Building Systems

• Transfer gravity loads to vertical structure
• from decking or sheathing to joists and beams which frame into columns and bearing walls
• loads transfer directly from slabs and plates into columns and beams
• Transfer lateral loads to shear walls
• floor system acts as diaphragm

• Structural steel sections - such as wide flanges - are assembled into a skeleton frame, typically rectangular
• Connection types: welded, riveted and bolted, moment sher and semi-rigid

Beams framed from column to column

Girders framed from column to column, beams frame into girders

Plate girders or truss framed from column to column, primary beams frame into girders, secondary beams frame into primary beams

• Joists are fabricated with a trussed web
• Lighter weight than structural steel
• Typical bears on structural steel and/or bearing walls

Corrugated sheet steel designed to span from joist to joist or beam to beam, concrete poured on top

Serves as a form for a cast-in-place reinforced concrete slab

Serves as tensile reinforcement for the concrete slab

Fabricated with raceways for wiring

• Joists manufactured by cold-forming sheet steel
• Typically bears on bearing walls and foundation walls
• 

• Solid wood joists ranging from 2x6's to 2x12's and prefabricated I-joists are spaced 12-24 inches on center
• Framing is similar to light-gauge joist framing

consists of panels (sheets) of plywood, oriented strand board (OSB) or high density particle board, ranging in thickness from 1/2" 1-1/2".

• Commonly used instead of solid lumber due to lower cost and longer span limits
• Types:
• I-joists (TJI)
• Glue-laminated timber
• Parallel strand lumber (PSL)
• Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)
• Trusses

• Plank flooring with a minimum thickness of 2" is supported by heavy wood beams spaced 4-8'
• Structure is typically left exposed to view