A steel beam and a concrete lintel should be compared as designed solutions for the same opening. The generic capacities and span recommendations previously shown here have been removed; neither material has one universal load rating.
Start with the load path
Identify what is supported, the opening and support geometry, any concentrated loads and the proposed connection to the existing building. Ask the designer whether a proprietary lintel system or a fabricated beam arrangement is appropriate. A product’s permitted loading must be read with its complete manufacturer instructions.
Compare complete installed scope
For each design, record the member dimensions, supports, handling requirements, fire protection, finishes and making good. A supply-only price excludes many of these. The apparent depth of a member may not include its enclosure or the supported construction.
Do not use bare mass as a lifting instruction or a steel section’s nominal designation as evidence that it carries a stated force. Our British Steel UB datasheet link identifies UB geometry only. The SteelConstruction.info design guidance explains broader structural design context.
Questions before ordering
Are the support and bearing details issued? Is the exact product identified? Does the supplier’s documentation match the design assumptions? Has a proposed substitution been approved by the designer? Record those answers rather than selecting from an unsourced comparison table.
Structural work must be designed by a chartered structural engineer and receive the applicable Building Control approval. This article is educational and has not received an independent engineering review.