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Billy NY
02-22-2004 10:55:38
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Re: How much weight will a steel beam hold? in reply to Rick from Paso, 02-21-2004 21:56:43
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Steel members are denoted first by the shape, then web size ( in the case of I beams for this discussion ) then how many pounds per foot it weighs. Here's an example of a W shape ( I-beam): W x 10 x 25 = W shape ( according to the AISC manual ) - American Institute of Steel Construction, it has a 10" web & weighs 25 lbs. per foot, so multiply your length by 25 in this case, say 10'-0" & it weighs 250 pounds. To truly determine the acceptable liveloads for a member, you need to identify the span length & the maximum weight intended to be supported/suspended and location of the load, say center of span for example and also the weight of the member itself. This would be checked against the column size, or your existing supports, and or determine the column size needed to support the span, or determine what is necessary to beef up an existing structure to carry the load, depending on what you are doing. If you want to really know, it's best to pay a licensed professional engineer, preferably a structural engineer to run calculations on what you propose to do, figure 1 or 2 hours for the going rate for engineer to do the calc's for this if you give him all pertinent details of what you propose, keeping it simple, which will most likely include a safety factor of 4. It is well worth knowing exactly how much you can support or suspend from the span. I know it sounds like a bunch of technical mumbo jumbo and most people make good judgments as to what will hold what, by common sense, experience etc. to get it done, but all it takes is one failure to cause serious injury or death, thats why I would suggest using something that is engineered or having an engineer confirm your proposed arrangement, well worth a few $$ to do so in my humble opinion.
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