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Space Joists

Space Joists

Space Joists

(OP)
I am interested in this product known as a space joist....wood flanges, metal webs for some development work (one project is commericial, the other multi family duplex)

Like these: www.spacejoist.com

Has anyone used these? The first question my clients are asking is how much more it costs than conventional wood I joists.
Field modifications seem impractical. The manufacturer says they come with trimmable ends.

Any experience with this type of product would be appreciated.

RE: Space Joists

Never seen or used it before. Looks like a mix of open web truss joists and plywood web joists.

Looks to be a well thought out product integrating the best of both products. I would be interested in seeing a cost comparison with the other joist types for the same spans, and if these are available on the West coast.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: Space Joists

It looks like it is combining the advantages of both I-joists and steel web - wood chord open truss joists.

I like that concept very much, but their website is so sleazy, that now I have suspicions about the product and the company backing it.

The bottom line is cost, and chances are, they are the most expensive option short of going to all-steel.

The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.

RE: Space Joists

We have a custom home builder here that uses nothing but those types of joists. However I believe they have an "in" with the supplier. My assumption is they are more expensive then open wood web trusses but cheaper than steel. I'm sure they are functional in their own right but I'm not sold that they are any more capable then open wood web.

RE: Space Joists

I've seen these used in older buildings, for a short stretch of time. They quit using them because they were prone to failure at the material intersections, if I remember correctly.

RE: Space Joists

Had a bulder using them on few houses. Now he is back to 2x10's and steel i-beams (as a proper house should be built).
They only seem to work well in open floor plans.

RE: Space Joists

Do they have an ICC-ES report on this system? That might be quite revealing.

RE: Space Joists

I've seen these but haven't used them, but I like the concept a lot.
Open web has obvious pass through benefits compared to solid web,
The iJoist style end makes it field trimmable which captures a significant advantage of an iJoist and eliminates the too-particular fitting issues of some of the open web joists.
I personally like the web to chord connection as I prefer the many nails of the press-plate to the single bolt or pin of so,eyeing like the trus joist products, although the pin is elegant, I kinda like not removing wood material for bolt holes especially on tension chords.
I know nothing about costs, manufactured quality, engineering values etcetera, code acceptance.

RE: Space Joists

Those jokers really need to get rid of that video that plays on every page. It keeps pulling one's attention away when you are trying to navigate their site.

They need to list the ICC reports, and most of all, give design info - load tables, the usual stuff.

Otherwise I never take any product seriously, and this website is horribly designed.

The definition of a structural engineer: overdesign by a factor of 1.999, instead of the usual 2.

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