Are you tired of wooden joists wearing out too quickly? Or do you struggle with their poor thermal performance? Well, in either case, it’s time to switch to steel joists. These joists are durable, cost-effective, and can easily support heavy loads. Want to know more about steel joists, their purpose, and their applications? Continue reading!
What are the Different Types of Joist Steel Series?
Steel joists are open-web, parallel-chord members. They are lightweight trusses that support floors and roofs in both commercial and residential buildings. Steel joists come in different types, such as:
K-Series
K-series steel joists are a standard type of open-web joist. They support floors and roofs and allow for easy concealment of pipes and electrical wiring.
In addition, they can handle lighter loads and shorter span conditions. The depth of the K-series ranges from 10 to 30 inches. While the spans go up to 60 feet, simplifying design and selection.
Their durability is top-notch, as it often includes a rust-inhibiting primer. This prevents corrosion, so the material performs well in all conditions. The best part is the K series’s lightweight design, which reduces material costs and ensures fast installation.
KCS-Series
The KCS-series is a variant of the standard K-series. However, they’re designed for situations where constant shear and moment requirements must be met.
To give you a more precise idea, these are more suitable for non-uniform or concentrated loads. KCS-series steel joists have parallel top and bottom cords. Their depth is similar to the K series, ranging from 10 to 30 inches.
Moreover, they are for a short span between 10 and 60 feet. They allow for easy movement and relocation of loads such as mechanical equipment. That’s why they are commonly used in data centers and warehouses.
LH-Series
LH-series are open-web steel joists that are designed for longer spans. They are shop-fabricated, lightweight, and can easily handle heavier loads. These joists have unique geometries, such as pitched or arched chords.
Their depth is more than K-series, ranging from 10 to 48 inches. However, their spans fall between 21 and 96 feet. Overall, they have a lightweight design that enables easy and quick installation.
The manufacturing of LH-series steel joists is also done in a controlled factory environment. So, quality and precision are always there. Common applications include floors and roofs.
DLH-Series
Like the LH-series, the DLH-series are long-span, open-web steel joists. They are deeper and heavier than typical LH-series joists. They are designed to handle heavy loads and longer spans.
That’s why their depth is extraordinary, ranging from 52 to 120 inches. In addition, they can span between 90 and 200 feet. They also have an end bearing depth of 5 or 7.5 inches.
Common applications of the DLH-series are in roof decks. However, these steel joists can also be used for lighter loads where constant shear and moment are mandatory. DLH-series steel joists are also lightweight and cost-effective.
Where are Steel Joists Used?
Steel joists are versatile, and that’s why they have diverse applications. Some common ones include:
Commercial Buildings
Commercial buildings such as offices and shopping malls often require large open areas. However, achieving long-distance open designs can be quite challenging. Steel joists make this all easy.
Series like the DLH and LH are designed for longer spans and can bear heavy loads.
This allows architects to design open, flexible spaces with fewer columns and support. Hence, you can make efficient use of available space and have spacious storage as well as working areas.
Industrial Structures
Factories and power plants often have to deal with heavy loads. For that, they need something durable to relocate heavy equipment and support storage racks.
In such a scenario, steel joists become valuable. They are designed to carry heavy loads safely across wide spaces.
On top of that, steel joists resist fire and corrosion, ensuring all expensive goods remain safe. But that’s not all. These joists are scalable. You can expand or modify them to meet your changing storage needs.
Multi-Story Buildings
Steel joists provide structural support for each story or floor in multi-story buildings. Firstly, they are placed between large steel beams to hold up floors without adding too much weight.
Their lightweight yet durable design makes construction quick and safe. Moreover, they support roof sheeting panels and built-up roofs, acting as a strong base for roofs.
You can rely on them to carry roofing materials as well as insulation. This paves the way for a top-notch building with a comfortable environment.
Bridges and Walkways
Steel joists have a high strength-to-weight ratio. This enables engineers to use it to design bridges and walkways that can handle heavy loads.
All series of steel joists are lightweight but incredibly durable. It reduces the overall weight of the bridge, especially in pedestrian walkways where a lighter structure is desired.
The cherry on the cake is that steel joists can span longer distances than wooden joists. They are suitable for making long bridges in areas where space is limited.
Now that you are aware of the key applications of steel joists, let’s look at their benefits:
- Exceptional Strength: One of the major benefits of steel joists is their exceptional strength. They can easily resist high stress and tension. You don’t have to worry about concerns like breaking, warping, and sagging. Additionally, it doesn’t change shape. Even if you spread steel joists to longer spans, they retain their structural integrity.
- Saves Time: Construction projects often come with short deadlines. Laborers try their best to complete tasks within the set time frame and resources. Steel joists make this possible. Since they are prefabricated, there’s no need to cut them on-site. They are also lightweight. All of this makes installation times shorter and more economical.
- Higher Flexibility: The flexibility of steel joists is way higher than that of their timber counterparts. They can be customized to meet varying load requirements and deflection criteria. You can design them to suit your applications; it doesn’t matter if these are unconventional floor spaces or curved floors.
- Suitable for Large Spaces: Steel joists are suitable for large spaces. They can span long distances throughout a floor or roof. This frees them from the assistance of any support walls or columns.
- Eliminate Rot and Termites: Opting for wooden joists on your roof or floor means welcoming wood insects like termites. They not only harm the material but also bring health concerns. This isn’t the case with steel joists. Steel joists don’t hold moisture. That’s why they aren’t susceptible to mold and decay. No fungi or bacteria thrive on its surface. As a result, your floors and roofs retain their structural integrity.
- Fire Resistance: Steel has quite a high melting point, going as high as 1500°C. Yes, it’s true! This makes it inflammable and resistant to fire. Therefore, everyone in the building remains safe.
- Eco-Friendly: The world is battling with global warming. The global average surface temperature has risen at an average rate of 0.17°F per decade since 1901. One of the major contributors to this is increased waste. Gladly, steel joists ease this worry. They are often made using recycled material, which reduces waste. Thus, the Earth has become a better place to live.
What is the Purpose of a Joist?
A joist is used in a floor and roof, and its purpose is to support both dead and live loads. It distributes weight evenly across a wide area and passes it on to load-bearing structures like beams or walls. In addition, it provides a base for subflooring, drywall, insulation, and even versatile ceiling finishes.
What is the Difference Between a Steel Joist and a Truss?
When constructing a roof, there are two components that are critical: steel joists and trusses. People often confuse the two as the same term, but this isn’t the case. Here’s an overview:
Truss
Typically, trusses are prefabricated triangular structures that provide support to the roof. They come as a single unit and consist of three parts: top chord, bottom chord, and webbing. Their primary goal is to distribute the weight of the roof evenly across the building.
When we look at history, trusses have been used since the early Bronze Age. However, it wasn’t until the 1800s, trusses played a role in American architecture and construction.
In 1820, an American architect and civil engineer named Ithiel Town patented a lattice truss bridge. It was made from wood, and the advantage was that workers could learn how its install it quickly. Later, with certain innovations, trusses were improved and are now available in metal.
Steel Joist
On the other hand, steel joists are horizontal structures. They support the load of roofs and floors and are made of wood and steel. Compared to a truss, joists don’t come as a single unit. Instead, they are installed individually on the site.
Joists have a long history; the first engineered wood joist was invented in the early 50s. However, open-web steel joists entered the picture in the late 1800s. They offered more flexibility and durability in construction products.
Let’s discuss when to use a truss and a joist:
- Trusses are suitable for complex roof projects, including vaulted or cathedral ceilings. Contrarily, joists are more suitable for traditional construction techniques.
- Nonetheless, if your budget is tighter, then joists are ideal as they are cost-effective. Trusses are expensive due to their complex engineering and manufacturing processes.
- Both joists and trusses are ideal for longer spans and handling high loads. You can use them in warehouses, offices, and shopping malls.
What is the Difference Between a Steel Beam and a Joist?
Typically, a beam is the primary load-bearing element of the roof. It supports the weight of joists as well as other building elements. The goal is to ensure the building maintains its structural integrity without any risk of falling.
Joists, on the other hand, are horizontal members that run across an open space. They are smaller and thinner.
Based on the construction, they may lie flat or be pitched. Both beams and steel joists are often used together to create a rigid frame. This supports large loads without any issues.
Conclusion
Steel joists are quickly becoming popular over their wood counterparts. They are durable, eco-friendly, and fire and corrosion-resistant. In case you are struggling to get your hands on the right steel products, Jianglin is the one-stop shop. Contact us today to explore our range of top-notch steel products that are affordable and serve you in the long run.
