Member Weight — Open-Web Joist
Pick weight and rigging numbers for a open-web joist from unit mass and length.
Bar joists weigh near-nothing and behave like wet noodles until bridging is in — the falling hazard is the JOIST, sideways. OSHA's joist rules (bolted seats, bridging before release) exist from exactly these picks.
Formula
Note: Erection-planning estimate only. Member weights, connection capacities and tolerances for execution must come from the issued drawings, the EOR and the erection engineer — never from a generic calculator.
Pick weight and rigging numbers for a open-web joist from unit mass and length. A free structural steel delivery & erection tool — no sign-up, no upload, instant results in your browser.
About Member Weight — Open-Web Joist
Member Weight — Open-Web Joist computes the governing relationship W = kg/m × L × n × (1 + attachments) live as you type. Bar joists weigh near-nothing and behave like wet noodles until bridging is in — the falling hazard is the JOIST, sideways. OSHA's joist rules (bolted seats, bridging before release) exist from exactly these picks. Defaults are pre-filled with realistic values for this exact scenario, and the worked example substitutes your numbers step by step so the math is never a black box.
How to use Member Weight — Open-Web Joist
- 1Enter your values — Unit mass, Member length, Pieces per pick, Attachments (plates, clips) (sensible defaults are pre-filled).
- 2Read the live results: Pick weight, In tonnes.
- 3Check the "with your numbers" line to see W = kg/m × L × n × (1 + attachments) substituted step by step.
- 4Adjust inputs until the scenario matches yours, then copy or share the result.
Why use Member Weight — Open-Web Joist?
- ✓Instant, free and private — every calculation runs client-side in your browser; nothing is uploaded
- ✓Built on the stated formula W = kg/m × L × n × (1 + attachments) with authoritative sources cited on the page (AISC 303 — Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings)
- ✓Bar joists weigh near-nothing and behave like wet noodles until bridging is in — the falling hazard is the JOIST, sideways.
- ✓SI ⇄ Imperial toggle converts your inputs in place, so you can work in the units your drawings use
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the member weight — open-web joist use?+
It evaluates W = kg/m × L × n × (1 + attachments), exactly as published. Sources: AISC 303 — Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings. The substituted worked example on the page lets you verify every step against the textbook.
How should I read the result — and how far can I trust it?+
Bar joists weigh near-nothing and behave like wet noodles until bridging is in — the falling hazard is the JOIST, sideways. Erection-planning estimate only. Member weights, connection capacities and tolerances for execution must come from the issued drawings, the EOR and the erection engineer — never from a generic calculator.
When is this calculator the right tool for the job?+
Pick weight and rigging numbers for a open-web joist from unit mass and length. A free structural steel delivery & erection tool. OSHA's joist rules (bolted seats, bridging before release) exist from exactly these picks. For neighbouring scenarios, the related tools below cover the same engine with different presets.
Does it support both metric and imperial units?+
Yes — the SI ⇄ Imperial toggle converts the values already in the fields, preserving the physical quantity, so you can flip mid-calculation without re-entering anything.
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