9 replies to this topic

What do you guys use to size your steel beams?  I found a chart online and a couple of rather complicated calculators, but was curious how the rest of you do it?

[Steve and Carla Farnam]

Strucalc.com Software

[Martin Livingston]

_{Try this freeware http://www.softpedia...D/BeamBoy.shtml} 

 

_{I have been using it for years and it works great. Not too hard to figure it out.}

[Tom Rogers]

Steal beams I use my Steel manual and calculations.  I am not an engineer but I have found that a W12x50 works in almost all situations that I have run across. :-) Thank you University of Illinois class of 1992 

[Philip Frank]

BeamChek

I couldn't get beamboy to work... might be because I am running windows 10.  I did download a trial version of StrucCalc.  Boy, that is a really nice program that is really easy to use and very informative.  I think I'm a convert!  

 

Tom:  Holy smokes, W12x50?!?!  That is a huge beam!   I bet it works for pretty much everything!  LOL.

[Daniel Zanoli]

Little Beam Syndrome?   

[Keith Almond]

All my beams come from the Ontario Building Code, or they are noted as being designed by a professional engineer. We don't get the option of doing anything else.

[Steve and Carla Farnam]

We use Strucalc as a reference to know that, for example if there is a beam over a stairway we

will have enough headroom for the stairs. We are not licensed to stamp the project but the information

gets us close enough to know the plans we send out the door will work. The plans  are then reviewed

and stamped by a licensed engineer if the building is to be built in a permitted jurisdiction. If built outside

of a permitted jurisdiction the engineers review and stamp is up to the homeowner and builder. We do not 

indicate that engineering is included in our plans.

[Jim Johnson]

I use Strucalc as a reference the same as Steve & Carla.