v3.

2
 GIRDER-SLAB SYSTEM / DESIGN GUIDE v3.2

07

v3.2

G IRD E R- SL AB
D E SI GN GUIDE v 3 .2
Mid to high-rise residential structures have traditionally used a cast-in-place reinforced
concrete structural system which offers such benefits as low floor to floor height and
fireproof construction. With similar benefits, low to mid-rise buildings often utilize bearing
wall systems supporting precast slabs. These structural systems are time consuming,
weather sensitive and labor intensive.

An innovative design with a conventional approach.

Girder-Slab Technologies, LLC set out to develop a more efficient structural steel based
framing system for mid and high-rise residential construction.

Utilizing proven materials that have long been used by the construction industry, the
Girder-Slab System is designed by the owners architect and structural engineer and
is available competitively from the builders customary steel fabricators.

The components of the system, structural steel (including the D-Beam Girder) and
precast hollow-core slabs, can be manufactured and supplied by many subcontractors
guaranteeing the owner competitive procurement of the buildings superstructure.

GIRDER-SLA B
DES I GN GU I DE V 3 .2 2
G IRD E R- SL AB
D E SI GN GUIDE v 3 .2
The D-Beam Girder
With practically an unlimited source of supply, the D-Beam Girder is manufactured
by your local steel fabricators as part of a complete structural steel package.

The D-Beam fabrication process begins with a standard wide flange section that
when uniquely cut through the web produces two identical T sections.

The fabricator then welds a flat bar to create the top flange resulting in two D-Beams
from one parent beam without waste.

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DES I GN GU I DE V 3 .2 4
G IRD E R- SL AB
D E SI GN GUIDE v 3 .2
The Girder-Slab System and the open web D-Beam technology are the result of more
than fifteen years of research and development. Early testing produced an ASD approach
for a rational design of the Girder-Slab System.

In order to develop a rational analysis that would maximize the use of this technology,
extensive laboratory testing and analysis was undertaken. This included both small-scale
specimens and full-scale assemblies in order to simulate actual bays. Each assembly was
load tested well above code required residential live loads. The D-Beam Girder performed
without failure even at these higher loads.

Recent, more sophisticated testing enabled us to develop an LRFD approach to the Girder-Slab Neutral Axis
System. Design Guide v3.1 LRFD improved upon the previously established structural and Slab
economical benefits of the Girder-Slab System. With simplicity in mind, new D-Beams Grout
have been introduced while others, less commonly used, have been eliminated. Steel

The Girder-Slab System integrates easily with lateral resisting steel braced frames, and
concrete or masonry shear walls.

GIRDER-SLA B
DES I GN GU I DE V 3 .2 6
G IRD E R- SL AB
D E SI GN GUIDE v 3 .2
Framing Plan W1
0

W1

Example
0

0
W1
HSS

STA W1
IR 0

2
DB8

W1

8
W1
BF
W1 W1
2 0
W1

8
2

DB
0
W1
DB8

0
W1
DB8

0
W1
W1
8
BF
0

W1
W1

0
W1
W1
8
BF

DB8

DB8
0
W1

W10
DB8

DB8
DB8

DB8
0
W1

W10

DB8

DB8
W1
8
BF
0
W1

W2
1
ELE
W10

V.
F
8 B

HSS
ELE
W1

V. W1
8
DB8 ELE BF
V.
1
W2

W2

W1
HSS 2
1
0

BF
W1

W1
W1

W1 2
2
W10

W1 STA
0 IR

W1 DB8
W1 8
0

W1
DB8

W1
W10

W1
DB8 indicates 8 D-Beam Girder Section
0

indicates 8 Precast Hollow-Core Slab

GIRDER-SLA B
DES I GN GU I DE V 3 .2 8
D-Beam
Dimensions
Web Average Depth Parent Web Flange Flange
Included Area Beam Size Thickness Thickness Width
Weight (d)
Designation
(tw) (tf) (bf) a b w t

(lb/ft) (in2) (in) (in) (in) (in) (in) (in) (in) (in)

DB 8 x 37 36.7 10.8 8 W 12 x 53 3/8 9/16 10 2 5 3 1

DB 8 x 39 39.2 11.5 8 W 12 x 58 3/8 5/8 10 1 3/4 5 1/4 3 1

DB 8 x 42 41.8 12.3 8 W 12 x 53 3/8 9/16 10 1 5 1/2 3 1 1/2

DB 8 x 45 44.3 13.0 8 W 12 x 58 3/8 5/8 10 3/4 5 3/4 3 1 1/2

DB 8 x 57 56.5 16.6 8 W 12 x 79 1/2 3/4 12 1/8 1 5/8 5 3/8 5 1

DB 8 x 61 60.8 17.9 8 W 12 x 79 1/2 3/4 12 1/8 1 1/8 5 5/8 5 1 1/4

DB 9 x 41 40.7 12.0 9 5/8 W 14 x 61 3/8 5/8 10 3 3/8 5 1/4 3 1

DB 9 x 45 44.2 13.0 9 3/4 W 14 x 68 7/16 3/4 10 3 1/2 5 1/4 3 1

DB 9 x 46 45.8 13.5 9 5/8 W 14 x 61 3/8 5/8 10 2 3/8 5 3/4 3 1 1/2

DB 9 x 48 47.2 13.9 9 13/16 W 14 x 74 7/16 13/16 10 1/8 3 1/2 5 5/16 3 1

DB 9 x 49 49.3 14.5 9 3/4 W 14 x 68 7/16 3/4 10 2 1/2 5 3/4 3 1 1/2

DB 9 x 52 52.3 15.4 9 13/16 W 14 x 74 7/16 13/16 10 1/8 2 1/2 5 13/16 3 1 1/2

DB 9 x 57 56.5 16.6 9 3/4 W 12 x 79 1/2 3/4 12 1/8 5 1/8 3 5/8 5 1

DB 9 x 65 65.0 19.1 9 3/4 W 12 x 79 1/2 3/4 12 1/8 4 1/8 4 1/8 5 1 1/2

G IRD E R- SL AB
D E SI GN GUIDE v 3 .2
D-Beam
Properties
Fy = 50 ksi

ASD ASD LRFD

9TH 14TH 14TH
Edition Edition Edition
Designation
Ix NAbot DB Sbot Stop Qtop bar PNAbot DB Z Mallow Mn/b bMn

(in4) (in) (in3) (in3) (in3) (in) (in3) (kip-ft) (kip-ft) (kip-ft)

DB 8 x 37 105 2.79 37.7 20.2 14.1 0.51 26.1 50.4 65.0 97.7

DB 8 x 39 108 2.69 40.3 20.4 14.4 0.55 26.5 51.0 66.2 99.5

DB 8 x 42 126 3.32 38.0 27.0 17.7 1.53 35.9 67.6 89.6 134.6

DB 8 x 45 131 3.21 40.8 27.4 18.2 0.85 36.7 68.5 91.5 137.5

DB 8 x 57 169 2.93 57.7 33.3 22.9 0.68 42.4 83.2 105.9 159.2

DB 8 x 61 188 3.22 58.2 39.2 26.0 0.73 50.8 98.1 126.6 190.3

DB 9 x 41 161 3.13 51.4 24.8 18.0 0.55 31.4 62.0 78.4 117.8

DB 9 x 45 173 2.92 59.1 25.3 19.0 0.62 32.6 63.3 81.3 122.2

DB 9 x 46 198 3.79 52.2 33.9 22.9 0.85 44.0 84.8 109.7 164.9

DB 9 x 48 179 2.83 63.1 25.6 19.5 0.65 33.0 63.9 82.4 123.8

DB 9 x 49 215 3.55 60.6 34.7 24.5 0.71 45.4 86.8 113.2 170.2

DB 9 x 52 224 3.44 65.0 35.2 25.3 0.74 45.9 87.9 114.5 172.0

DB 9 x 57 258 3.40 76.0 40.7 29.3 0.64 47.8 101.7 119.3 179.4

DB 9 x 65 314 4.10 76.6 55.7 36.7 0.84 68.1 139.2 170.0 255.5

GIRDER-SLA B
DES I GN GU I DE V 3 .2 10
 Sample
Calculations
LRFD
8 D-Beam DB 8 x 61 with 8 Hollow-Core

Note: Graphical representation only.

The online D-Beam Calculator Reference Tool v3.1 is intended for use
only with assemblies identical to S1 and S3 in Girder-Slab Design Guide v3.2.

G IRD E R- SL AB
D E SI GN GUIDE v 3 .2
LRFD
9 D-Beam DB 9 x 65 with 10 Hollow-Core

Note: Graphical representation only.

The online D-Beam Calculator Reference Tool v3.1 is intended for use
only with assemblies identical to S1 and S3 in Girder-Slab Design Guide v3.2.

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 GIRDER-SLA B
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 GIRDER-SLA B
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G IRD E R- SL AB
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 PRECAST CONCRETE PRECAST CONCRETE
D-BEAM SLAB D-BEAM SLAB
DB8 DB8
8

GROUT

8
GROUT

SPRAY
FIREPROOFING
(1) LAYER OPTIONAL OPTIONAL (REFER TO
GYPSUM GYPSUM BOARD & CROWN U.L. K912)
BOARD MOLDING
METAL STUD PARTITION
(REFER TO OPTIONAL
U.L. K912) GYPSUM BOARD &
METAL STUD PARTITION

PRECAST CONCRETE PRECAST CONCRETE

D-BEAM SLAB D-BEAM
DB8 SLAB
DB8
8

GROUT
8

GROUT

PIPING & STRUCTURAL,

MECHANICAL PIPING, &
CHASE
MECHANICAL
CHASE
11 1/4 11 1/4
MIN. MIN.

GIRDER-SLA B
DES I GN GU I DE V 3 .2 18
 SPECIFYING THE GIRDER-SLAB SYSTEM
TECHNOLOGY v3.2

The Girder-Slab System Design Guide v3.2 and technology is available for use by industry professionals.
Application and use of this information requires design by a registered professional structural engineer.

Structural Engineers are asked to add the following Girder-Slab System Specification Guide to the General
Notes section of their construction documents. The Specification Guide and the Typical System Structural
and Architectural Details are available in both CAD and PDF formats on the Design Team Resources page of
the Girder-Slab website. www.girder-slab.com

The Girder-Slab System and D-Beam Girder are available from your customary steel fabricators.
Fabrication, construction, and assembly shall be in conformance with the Girder-Slab System Design Guide
v3.2 specifications and details.

G IRD E R- SL AB
D E SI GN GUIDE v 3 .2
Fire Resistance Information
Fire Resistance Rating ANSI/UL 263
Design No. K912
April 19, 2001
Restrained Assembly Ratings 3 Hr.
Unrestrained Assembly Ratings 2 Hr.
Unrestrained Beam Ratings 2 Hr.

ALSO AVAILABLE IN CANADA

Summarized from UL #K912.

Please refer to the current online
Certifications Directory for
modifications or updates.

GIRDER-SLA B
DES I GN GU I DE V 3 .2 20
 The application and use of the Girder-Slab System technology requires
design by your registered professional engineer or architect. This Design
Guide provides engineering information and is available for use by industry
professionals.

Girder-Slab Technologies, LLC is a marketing company. We inform design

and construction professionals, supply design tools and details, and assist
the engineer of record on an as needed basis. Girder-Slab Technologies can
help you determine whether or not the Girder-Slab System will add value
to your project.

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 GIRDER-SLA B
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09 Gypsum Wall Board Ceiling 10 Eliminate Beam Penetrations

11 UL K912 12 Various Architectural Designs

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