Colony Construction supplies and installs open web steel joists Canada-wide for long-span industrial, agricultural, and recreational buildings. With 40+ years of experience and more than 700 completed projects, our steel joist systems deliver clear-span performance at a fraction of the weight and cost of heavy structural framing.
What Are Open Web Steel Joists?
Open web steel joists are lightweight, shop-fabricated trusses used as roof and floor members in commercial and industrial buildings. The triangulated web makes them extraordinarily efficient in bending – pound for pound, a steel joist can carry far more load over a long span than a solid W-section. That is why open web steel joists dominate warehouses, big-box retail, agricultural buildings, and recreation centres anywhere the roof needs to span 40 feet or more without interior columns.
Colony Construction has specified, detailed, and installed long-span steel joists on projects across BC, Alberta, and beyond for more than four decades. Our in-house engineers coordinate joist selection with the primary structure so loads, bridging, and bearing conditions integrate cleanly. The open webs also provide a convenient channel for mechanical, electrical, and sprinkler distribution – a practical benefit that saves real money on mechanical rough-in.
Whether your project is a 60-foot-span warehouse, a 100-foot-span arena roof, or a high-load agricultural building, our steel joist systems keep column counts low, mechanical routing simple, and the overall structure cost-efficient.
Key Benefits of Open Web Steel Joists
- Long-Span Efficiency: Long-span steel joists economically clear 40-120+ feet, eliminating interior columns and maximizing usable floor space.
- Lightweight, High-Capacity: Open web steel joists carry heavy snow, collateral, and drift loads at a fraction of the weight of equivalent rolled sections.
- Cost Advantage: Shop-mass-produced steel joist systems are typically 20-40% cheaper than equivalent conventional framing for the same span.
- Mechanical Integration: Open webs allow ductwork, piping, and conduit to pass through the joist depth, simplifying mechanical design and reducing overall ceiling height.
Industries That Rely on Open Web Steel Joists
Open web steel joists fit any building with long spans and predictable roof loads. Colony’s joist work concentrates in:
- Manufacturing & Warehousing – distribution centers and production halls where column-free spans maximize layout flexibility.
- Agriculture – equipment barns, storage buildings, and processing facilities engineered for heavy Canadian snow loads.
- Sports & Recreation – arenas, field houses, and recreation centres where clear-span roofs are essential to the building program.
Featured Projects
UNBC Sports Center
Colony supplied and installed long-span steel joists across the main sports hall at the University of Northern British Columbia. The joist system delivered a column-free playing floor engineered for heavy BC Interior snow loads and the collateral loads of suspended sports equipment.
West Fraser Quesnel Sawmill
At this major BC sawmill, open web steel joists span the production floor to keep columns out of the milling line. Colony coordinated joist selection with conveyor loads and heavy collateral loads typical of modern sawmill operations.
Our Open Web Steel Joist Process
- Step 1 – Load & Span Study: Engineers confirm snow, collateral, and point loads, then size steel joist systems for the optimal balance of span, depth, and cost.
- Step 2 – Procurement & Shop Drawings: Joists are ordered from CISC-member manufacturers with detailed shop drawings coordinated with the primary structural model.
- Step 3 – Delivery & Erection: Colony ironworkers install the joist system, bridging, and deck in tight coordination with the primary frame and roofing package.
Frequently Asked Questions
What spans can long-span steel joists achieve?
Standard open web steel joists routinely span 40-80 feet. Long-span steel joists and joist girders can reach 120 feet or more for specialized applications. Colony’s engineers select the most economical span-to-depth ratio for your loads and clear-height constraints.
What load ratings do open web steel joists carry?
Joists are available in load series from light-duty K-series up to heavy LH and DLH series rated for several thousand pounds per foot, plus joist girders for even heavier loads. Colony sizes each joist to the specific combination of dead, snow, collateral, and point loads on the roof.
What cost advantages do steel joist systems offer?
For typical long-span roofs, open web steel joists run 20-40% less than equivalent W-section framing. Joists also reduce crane time during erection and allow mechanical services to pass through the depth of the member, saving on ceiling height and MEP installation cost.
How long does installation take?
A well-coordinated crew can erect 15,000-25,000 square feet of open web joist roof framing per week. Colony’s ironworkers routinely hit these rates on warehouse and industrial projects across Western Canada, provided the primary frame is erected on schedule.
Ready to Start Your Open Web Steel Joist Project?
Send us your scope, schedule, and site details. A Colony estimator will review your project and reply within one business day.