Steel Beams

Choosing the Right Material for Lasting Structural Integrity

Quality materials form the backbone of any stable structure, but selecting the best fit requires understanding each product’s role within your build. UIS’s selection of supports includes Universal Beams (UBs) and Rolled Steel Joists (RSJs), each designed for specific structural needs. Making an informed choice strengthens your design and contributes to the safety and lifespan of your build.

• Universal Beams (UBs): Known for their “I” shape, UBs excel in vertical load-bearing applications and are often used to support floors or walls in multi-story projects. Their ability to handle pressure without warping is essential in open floor plans.
  • Pro Tip: During installation, precise alignment ensures even weight distribution, minimizing stress points and maximizing durability.
• Rolled Steel Joists (RSJs): These provide excellent lateral strength, making them ideal for wall supports and foundational work, especially in renovations where flexibility in design is critical. Often chosen to support open spaces or to replace interior walls, RSJs offer adaptability for various layouts.
  • Expert Insight: Centering and leveling during placement prevents shifting over time, and reinforcing RSJs with bracing or anchoring adds further stability.

UIS maintains transparency and reliability, meeting rigorous UK standards with all of our materials. Our detailed specifications and flexible delivery options provide the information and resources needed to select materials suited to your project’s requirements, minimizing unexpected costs or delays. With UIS, you’re investing in materials built for endurance and peace of mind.

• For example, in a multi-story building, each support must handle the added weight of occupants and furnishings.
  • Practical Tip: Begin by evaluating both fixed weights (dead loads) and variable, temporary weights (live loads). UIS provides load-bearing charts and guides that simplify this process, factoring in load type, span distance, and other criteria, allowing you to select the proper size and thickness for optimal performance.
• Deflection considerations: It’s also important to consider deflection, or the amount a beam may bend under pressure. In flooring, even minor bending can cause noticeable sagging over time. For projects requiring rigid floor support, UIS engineers can advise on appropriate deflection limits to meet both safety and aesthetic expectations.

By assessing load requirements with UIS’s expert resources, you ensure each component is strong, compliant, and up to the task.

Streamline Your Installation

Correct installation requires attention to load paths, weight distribution, and precise alignment. UIS supports each stage, providing stable, compliant, and effective installations. Proper technique reduces the likelihood of future adjustments, saving time and resources.

• In open-plan renovations, placing load-bearing supports is essential for maintaining stability when altering walls.
  • Installation Tip: Temporary support props hold weight during installation, keeping the structure safe. Accurate alignment and leveling also prevent torsional stress (twisting) that can occur when supports are slightly off.
• Consider additional reinforcement for challenging environments. UIS supplies technical guides for securing fasteners and reinforcements, along with advice on protective coatings in humid or corrosive conditions, adding another layer of reliability to your installation.

UIS’s installation support ensures that each component is set with precision and long-lasting resilience.

UIS: UK-Standard Steel for Quality Assurance

With safety and compliance essential to any project, choosing a trusted supplier is critical. UIS proudly provides materials that meet British Standards, helping clients avoid compliance issues during inspections and ensuring that structures are safe and sound.

• Our commitment to quality control extends beyond mere compliance; we strive to provide peace of mind. Every product undergoes testing for strength, resilience, and durability, so you can trust that your project is built on a secure foundation.

Expert Insight for Peace of Mind: Working with UIS, you minimize risks of project delays from regulatory concerns. Our adherence to British Standards ensures that every component of your structure aligns with industry specifications, delivering a stable, safe, and reliable outcome.

UIS delivers compliance and quality, so you can build with confidence.

What are the important British standards regarding steel beams?

• BS EN 10025 – Hot Rolled Products of Structural Steels
• BS EN 1993 (Eurocode 3) – Design of Steel Structures
• BS 5950 – Structural Use of Steelwork in Building
• BS EN 10210 – Hot Finished Structural Hollow Sections of Non-Alloy and Fine Grain Steels
• BS EN 1090 – Execution of Steel Structures and Aluminium Structures
• BS EN 10113 – Hot Rolled Products in Weldable Fine Grain Structural Steels
• BS EN ISO 898-1 – Mechanical Properties of Fasteners Made of Carbon Steel and Alloy Steel
• BS EN 10034 – Structural Steel I and H Sections – Tolerances on Shape and Dimensions
• BS 4360 – Weldable Structural Steels
• BS EN 10149 – Hot-Rolled Flat Products Made of High-Yield Strength Steels for Cold Forming