Metal Joist: What is it?

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A metal joist is a structural component found in buildings, connecting beams to each other or load-bearing objects. They are common in larger structures like warehouses and are usually visible near the ceiling. Joists allow walls and floors to hold a shape and support interior finishes. In most homes, joists are made of wood, while commercial and industrial structures use metal or reinforced concrete. Metal joists are found in large, open, metal framing like warehouses and aircraft hangars.

A metal joist is a structural component found in buildings and is usually made of steel. These bars connect structural beams to each other or to other load-bearing objects. In wooden buildings, these beams typically support most of the floors and ceilings and are mostly or completely covered in all basements or attics. In most cases, a metal joist is found on larger structures, primarily warehouse style buildings or other similar structures. In this case, the joists are often visible near the ceiling.

Joists are a very common part of almost any complex structure. Most buildings are designed with a handful of beams and supporting structures. These create a frame within which the rest of the building is built. Beams are usually set quite far apart, often making up just the main parts of a building or room. This usually means that only the major corners and intersections of a building contain effective load-bearing segments.

Among the various supporting structures are joists. These don’t actually hold up walls or floors, but they do allow the walls and floors to hold a shape. A joist is usually smaller than a beam, and there are many more within a wall. They will connect important structural supports to other parts of the building or to each other to enhance the utility of the beams. These internal structures give areas of a building rigidity between load-bearing parts and support interior finishes, such as drywall, door and window frames.

In most homes and other light commercial or residential structures, these joists are made of wood. In commercial, industrial, or heavy metal structures, it is more common to use a metal joist or no joist at all. Some buildings of this type forgo joists entirely in favor of reinforced concrete. In this case, the concrete contains a metal grid which gives internal strength to the material, eliminating the need for a metal joist.

The only form of framing where a metal joist can ever be found is in large, open, metal framing. Buildings such as warehouses, large open warehouses, aircraft hangars, and similar buildings will almost always use metal beams in the ceiling of the building. In most cases, these large open buildings have hundreds of these joists visible within the larger support structure. These joists often appear as simple metal rods that connect the very large support beams to the smaller beams that support the ceiling and walls.




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