Vulcraft Glossary
- Base Length
- This is the length of the joist or Joist Girder with only the standard bearing length on each end.
- Batten Clip
- Used to tie both angles of a double angle web together.
- Bay
- The distance between the main structural frames or walls of a building
- Bearing
- The location where a joist or Joist Girder rests on the supporting structure.
- Bearing Depth
- The dimension from the top chord to the material comprising the bearing seat.
- Bearing Length
- The distance that the bearing shoe or seat of a joist or Joist Girder extends over the structural support.
- Bearing Plate
- A steel plate placed on a supporting structure of concrete or masonry to provide a location where the bearing seat joist or Joist Girder will connect to the supporting structure. The bearing plate is designed by the Specifying Professional of Record to transmit the joist or Joist Girder reaction to the supporting structure.
- Bearing Seat
- The section of the joist or Joist Girder that is designed and manufactured to bear on and transfer the reaction from the joist or Joist Girder to the supporting structure.
- Bottom Chord (BC)
- This is the bottom element of the joist or Joist Girder member. It is comprised of two angles with a designated space separating the two angles. ( 1.0" typically on Hybrid, LH, and Joist Girders)
- Bottom Chord Extension (BCX)
- The two angle extended part of a joist bottom chord from the first bottom chord panel point towards the end of the joist.
- Bridging
- In general, a member connected to a joist to brace it from lateral movement. See also Diagonal Bridging and Horizontal Bridging.
- Bridging Clip
- Material installed on the joist for attachment of bolted bridging.
- Bridging Terminus Point
- A wall, beam, tandem joists (with all bridging installed and a horizontal truss in the plane of the top chord) or other element at an end or intermediate point(s) of a line of bridging that provides an anchor point for the steel joist bridging.
- Buckling
- Limit state of sudden change in the geometry of a structure or any of its elements under a critical loading condition.
- Buckling Strength
- Nominal strength for buckling or instability limit states.
- Bundle
- The banding together of joist products, bridging, and decking into certain sizes, weights, pieces, lengths, etc. to expedite shipping, unloading and storage, and erection at a job site.
- Buyer
- The entity that has agreed to purchase material from the manufacturer and has also agreed to the terms of sale.