Erecting Joist
Erecting Joist and Joist Girders is a straight forward process. The best practices for doing so are listed below.
Installing A Single Joist
- Wherever possible, boxing or pairing the joists is the preferred erection method. [See Section Installing Joist in Pairs]
- Where steel joists are used and the columns are not framed in two directions, the steel tie joists should be field bolted at or near the column to provide lateral stability before the intermediate joists are erected.
- The bottom cords of steel joists over 30′ must be stabilized with bridging to prevent
rotation during erection. Joists are laterally unstable without bridging. - Wherever possible, dress joists with bridging on the ground before they are erected. This provides a method of connecting each joist onto a stabilized structure as it is erected.
- Attach rigging in center of load using the appropriate choker(s). Tying back the safety latch on the hook is not allowed, unless it is written in the Site Specific Safety Plan a better alternative is to use a quick release tool.
- Signal the crane operator to lift joist. Adjust the crane’s line (by signaling the operator) to remain above the rigging point of the lift as the joist is being raised.
- 0nce the joist is lifted off the ground and the crane has the complete weight, stop the lift until the load settles (if required). 0nce the load settles, proceed to signal the crane operator to move the joist into position.
- Place joist seat on beam line or other supporting structure and connect bridging on joist over 30′.
- 0nce load line on the crane has no weight, check structural stability of the member. If it’s secure, release choker from joist. If required, add additional temporary bracing to secure the member before releasing crane hoist.
- Joists may be temporarily placed without bolting or welding if the joist weight is bearing straight down (usually possible on short joists), which ensures that the joist will not fall 0r move off (also known as “rattleoff”) the supporting structure due to weather or site conditions (e.g., wind or vibrations from equipment) .
Installing Joist In Pairs
- Using the crane, pick up the first joist at ground level and bolt on the proper bridging.
- Unhook the joist in the vertical position on the ground with the weight of the joist resting against the bridging.
- Pick up the second joist and bolt it to the bridging attached to the first joist.
- Use two sets of rigging so that each joist is picked up with a seperate choker, centered on the joist weight.
- All the practices for installing a single joist apply for installing joist in pairs.
Installing Joist In Bundles
- Before hoisting bundles, install tie joists as suggested in section installing a single joist.
- Attach the appropriate choker in centre of the load on each bundle of joists that is to be lifted.
- Attach a tagline to each bundle, wherever possible.
- Signal the crane to lift bundle. Adjust the crane’s line (by signaling the operator) to remain above the rigging points of the lifts for each joist bundle that is being raised.
- As the joists are lifted off the ground and the crane takes the complete weight, stop the lift until the load settles (if required). Once the load has settled, proceed to signal the crane operator to move the joists into position.
- Set bundle on supporting structure.
- Provided that the tie joists have been installed, intermediate joists may be temporarily placed without bolting or welding if the joist weight is bearing straight down (usually possible on short joist). Ensure that the joists will not fall or move off (also known as”rattleoff”) the supporting structure due to weather or site conditions (e.g., wind or vibrations from equipment).
Steel Estimating Solutions
Vince Hughes
505-249-2390
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