A single large UC is often specified where two lighter beams might seem the intuitive choice. Here’s the structural reason why — and how to request paired beams if you prefer them.
Steel Column Cap Plate Details: Beam Sitting on Top of a Column
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Cap plates allow beams to sit on top of a steel column rather than connecting into its side. Here’s when they’re suitable, how beam pairs work, and what this connection cannot do.
Steel Fabrication Specification: What Standard Are Beams Built To?
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All structural steelwork on PorthouseDean projects must be fabricated to the National Structural Steelwork Specification (NSSS). Here’s what that means.
What Level Does the Steelwork Need to Be?
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Exact steel beam levels are not set by the structural engineer — they are confirmed by the architect and contractor. Here’s why and what the typical tolerance is.
Steelwork Notes and Specifications for Domestic Projects
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The full steelwork specification that applies to all PorthouseDean structural packages — grades, welds, bolts, paint and installation requirements.
Steelwork Corrosion Protection: Paint vs Hot-Dip Galvanising
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Choosing between site-applied paint and off-site galvanising for steel corrosion protection depends on the environment. Here’s what each option provides.
Timber Joist Connection to the Side of a Steel Beam for a Flush Ceiling
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Where timber joists frame into the side of a steel beam for a flush ceiling finish, timber packers in the web create a robust fixing surface. No structural calcs are typically needed.
Downstand vs Flush Ceiling: Which Steel Beam Position Is Right for You?
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Steel beams can be installed so they drop below the ceiling line or sit flush within the floor zone. The structural performance is identical — but the cost, complexity, and finished look are very different.
Welded Cover Plate Splice: Joining Beams in Sections
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A welded cover plate splice allows a long beam to be delivered in manageable sections and joined on site. Here’s how it works and what the specification requires.
What Are My Options for Connecting Steel Beams?
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An overview of the main steel beam connection types used in domestic structural design — flexible end plates, cap plates, suspended connections and goalpost frames.
What Is a Flexible End Plate Splice?
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A flexible end plate splice connects two beam sections at a support point, carrying shear only. It enables shorter beam lengths for easier site handling while maintaining structural continuity.
What Level Does the Steel Beam Need to Be Fixed At?
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Structural drawings give indicative beam levels based on architect information. Final beam levels are confirmed by the architect or builder — not set definitively by the structural engineer.