Joist calculations are generally not required and are only submitted upon request. Joist and joist girder calculations sealed and signed by the joist manufacturer’s registered design professional should be submitted for jobs as stipulated in the ICC Chapter 1704.3.

IBC Chapter 2207.3 states “The registered design professional shall be permitted to require submission of the steel joist and joist girder calculations as prepared by the registered design professional responsible for the product design.” This section does not stipulate whether or not the joist product is considered and “Special Joist”.

There should be no issue with requesting that the joist supplier provide final calculations with the final, field use joist placement plans. The joist plans are always completed prior to the joist calculations and there is generally a lag time, depending on the size of the job, between completion of the final joist plans and the final joist calculations. However, most joist manufacturers will issue the final joist plans and calculations at about the same time.

Joist calculations are generally not required. All of the design information is included on the final placement plan. The calculation requirement is based on the project requirements established by the Engineer of Record with consideration given to the requirements given in the building code. IBC Chapter 2207.3 states “The registered design professional shall be permitted to require submission of the steel joist and joist girder calculations as prepared by the registered design professional responsible for the product design.” This allows the project’s EOR to request sealed and signed calculations for the joists and Joist Girders for any project. It is recommended that the EOR include the requirement to submit joist calculations in the Joist and Joist Girder Specifications on the structural drawings.

If calculations are required, they should be final or “as built” calculations.  Any approval requirement verification should be done on the approval drawing.