Steel Joists & Girders

steel structure

Steel joists are a vital element of roof and floor systems, providing essential support to the weight of roofing and flooring structures. Used in the construction industry since the early 1900s, steel joists are trusted for their durability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness across a wide range of building types.

From office buildings and retail centers to large industrial warehouses, manufacturing facilities, schools, churches, sports arenas, and aircraft hangars, Zinfab Custom Metals provides steel joists that meet the unique demands of each project. Whether for a commercial, residential, or industrial application, our steel joists offer reliable performance and long-lasting support.

At Zinfab Custom Metals, we specialize in designing and fabricating steel joists to fit your specific project needs, whether you require standard or custom dimensions. Our expert engineering team ensures that each joist is manufactured to the highest standards of quality, performance, and safety.

No matter the size or complexity of your building project, Zinfab Custom Metals offers reliable steel joists that will help you meet your structural goals with confidence. Let us be your trusted partner in creating solid, durable frameworks for your next construction project.

Key Components of a typical steel joist

  • Chords: The horizontal top and bottom sections of the joist, typically made from steel angles, provide the structural framework that supports the load.
  • Webs: The vertical members that connect the chords, often made from various steel shapes, including angles, channels, or rods. The webs provide stability and distribute loads efficiently across the structure.
  • Seats: The parts of the joist that rest on the support structure, typically made from angles to ensure proper bearing and load transfer.

Steel joist girders play a crucial role in supporting heavy loads in both roof and floor systems. Designed with an open web truss configuration, these girders offer the strength needed for substantial loads while using less steel, making them a cost-effective solution for many types of construction projects. Additionally, their large openings allow for easy passage of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, eliminating the need for these utilities to run underneath the girders, improving overall system efficiency.

Joist girders are designed to transfer concentrated loads from the joists back to the columns. As the primary framing members that support steel joists, these girders must be carefully engineered to handle the forces and load paths from the rest of the structure.

Standard Connection Design

For simple span applications, Zinfab Custom Metals typically uses a standard connection design where the girder rests on top of a column cap plate. The bottom chord angles are designed to fit around a stabilizer plate attached to the column. In some cases, joist girders are specified with moment connections, which are designed based on the structural engineer’s requirements. Additionally, joist girders are commonly braced with knee braces, which are designed and positioned by our engineering team to ensure stability.

Custom Solutions for Your Project

Zinfab Custom Metals manufactures steel joist girders that serve as primary framing elements for roofing and flooring systems. Our facilities are equipped to produce custom designs in compliance with the Steel Joist Institute (SJI) standards, offering a range of spans, depths, and configurations to meet your specific building needs.

Key Features of Steel Joist Girders

  • Span and Depth Options: Zinfab Custom Metals offers steel joist girders with a variety of depths, typically ranging from 20” to 120” and spans from 20’ to 120’. Whether you require a simple or more complex geometry, we can tailor the design to suit your needs.
  • Geometries: While the majority of joist girders are designed with parallel chords, we also provide pitched geometries to achieve specific roof slopes when necessary. This flexibility ensures that our joist girders meet both structural and aesthetic requirements.
  • Materials and Components: Joist girders are typically constructed using steel angles for the chords, web members, and seats, providing a strong and reliable framework that can support heavy loads.

No matter the complexity of your project, Zinfab Custom Metals has the experience and resources to deliver high-quality, custom steel joist girders that provide optimal performance and reliability. Let us be your trusted partner in creating strong, efficient, and cost-effective framing solutions.

Why Choose Zinfab?