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Cutting holes in I-Joists

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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2005-11-04          118914


At the bottom of the tractorpoint home page is an ad for Georgia Pacific engineered lumber. The picture of the installed I-joists shows some BIG holes cut in the webbing - much larger than I would have thought allowable. Is this legal with those things? I understand how they work with tension/compression but that looks scary.



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Cutting holes in I-Joists

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Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2005-11-04          118944


Ken, I have roof joists in my house which are engineered beams. They have holes that large. There is a local company called trimjoist and their beams have larger holes in the center. ....


Link:   Trim Joist

 

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Cutting holes in I-Joists

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Iowafun
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 955 Central Iowa
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2005-11-05          118955


In I-beams used in a horizontal application with a vertical load, the center of the beam takes virtually no load. Th majority of the load is concentrated at the outer webs. But it sounds like you alreayd understand that. But understanding still doesn't help the freak-out factor you get from seeing such big holes! ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2005-11-05          118961


Peters, that link did not work for me but it looks like it should. Maybe a DNS glitch.

Thanks for the info guys. I'm planning to finish our basement and have some forced air ducts to run and would rather not have to soffit around them. I guess the right thing to do is read the manufacturer specs for our I-Joists. ....


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sloancon
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 16 North Carolina
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2005-11-07          119086


framing contractor in NC. Most wood I-beams have punch outs for wires and plumbing. Any cut outs big enough for duct work or flex have to be engineered by the supplier or an independent engineer in NC. $100.00 for an engineer is a cheap insurance policy. ....


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Cutting holes in I-Joists

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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2005-11-07          119087


Sloancon, thanks for contributing your expertise. I'll contact a structural engineer before cutting any big holes. If nothing else it will put me at ease. ....


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Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2005-11-07          119094


I cut some 2x10 and made them into I beams. I had tripled the number of beams so there is only a 4 ft span. The beams are also increased. I know that I am still over build, but at lest I don't have the ducts intruding into the ceiling height. ....


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kyvette
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 194 Central Kentucky
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2005-11-10          119169


Kwschumm, this idea maybe too late. If you construct 9' basement walls you can install your hvac, electric, etc. on the surface of the joists. This way you won't have to cut or drill the joists. This should give you about a 7'10" clear ceiling height.

Dave ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2005-11-10          119181


The basement does have a 9' ceiling but I'd rather not squish it down to less than 8 feet if possible. We'll put in a suspended ceiling which will take a few inches as well. Worst case, we will run the ducts around the perimeter, soffit around them, and have a tray ceiling. ....


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