What are rolled steel joists (RSJ)

If you have lived in a house that’s been in your house for generations, you should thank Alphonse Halbou. He patented the method of producing the I-beam, way back in 1849. The i-beam was rolled from a single piece of steel. The i-beam is also known as the rolled steel joist or RSJ. The rolled steel joist is a pretty common kind of beam that’s used in the initial structure work of a building.

A house is only as strong as its weakest link. It needs great strength to hold a house up, to withstand the work of time and to build a monument that last forever. This heavy duty is given to the rolled steel joist. Also known as H or I beams, rolled steel joints are a product mainly used to hold up supporting walls. Because of the work they need to do, the RSJ is designed to bear huge loads and have tremendous strength. Girders are strengthened and joists are supported by RSJ. When it’s an H beam, it has a cross-section shaped like an H. This kind of beam is especially useful in the vertical side of things, to carry bending and shear loads.RSJsare ideally suited for low buildings, but come in varied sizes to be able to be used everywhere.

image:www.steelbeamsuppliers.co.uk/products/rsj-beams

RSJs are mostly made with mild steel and structural steel, it can also be made from other materials and aluminium. The RSJ is also called the w-beam, the universal column, and the double-T.

An RSJ is made by:

Cold rolling-when the metal gets to below room temperature, it reaches new levels of toughness. The strength goes up by close to 20%.

Extrusion-if you’re looking for a fixed cross-sectional profile, this is the process to undertake. It works especially well when the materials are brittle and to create complex cross-sections.

Hot rolling- the material is raised above to high temperatures, causing a process of deforming of crystals. When they reform and recrystallize they have undergone a process that does not allow the metal to harden.

The rolled steel joist is shaped like an I. The vertical portion is called the web. The horizontal, is the flange. The web and the flange work in perfect harmony- the web resists force (shear) and the flange looks after the bending part of things in the beam. Indeed, this is one of the most optimum ways to bear loads in a wall or structure.

Each country has its own standardization. In the UK, the various parameters for measurement that RSJ suppliers London have to look for are depth, wright, width, flange and web thickness. 

The trend is changing today and can also see rolled steel joists in laminated veneer lumber and fibreboard wood. This is especially a great choice for residential spaces, because these kinds of RSJs are hardy and lighter. When you go to a trusted supplier, they will not only give you the list of RSJ beams and sizes, but also custom-make for you depending on your requirements. Rolled steel joists serve an essential purpose in the construction process and should be procured only from a trusted source.