OWSJ Identification and Information

[CruiserD]

Hi,

I am trying to identify what I beleive is a GSW "L" OBSJ...see attached photos. I would also like to know if any span or capacity tables are available for this joist.

I saw the GSW joist referenced in a past post from May 17, but for some technical reason wasn't permitted to reply to the post.

Thanks!

 

[CruiserD]

Sorry, that should read GWS.

 

[JedClampett]

What is GWS, a manufacturer?
But unless you can get a size (might be on a tag hanging from the joist, or painted on it, on the drawings, etc.), you're going to have to measure the joist and either figure out the properties or send them to the Steel Joist Institute (SJI).

 

[CruiserD]

Yes GSW is the manufacturer I believe. BAretired had a speifiation table linked in a previous post and the dimensions of this joist matches type "L". I was hoping BAretired may also have the span table for it????

 

[JedClampett]

Is there a chance of the joist manufacturers ever engraving or otherwise stamping the joist size continuously on the bottom member or in another visible place? It seems that we, as structural engineers, spend a lot of time trying to figure out joist sizes.

 

[msquared48]

GWS stands for "Great Western Steel". I uaed to have a catalog in the ofice. If I find it, I will post again here.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[msquared48]

CruiserD:

As for not being able to respond to the May 17 thread, the administrator may have closed the thread to further comments either due to its age or lack of activity. You can always ressurrect it (of sorts) by cutting and pasting the thread number to this thread as a reference should you so desire.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[msquared48]

I do not think that GWS is in business anymore if my memory serves me correctly, but you might check with Canam steel corporation - they may have purchased the line. Just a hunch. I think that I do have the catalog at work. Will check Monday.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[BAretired]

Great West Steel Industries is no longer in business. They manufactured a joist using "Hat" sections for chords. Webs were round rods for the smaller joists and open round or oval sections for the larger joists. End diagonals were usually square or rectangular bars.

I have two GWS catalogs: the Western (W) 1973 Series with Imperial dimensions listing allowable safe loads and the later but undated Metric catalog based on Limit States Design listing factored loads in kN/m.

What is your depth and span of joist? Do you want the Imperial or Metric span tables?



BA

 

[CruiserD]

I was given a depth measurement of 33" from the site. This may be off as it looks like the top chord is buried. The span is 61'. I'm posting from my phone right now but will upload a drawing from my laptop. The new posts aren't showing up on the laptop right now...

 

[CruiserD]

Here is a basic layout of the trusses based on the site's measurements.

 

[msquared48]

According to my catalog, they made a 32" and a 34" deep joist, but no 33". Need to know the edxaqct dimension, and the designation you will probably see on the tag will be something like 32H or 34G, something like that, where the top and bottom chord sizes.

If it is a 32G spanning 60 feet, the allowable live load is 99 plf (L/360), antd total load 208 plf.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[CruiserD]

Outstanding! Thank-you!

I will have them look for a tag and or doublecheck the depth.
As of this point I would wager it is a 34L.

 

[msquared48]

I noticed from your first post that there is an "L" designation on the joist. If this is what I think it is, unless it is a special design by GWS, the "L" designation did not enter into the picture until a depth of 36" according to the catalog I have (Imperial, with a maximum moment resistance of 176.9 Kip Feet.

GNW is now out of business, no longer making joists, but was purchased by Canron. Don't know the history beyond that.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[CruiserD]

The site has returned some more figures to me. The joist's measurements are quite close to a GWS 32K, spanning 61ft.

Anyone happen to have a span table covering this joist?!

Thanks
Darryl

 

[msquared48]

Moment of Inertia is 916 in4, moment of resistance is 153.6 Kft.

For a 32K spanning 60 feet, the total load is 337 plf and the L/360 live load capacity is 163 plf.

There is no rating for a 32K at 62 feet, they start at a 36G for 62 feet.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[BAretired]

See the attached:

BA

 

[BAretired]

It appears that Mike and I have different catalogs. Mine is the 1973 series. The properties are slightly different and joist 32K is listed for a 62' span in my catalog (although it does seem a bit shallow).

BA

 

[CruiserD]

It apears a bit shallow in the photos as well. Oh well, you guys have been superb...time to pass off the info to the structural engineers!

Thanks again!

 

[msquared48]

Mine is the first printing of the Fifth edition, and, of all things, appears to be undated unless I am blind, which happens occasionally. It is a 24 page catalog (page #1 ias actually the third page).

FYI, a sticker on the bottom of page 1 gives an ICBO Approval Number of "PFC-4047". You might google that to see if you can get further information.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com