RSJs - Ridge beams
- Thread starter ibby
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An RSJ (a steel beam) can be used as a ridge beam but the two items are not one of the same.
I had a google and it looked like the Ridge beams were I beams, and the RSJs also look like I beams
I think I am loosing the plot!
What freddy is saying is anything can be used as a ridge beam - including a steel beam - or rsj as you are calling it. So a ridge beam might be a steel beam, or an rsj, or it might be a timber beam, or a flitch beam. or glulam beam. I'll stop there.
What's the problem. Do you need a ridge beam and not sure what to get?
What's the problem. Do you need a ridge beam and not sure what to get?
I have been told by my SC i will need a new ridge beam for my dormer conversion and it needs to be insteel
I was wondering what it was.
Wood could be a cheaper alternative.
Just looking, as I know very little about beams and stuff!
RSJ : Rolled steel joist is just a small section steel beam.
You will need steel normally for a dormer due to the dormer now exerting its load on either side rafter as a much greater point load.(Rather than spread before)
The rafters on the opposite side will now be pushing the ridge beam between the dormer rafters with nothing there to counter balance their load as the rafters on this side are now removed.
Basically the loads on the ridge beam are no longer in balance so it has to be a structural piece thats up to the task.
Timber might do but it gets rediculous the size when steel will be easier and faster and at a certain stage cheaper.
You will need steel normally for a dormer due to the dormer now exerting its load on either side rafter as a much greater point load.(Rather than spread before)
The rafters on the opposite side will now be pushing the ridge beam between the dormer rafters with nothing there to counter balance their load as the rafters on this side are now removed.
Basically the loads on the ridge beam are no longer in balance so it has to be a structural piece thats up to the task.
Timber might do but it gets rediculous the size when steel will be easier and faster and at a certain stage cheaper.
ibby,
talking to a BCO is your best bet; if experienced, their knowledge is gold dust.
If you provide us with more info perhaps more accurate help would be forthcoming from here. ie. do you mean a "dormer conversion" or a loft conversion etc?
fmck,
An rsj is not "just a small section beam." If required, rsj's can come in astonishingly large sections.
You will not "normally" need steel for a dormer or any other part of a residential framed roof
"Rafters on the opposite side" i guess that you mean common rafters?
I dont understand what you are saying, and given the lack of info. ref the proposal it's difficult to comment, although:
1. all parts of a roof tie-in to make a stable frame, hence" roof framing."
2. There are numerous ways dealing with spread and point loads in any style of dormer - and none necessarily involve steel.
talking to a BCO is your best bet; if experienced, their knowledge is gold dust.
If you provide us with more info perhaps more accurate help would be forthcoming from here. ie. do you mean a "dormer conversion" or a loft conversion etc?
fmck,
An rsj is not "just a small section beam." If required, rsj's can come in astonishingly large sections.
You will not "normally" need steel for a dormer or any other part of a residential framed roof
"Rafters on the opposite side" i guess that you mean common rafters?
I dont understand what you are saying, and given the lack of info. ref the proposal it's difficult to comment, although:
1. all parts of a roof tie-in to make a stable frame, hence" roof framing."
2. There are numerous ways dealing with spread and point loads in any style of dormer - and none necessarily involve steel.
Upgraded ridge beam support is very common when forming large dormers or removing internal struts and supports for loft conversions
Basically, the SC has said I would need 3 RSJs
One to act as a Ridge beam, the other two to provide support to the Dormers.
I was unsure on what these items are.
The floor will be made out of 2x8 and will be laid ontop of the exisitng brick walls.
One to act as a Ridge beam, the other two to provide support to the Dormers.
I was unsure on what these items are.
The floor will be made out of 2x8 and will be laid ontop of the exisitng brick walls.
I think FMUK is talking about Rolled Steel Joist sections that aren't classified either UB or UC, and they come in several sizes varying from 102x44x7kg/m to 254x203x82kg/m, the smallest of which is smaller than the smallest UB or UC, and the largest of which is much smaller than the largest UBs or UCs.
Can you explain to me how you would go about dealing with spread in a dormer roof without using a ridge beam, as maybe I've been missing something all these years. Always happy to learn something new though.
Joists perhaps...?
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