Discover how TRIFORCE®, its innovative design is a crucial element in modern construction, solving key challenges faced by today’s building professionals.
On the market today, in the residential and even commercial sectors, we see buildings with particular structures that require materials that adapt to every possible case. In this blog, we take a look at the practical side of TRIFORCE® open joist, thanks to its versatility and adaptability.
1) Robustness and strength of TRIFORCE® open joists
They are strong enough to support the weight of upper floors and other overloads. If overloads occur, such as granite floors, heavy storage, kitchen units, stone fireplaces and more, you can be assured that TRIFORCE® joists can meet the demands.
Also, they offer different grades of wood for added strength. For example, you can see this nomenclature on the skus: OJ315 and OJ418. This represents the width of the top chord and bottom chord, which means they are either 2×3 or 2×4.
How can they be so strong?
To explain how chords work, the joist is engineered to withstand compression at its top chord and expansion at its bottom chord. 2×4 joists therefore have a larger cross-section, giving them a higher load-bearing capacity and making them stronger to support heavier loads over a certain span.
Another option may be to space the joists closer together or even double them for greater strength.
Lateral loads can also be supported by doubling the joists, which are held together by a nailed metal fastener or by specialty screws connecting the two joists together so they act as one member.
And what adds to the solidity, finger joints interconnect the webbing with the chords. The grooved sections are joined with the fingered ones using phenol-resorcinol adhesive, applying substantial pressure during the process. This triangular design results in an exceptional strength and stiffness.
2) TRIFORCE® joists can accommodate all possible spans
They are designed to allow for larger spans without the need for intermediate support. As you can see in the open joist span table, the 16’’ height can go up to 30’ which is more than the maximum span of standard I-joist. TRIFORCE® joists outperform I-joists in terms of span capability, spanning much greater distances than I-Joists of similar series and depth.
Over the years, the popularity of open-plan homes has increased, as this configuration creates a more spacious living space, better air circulation and more natural light.
On the other hand, this provides less support, making TRIFORCE® joists ideal candidates for this type of engineered wood floor system.
These open web joists are commonly associated with longer spans but they are a useful choice for small spans as well. Even in small spans TRIFORCE® joists provide excellent strength and stability. They are engineered to resist twisting, warping, and shrinking, providing a robust support for engineered wood floor systems.
3) Can be used as a decorative element thanks to its lightness
TRIFORCE® joists are not limited to a purely structural role. They can also be used creatively and decoratively to enhance the visual appearance of various spaces. The open joist is lightweight due to the lack of heavy metal plates and the fact that the webbing doesn’t need to be the same size as the chords (2×2 diagonal). So it’s useful for integrating into interior design.
We see here in this picture a recent restaurant renovation built by Minutie Construction, a construction company in Quebec who already has many projects to their credit and who like many contractors only swears by TRIFORCE®. They’ve used it here for decorative purposes.
The result is a beautiful wood-covered ceiling overhang.
At first, there are several factors to consider before using TRIFORCE® joists for decorative purposes, here are 5 of them:
- Safety: Ensure that the joists are properly fastened and can support any additional weight.
- Structural support: Any modification must not compromise their supporting role for aesthetic purposes.
- Ceiling height: The sub-ceiling will be lower, so it’s important to ensure that it won’t interfere with the ceiling.
- Joist condition: Inspect for signs of cracking, rotting or insect infestation.
- Easily accessible: Check that accessibility allows for proper maintenance and cleaning.
So many possibilities!
Here are a few more examples of how TRIFORCE® joists can be turned from structural to decorative elements: they can create sturdy and stylish suspended shelving (with metal brackets for an industrial look), decorative wall panels or to build a unique bed frame. The possibilities are numerous.
Overall, TRIFORCE® open joist allows for creative solutions that meet the criteria for modern lifestyle preferences.
Its design flexibility is essential for creating houses and buildings that are functional, adaptable, aesthetically pleasing, safe, and cost-effective.
Discover the many other benefits of TRIFORCE® by downloading the spec guide:
