Replies

1. 
   joewood | Dec 23, 2004 12:45am | #1

   Oh, and, where can I get Span Tables for use when using steel framing ? Is there such a thing, or would I need to consult with an structual Engineer ?

1. 
   robzan | Dec 23, 2004 05:31am | #2

   Hello Joe
   Along time ago i worked on a mall job. Everything fireproof. We used some black, nasty looking treated wood that was fireproof. I don't know if you can use it outside, or if it would be cost effective. I bet someone else here knows though. I live in CA too, so i will be following this thread closely. RZ

2. 
   kestrel | Dec 23, 2004 05:41am | #3

   Hi Joe,

   Check with your local steel supplier.  Sometimes they hand out their steel books that give sizes, weights and wall thickness of structural members.  They probably won't have span tables, but they may be able to direct you to someone who can help you.  The structural grade A500 Grade B would be suitable, but also check with your local steel supplier on what they have available.

   My husband formerly operated a welding and steel fabrication business, so for our deck, we will be using square and rectangular tubing for support posts and cross members.  The nice thing about square and rectangular tubing is that it is easy to work with and fabrication is simplified.

   Spacers to lift the wood away from the steel are important to limit corrosion due to retained moisture where wood and steel contact each other.

   Are you going to be building the deck yourself?  The size and height of the project is going dictate several things such as paint/powder coat, sand blast requirement, prefabrication or fab on site, etc.

   If you do use steel, and have any specific questions, we will try to help.  We're not in CA, but our property also has burned in wild fires (once since we have lived here, and apparently several times in the past), so we are also building to try resist fire.

   kestrel

3. 
   ponytl | Dec 23, 2004 07:25am | #4

   joe i think i'd look at metal building components... ie: c & z perlins you'd want it light enough that you could use self drilling  stainless screws... unless you are on the coast with salt water paint works well on steel... ie: your car & truck... i find equipment enamel from the co-op to be pretty cost effective  .. maybe $15 a gallon max... if you use the stuff from the metal building folks it comes primed.. I use a ton of steel in everything i do standard equipment on all my jobs is a stick welder, a mig welder, cutting torch & plasma cutter...

   pony

4. 
   caseyr | Dec 23, 2004 09:23am | #5

   I trust you are aware that just because steel doesn't burn doesn't mean that using light gauge framing members (or heavier gauge for that matter) will mean that your deck will be standing after a fire goes through. Steel members will soften so that they can collapse when their temperature reaches something like 700 degrees C. Wood structures can actually be more fire resistant than structures built with steel members. In commercial structures, load bearing steel members are required to be coated or enclosed with fire resistant materials. Wooden posts and beams of (if I remember correctly here -it has been a while) 8 inches square or larger (it may be 6"x8") are often considered fire resistant (if sized correctly) because the outer wood will char to an insulating layer leaving enough wood in the center of the beam to support a load. Various coatings can also be used to increase the fire resistance of wood.

   That said, I am a fan of light gauge steel construction.