Australian Steel Traders specialises in sourcing RSJ beams for both public and trade clients across the country. For the uninitiated, we’ve put together an essential guide to RSJ beams to help you get up to speed. This will cover all the must-know information on RSJ steel beams for your ready for your next project. 

Let’s dive in. 

What is an RSJ?

RSJ is an acronym for Rolled Steel Joist, a layman’s term used by builders and tradespeople who work with steel. They are also commonly referred to as “I Beams” or “H Beams” due to the profile and shape of a standard beam. 

RSJ beams are also the same as Universal Beams or Universal Columns, which is another widely used term for the rolled steel sections. They are rolled from a single piece of structural steel and used extensively in civil engineering and construction trades. This provides extremely durable and high load-bearing support that won’t crack or fracture, ensuring structural integrity.

Wondering how RSJ’s are made? Check out our recent blog on The 6 Steps of Modern Steel Manufacturing.

When to use an RSJ

An RSJ beam provides load-bearing support to building structures. Typical situations may be a new build where the steel structure will act as a skeleton for the new building or a renovation project that includes extending or altering the structural nature of an existing building such as an extension or loft conversion.

Planning to make an open plan living space and remove an internal wall. You’ll have to consult a structural engineer as they can check if it’s a load bearing or non-load bearing wall. If it is a load bearing wall, you’ll have to install an RSJ to replace the structural support the wall provided.

Types of RSJ

We supply a whole range of different RSJs depending on your requirements, including single beams, double beams, lintels and T Beams. The exact size and type of beam can be calculated by a structural engineer using the length of the beam span and the details of the load it has to bear.

If your steel joints are a standardised length and width, chances are you can buy them already made. Alternatively, if it’s a unique length, we can consult a steel fabrication company to make it in a custom beam size. This will come with a longer lead time, however, so it’s important to get exact measurements and plan ahead. This will avoid ongoing consequences for the rest of your build, renovation or restoration.

We work with experienced fabricators who are used to working on tight schedules or deadlines provided they have a reasonable amount of time. Once fabricated, we can organise delivery to your site so there’s one less thing to worry about.

Get High-Quality RSJ Beams For Your Project

At Australian Steel Traders, we’ve been helping source and supply steel to the construction industry for years. There’s no project too big or too small for our team, whether you need a single RSJ beam or an entire steel structure. 

Please reach out to our team if you have queries or would like a quote. We’re always happy to help so call or email us today!