Page 159 - TCDB combined Book

Chapter 3 DESIGN 135

Building Design:

Structural Steel Framing

The method described here should result in fairly accurate steel frame sizing for pricing
purposes on most low rise standard construction. We recommend that all pre-bid design work be
completed, reviewed and/or designed by an experienced design professional prior to finalizing
your proposal amount. Final design drawings will always require the services of the appropriate
design professional.

Beam, Column and Joist design, using a Uniformly Distributed Load method, assumes
framing will be laterally supported.

UDL = a x l = total load in k
1.0 k

Where:
a - area supported (span x attributed area in sq. ft.)
l - load total (live + dead in psf)
k - kips (1000 lb. units.)

Notes:
Beam depth and size may be governed by deflection requirements. Consider
minimum beam depth as being half the beam span in inches.
i.e. : 24.0 ft. beam span = 12” minimum beam depth
Its unsupported length (L/R) may determine column size.

beam
joist
clear column
floor deck/pan

beam
joist
clear
top of pier
finished floor

Steel Framing Details