHS 40×25×8	1.2	0.12	0.86^d	0.26^d	0.11^d	0.06^d	—	—	—	—	Check →
SHS 50×50×5	1.4	0.31	2.1^d	0.63^d	0.27^d	0.14^d	0.08^d	—	—	—	Check →
SHS 60×60×5	1.7	0.56	3.7^d	1.1^d	0.49^d	0.25^d	0.15^d	0.06^d	—	—	Check →
SHS 75×75×6	2.5	1.32	8.6^d	2.7^d	1.1^d	0.59^d	0.34^d	0.15^d	0.07^d	—	Check →
RHS 80×60×5	2	1.13	7.3^d	2.3^d	0.98^d	0.50^d	0.29^d	0.12^d	0.06^d	—	Check →
SHS 100×100×6	3.5	3.34	20.1^d	6.5^d	2.8^d	1.5^d	0.86^d	0.36^d	0.19^d	0.11^d	Check →
SHS 100×100×8	4.5	4.18	25.4^d	8.2^d	3.5^d	1.8^d	1.1^d	0.46^d	0.23^d	0.14^d	Check →
RHS 100×60×8	3.6	2.83	18.0^d	5.6^d	2.4^d	1.3^d	0.73^d	0.31^d	0.16^d	0.09^d	Check →
SHS 114×114×6	4	5.05	28.3^v	9.6^d	4.2^d	2.2^d	1.3^d	0.55^d	0.28^d	0.16^d	Check →
SHS 114×114×8	5.2	6.39	37.0^d	12.2^d	5.3^d	2.8^d	1.6^d	0.70^d	0.36^d	0.21^d	Check →
SHS 120×120×8	5.6	7.53	39.8^v	14.2^d	6.3^d	3.3^d	1.9^d	0.82^d	0.42^d	0.24^d	Check →
RHS 120×60×5	2.6	3.09	18.8^d	6.0^d	2.6^d	1.4^d	0.80^d	0.34^d	0.17^d	0.10^d	Check →
SHS 132×132×9.5	7	11.71	52.0^v	21.7^d	9.6^d	5.1^d	3.0^d	1.3^d	0.65^d	0.38^d	Check →
SHS 152×152×9.5	8.2	18.41	59.8^v	32.7^d	14.8^d	7.8^d	4.6^d	2.0^d	1.0^d	0.60^d	Check →
SHS 160×160×8	7.4	18.78	53.0^v	32.6^d	14.9^d	7.9^d	4.7^d	2.0^d	1.0^d	0.61^d	Check →
SHS 200×200×10	11.6	45.85	82.9^v	55.3^v	34.3^d	18.6^d	11.1^d	4.8^d	2.5^d	1.5^d	Check →
SHS 240×240×12	16.8	95.08	119.3^v	79.6^v	59.7^v	36.9^d	22.3^d	9.9^d	5.2^d	3.0^d	Check →

FRP Round Tube Span Table

Allowable uniform load for pultruded fiberglass round tube (CHS) — handrails, cross-members, and light spanning duty.

Section (mm)	kg/m	Ix ×10⁶ mm⁴	1 m	1.5 m	2 m	2.5 m	3 m	4 m	5 m	6 m
CHS 25×3	0.3	0.01	0.09^d	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Check →
CHS 32×3	0.4	0.03	0.20^d	0.06^d	—	—	—	—	—	—	Check →
CHS 38×3.2	0.5	0.05	0.37^d	0.11^d	—	—	—	—	—	—	Check →
CHS 42×4	0.7	0.09	0.60^d	0.18^d	0.08^d	—	—	—	—	—	Check →
CHS 50×4	0.9	0.15	1.1^d	0.32^d	0.13^d	0.07^d	—	—	—	—	Check →
CHS 50×5	1.1	0.18	1.2^d	0.37^d	0.16^d	0.08^d	—	—	—	—	Check →
CHS 60×5	1.3	0.33	2.2^d	0.68^d	0.29^d	0.15^d	0.09^d	—	—	—	Check →
CHS 63.5×6.4	1.7	0.47	3.2^d	0.97^d	0.41^d	0.21^d	0.12^d	0.05^d	—	—	Check →
CHS 70×5	1.6	0.54	3.6^d	1.1^d	0.47^d	0.24^d	0.14^d	0.06^d	—	—	Check →
CHS 76×6.4	2.1	0.85	5.6^d	1.7^d	0.74^d	0.38^d	0.22^d	0.09^d	—	—	Check →
CHS 80×5	1.8	0.83	5.4^d	1.7^d	0.72^d	0.37^d	0.22^d	0.09^d	—	—	Check →
CHS 80×7	2.5	1.08	7.0^d	2.2^d	0.93^d	0.48^d	0.28^d	0.12^d	0.06^d	—	Check →
CHS 89×6.4	2.5	1.42	9.1^d	2.8^d	1.2^d	0.63^d	0.37^d	0.16^d	0.08^d	—	Check →
CHS 100×6	2.7	1.96	12.2^d	3.9^d	1.7^d	0.87^d	0.51^d	0.22^d	0.11^d	0.06^d	Check →
CHS 114×6.4	3.3	3.14	18.8^d	6.1^d	2.7^d	1.4^d	0.81^d	0.34^d	0.18^d	0.10^d	Check →
CHS 127×6.4	3.7	4.42	25.1^v	8.4^d	3.7^d	1.9^d	1.1^d	0.48^d	0.25^d	0.14^d	Check →
CHS 150×8	5.4	9.02	37.0^v	16.5^d	7.4^d	3.9^d	2.3^d	0.98^d	0.50^d	0.29^d	Check →

How to read an FRP span chart

Find the profile row and read across to your span: the value is the maximum uniformly distributed service load the section carries with every check passing. Nearly every value in these tables is deflection-governed (^d) — the defining feature of fiberglass structural design. With E_L around 1/10 of steel, an FRP member sized for strength alone would deflect far past any serviceability limit, so span tables for pultruded profiles are effectively stiffness tables.

Shear (^v) only governs on short, deep sections, and bending (^b) rarely governs at all under L/250. If your project uses L/180 (industrial economy) or L/360 (pedestrian comfort, IBC 1604.3), the ranking of sections stays the same but every value scales — use the calculator with your exact limit.

Exact section properties (A, Ix, Iy, Sx, torsion, and EN 13706 mechanical data) for every row live in the profile datasheets, and dimensioned drawings are on the standard profiles size chart. For members these tables can’t represent — angles in single-leg bending, continuous spans, frames — ask the FRP Engineering Advisor or send the case to engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far can a pultruded fiberglass beam span?

It depends on section depth and the deflection limit, because FRP spans are almost always deflection-governed. As reference points from these tables (EN 13706 E23, L/250, outdoor): an FRP I-beam 200×100×10 carries about 5.5 kN/m over a 3 m simple span; an I-beam 240×120×12 carries about 11 kN/m at 3 m; a 100×100×6 square tube carries about 1.5 kN/m at 2.5 m. For a different limit (L/180 walkway economy, L/360 pedestrian comfort) or a point load, run the same section through the FRP profile calculator.

What design basis do these FRP span tables use?

Material EN 13706 Grade E23 (E_L 23 GPa, G_LT 3.5 GPa); strength checks per LRFD ASCE/SEI 74-23 with φ = 0.65 and γ_Q = 1.6 on a live-load-dominated case; outdoor environmental knockdown Ω_E = 0.85; simply supported uniform load; deflection limited to L/250 at service load including the Timoshenko shear correction. The governing check for each value is marked — d deflection, b bending, v shear.

Do these span tables include shear deflection?

Yes. Pultruded FRP has G_LT of only ~3.5 GPa against E_L of 23 GPa, so shear deformation contributes 5–15% of total deflection at common span-to-depth ratios and more on short spans. Every deflection-governed value in these tables applies the load-case-matched Timoshenko correction — plain 5wL⁴/384EI tables overstate what short-span FRP beams can carry.

Are these tables valid for FRP profiles from any manufacturer?

The mechanical basis is the EN 13706 E23 minimum-modulus grade, so any profile certified to E23 meets or exceeds the stiffness assumed here. Section dimensions and weights are the F1 Composite published catalog; another maker's nominally similar section can differ in wall thickness and flange width, which changes the numbers. Check the matching profile datasheet for exact section properties before final design.

Can I use these span tables for FRP grating?

No — molded and pultruded gratings are plate-like panels with their own load-deflection tables per panel type and bearing-bar pitch. These tables cover single pultruded structural profiles in bending. For grating, see the FRP gratings product page or ask engineering for panel load tables against your support spacing.

Need a section these tables don't cover?

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