Important Things to Learn About Structural Steel Fabrication

One of the heavily regulated industries is the fabrication of structural steel because of its critical role in the sector of construction. Structural steel fabricators should strictly adhere to the industry standards for safety and providing structural support to buildings. This type of steel is mostly used in the form of structural beams that offer the necessary support to buildings and provide resistance to a number of shear forces. The most common beams that steel fabricators usually work with are the I-beams, also universally called Rolled Steel Joists, the method by which they’re made traditionally.

While these structural beams can be produced using aluminum, structural steel is more popular due to the high strength it provides to support a load. I-Beams typically come in two standard forms. The first one is called the rolled I-beam that is made either by the extrusion process or hot/cold rolling process. The other form of I-beam is the plate girders which are fabricated in different ways, such as riveting, bolting, and welding.

One more essential knowledge you will learn when working with structural steel fabricators is the distinction between the universal beams and universal columns. These two usually look very identical but they greatly differ in terms of values and application. On one hand, universal beams are usually fabricated to be much deeper than wider to resist bending when supporting loads across their axis. On the other hand, universal columns are usually designed in square to help withstand twisting when supporting vertical loads.

Finally, you may also learn about I-beams called I-joists. This kind of structural steel is commonly used for residential structures as they can resist warping better and are lighter than wood joists. Moreover, they are engineered with fiberboard and wood. In effect, they are more prone to damage when exposed to fire. This is where steel beams are more favored in the construction industry because they are less prone to fire damage and provide greater support to buildings.