Fortification solution: Cellular steel beams

When it comes to strong, durable construction, nothing beats cellular steel beams in terms of strength. For the price, it delivers an exceptional life span designed to let you use fewer columns when compared to other beam designs. The design of cellular steel beams is a valuable tool for any fortification design. Due to both the amount of weight it can hold and the heat it can withstand, it holds up better than nearly any other product on the market. Here is what you need to know about cellular steel beams and how this beam type might be exactly what you’re looking for.

What Is a Cellular Steel Beam?

Cellular steel beams are constructed to be a longer, singular unit. As it is a single unit that spans the length of a floor, it allows you to reduce the number of beams needed for your designs. Cutting down on the number of beams instantly cuts down on the production costs of the building.

Cellular steel beams have cutouts within the beam, allowing piping, fiber optics, wiring, air ducts, and other equipment to pass through instead of above or below. Because a building’s needed utilities can pass through the beam instead of above or below, it allows you to reduce a building’s height. You no longer need to add additional floor or ceiling space for the utilities to pass through. For any multi-level building, this represents additional savings for each floor.

Thanks to the grid design of the cellular steel beams, the beams can easily intersect where added support is required. In general, these kinds of beams are primarily used for either secondary or primary floor beams. Rafters can be both composite and non-composite, depending on your construction needs.

Cellular Beam Portal Frame

As mentioned above, the cellular steel beams can be built with portal frame openings within the beam. These openings can be cut to fit your design needs. While circular openings are common as it allows plumbing and electrical to run through without catching on corners, the cellular beam portal frame can be cut in sinusoidal web openings. This kind of opening allows for the passing of rectangular air ducts and other HVAC equipment directly through the beam. All of this helps consolidate space between floors, so there is less open space from one floor to the next. Following the completion of fabrication, the building will also experience a reduction in heating and cooling costs as there is less dead space between floors pulling air from the HVAC system.

The Manufacturing Of Cellular Steel Beams

What makes cellular steel beams so strong and desirable in the construction of a building? It is how the beams are manufactured. Cellular steel beams are first rolled from a steel section (typically a UB or UC steel). The rolled steel is then cut and then re-welded to create the deeper beam design. This dramatically improves the strength of the beam. It also allows for the openings within the beam. Because the beams are stronger, they can allow for the removal of circular and web openings without needing support beams. Other forms of steel beams would need support following the removal of the cutouts.

When added strength is required, the cellular beams will be constructed from a steel plate girder. The plate girder can be selected based on its overall thickness and depth. This gives you more options for picking the right cellular steel beam for your particular construction.

Bespoke Design

There are prefabricated cellular steel beams that come with the set holes already cut within the beams. There are different placement options, so you can select a design that works best for your needs. However, the construction you are undertaking may have very specific requirements that do not match traditional cutouts. When that is the case, bespoke design options are available. This makes it possible to work alongside the fabrication of the steel beams and specify where the cutouts should be within the beam and the size of the cutouts. Because the steel beams have exceptional flexibility and are especially durable, it is possible to meet most needs. However, the best way to determine whether your unique design requirements can be met using cellular steel beams is to contact the customer service specialists at C-Beams to find out whether what you’re looking for is possible.

Cellular beams are traditionally straight, but they can be fabricated in an arch design as well. If you are looking to add more ceiling space with an arched ceiling, or you want to add cosmetic appeal to the underside of your ceiling with arched cellular beams, this is possible. This will likely require the bespoke design to ensure the curve matches your construction needs, but in general, if you’re looking to harness the strength and durability of cellular steel beams, C-Beams can help. There is a structural solution to your building needs. If you know exactly what you’re looking for, C-Beams will work with you in designing and manufacturing cellular steel beams. And if you’re not sure what will work, the team at C-Beams will go over your potential options.

Discover The C-Beam Difference

Cellular beams make up just part of C-Beam’s portfolio. With a wide range of products and services when it comes to your construction, C-Beam wants to provide you with the quality, strength, and dependable fabricated beams designed for your job. So whether you’re in the commercial construction field and working on a large project or want to take advantage of steel beams for residential needs, C-Beams is here for you. Contact the customer service experts at your convenience. The team will go over your plans and walk you through what products are your best options and how some beams may be able to cut down on your production costs. All of this is available with a single phone call or email to C-Beams.