beam and girder framing

construction

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

In construction, a beam is a horizontal structural element that spans an opening and supports a load. This load can be a wall, floor, or roof. When beams carry the ends of other beams, they are called girders. Girders are main supporting beams that handle concentrated vertical loads. Beams and girders can be made from various materials, including wood, steel, and concrete. Modern steel girders are often I-shaped for greater stiffness and to span longer distances.12

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construction
Concrete
The oldest is the beam and girder system, whose form was derived from wood and steel construction: slabs rest on beams, beams rest on girders, and girders rest on columns in a regular pattern. This system needs much handmade timber formwork, and in economies where labor is expensive other…
Read More
The oldest is the beam and girder system, whose form was derived from wood and steel construction: slabs rest on beams, beams rest on girders, and girders rest on columns in a regular pattern. This system needs much handmade timber formwork, and in economies where labor is expensive other…
Read More