Bar Joist Trusses for Sale

Bar joist trusses allow for a more efficient structural shape than just regular wood trusses. A bar joist ​​is a standard truss made with angles for the top and bottom chords, joined by welding to a web made of a continuous bent rod. It is used almost exclusively to support roofs and can span up to 150 feet (45 meters). 

A bar joist, also called an open web steel joist, is a lightweight steel truss consisting, in the standard form, of parallel chords and a triangulated web system, proportioned to span between bearing points.

The main function of a bar joist truss is to provide direct support for roof or floor deck and to transfer the load imposed on the deck to the structural frame, such as a beam and column.

According to Wikipedia,

In order to accurately design a bar joist truss, engineers consider the joist span between bearing points, joist spacing, slope, live loads, dead loads, collateral loads, seismic loads, wind uplift, deflection criteria and maximum joist depth allowed. Many steel joist manufacturers supply economical load tables in order to allow designers to select the most efficient joist sizes for their projects.

While bar joists can be adapted to suit a wide variety of architectural applications, most engineers suggest that it would be best if the economy utilized standard details, although that may vary from one joist manufacturer to another. Some other shapes, in addition to the parallel top and bottom chord, are single slope, double slope, arch, gable, and scissor configurations. Not all joist manufacturers supply these shapes, and if they do the cost would reflect the level of complexity involved with designing and creating them.

The Building Design Construction Network has recommended a few things to do and not to do when working with steel joists such as bar joist trusses.

First, recognize how and when to specify total uniform load or factored load and/or net uplift load, and when loads need to be broken out by load category and combinations.

Second, know the limits of a concentrated load applied between panel points before an additional web is needed on the joist. The Steel Joist Institute’s new “100-pound rule” clarifies these limits.

Third, install bridging early and follow the proper procedures to avoid safety problems, such as a partial building collapse.

Fourth, designate a field representative to inspect the joists during construction and ensure that components are being installed correctly. Ideally, a representative of the team should walk the job site before completion and look for situations where loads aren’t handled correctly.

At Buffalo River Truss, it is our goal to make building large structures as simple and safe as possible. Our bar joist trusses stem from that commitment. 

Contact us today to see how we can set you up with bar joist trusses of your own!