Structural terms

RSJ

RSJ stands for rolled steel joist, a traditional term often used for a steel beam supporting a wall, floor or opening. The exact section must be selected to suit the design.

People often ask for an RSJ when planning to remove a wall or open up a kitchen. In practice, the term does not tell a builder which steel section to install: a structural engineer must specify its shape, size, bearings and connections for the loads involved.

In an Edinburgh tenement or townhouse, the weight above an opening can include several floors and masonry walls. The arrangement of joists and neighbouring openings matters just as much as the width of the proposed opening.

An RSJ may also need temporary support during installation, suitable bearing at each end and an appropriate fire-resistant finish. The supporting calculations and any necessary approvals should be settled before structural work starts.

Property types

Commonly found in

Tenement Georgian Townhouse Victorian Villa Terraced House Traditional Cottage Georgian Flat Converted Flat Detached House Semi-detached House

Building glossary

Related building terms

Structural Opening Structural Alteration Steel Beam

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Related services

Structural Alterations

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