Tuesday, January 13, 2009

RE: custom joists

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:2.1
N:Andrew Kester;PE
FN:Andrew Kester, PE
EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:akester@cfl.rr.com
REV:20090113T145551Z
END:VCARD
Wesley,
I think the SJI Specs will answer most of your questions (can be found in Vulcraft catalogs).

For uplift, I think you would have to either attach the bottom chords of the joist or supply a single line of bridging near the first panel point on both ends. If your bottom chord works as unbraced in compression, I don't see why you would need any intermediate bridging, as the web members will restrain lateral buckling to some degree even if you don't need it. 
 
They also have slenderness ratio maxmimums for all types of members.
 
HTH,
Andrew
 
Andrew Kester, P.E.
Orlando, Florida 3