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Participant

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H-Beam Square Footage

01/26/2009 12:43 PM

How to measure the surface square footage of 8-ft x 12-ft H-Beam. I am trying to find out how much industrial coatings I will need to paint support beams for some chemical tanks. I believe that there is a formula for figuring out the square footage of an H Beam for this purpose, but I don't know what it is. Any help?

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#1

Re: How do I measure the surface square footage of a 8ft x 12" H Beam?

01/26/2009 1:22 PM

Section perimeter x length

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#2

Re: How do I measure the surface square footage of a 8ft x 12" H Beam?

01/26/2009 2:13 PM

Would that be 8" wide flange by 96" web???

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#3
In reply to #2

Re: How do I measure the surface square footage of a 8ft x 12" H Beam?

01/26/2009 6:44 PM

... or even 96" wide flange by 144" web??? (sorry, Bill !), also, how long? Dam' big H-beam !

cmwitte, please spell it out a bit better, if you want someone else to do your calculations. Alternatively, follow nick name's advice, & work it out yourself. Nice to meet new folks on CR4, but you've got to help yourself so we can help you.

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#11
In reply to #3

Re: How do I measure the surface square footage of a 8ft x 12" H Beam?

01/28/2009 11:48 AM

By the way JohnDG...I didn't ask anyone to do the job or calculations for me. I knew there was more to the measurement than what I was sent but never had the occasion to use the formula before, and the project I was bidding on is out of town. I "spelled it out" with all the information I was given. My inquiry was how to measure the beam, which is part of what this forum is for, not to ask someone to do it for me. If you needed more info, or suspected that there may be more, then ask for it instead of making suggestions that I'm not helping myself.

To those of you who inquired if there was more information, thank you for your professionalism. I will keep this site available to my company because it has been very helpful, for the most part.

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#4
In reply to #2

Re: How do I measure the surface square footage of a 8ft x 12" H Beam?

01/26/2009 9:38 PM

I am attempting this sight unseen. A contractor sent me only these dimensions to figure the surface square footage for a fire proof coating. The beams are 8ft long and 12"wide. The 12 inch width is viewed from one side. Is it possible to estimate the sq footage with this info? I was told at one time to estimate the beams as 6 sq ft per linear foot which would make the sq footage 48 sq ft per beam.

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#5
In reply to #4

Re: How do I measure the surface square footage of a 8ft x 12" H Beam?

01/27/2009 1:46 AM

That'll be about right, as roughly speaking you have 3 plates, each 12" wide, giving 6 surfaces to paint, each 1ft wide. 6ft (linear, around the profile) x the length, 8ft, gives 48 sq ft per beam.

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#6
In reply to #4

Re: How do I measure the surface square footage of a 8ft x 12" H Beam?

01/27/2009 2:51 AM

If you can get your hands on a catalogue of beam properties , there is generally a column in the section properties that gives surface area per foot. It is specifically for the painting or galvanising estimations.

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#7

Re: H-Beam Square Footage

01/27/2009 3:28 AM

Hello cmwitte,

welcome.

I have not found a formulae. But, take a shoe lace or thin string. 'Finger' it directly around the surface of the beam that will give one measurement. Measure the length, and, Hi Presto you have the answer. This is so simple, why mess will formulae and possible get it wrong?

Out of interest, what is the coating and is it so expensive you need to work it out to the last mm?

Hey, only joking, and I am still looking. I am getting tired at the moment but will check this out again when I wake from my slumber!

Take care....................and good measuring!

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#8

Re: H-Beam Square Footage

01/27/2009 6:06 AM

Hello cmwitte,

http://www.aisc.org/content.aspx?id=2960

This is to work out the surface areas of all beams used in a build.

Click on the areas and you can choose to download this zipped file. You need Macros on , but it will take you through that.

The site has all the calculations of all the beam sizes, deflection and all beam shapes. I have not seen anything like this before so I will leave it up to you to play around with it.

http://uk.ask.com/web?qsrc=2&o=10000535&l=dis&q=surface+area+for+I+beam&dm=all

This is a site with specific Beam calcs or formulae. The links below are on the site above

Related Searches Steel I Beam Load Specifications Steel I Beam Spans I beam Strength I Beam Capacities Wood I Beam Span Steel I Beam Explanation Steel Beam Size Chart Steel Beam Load Charts Steel Beam Loading Chart Steel Beam Weight Load Determination Steel Beam Calculation Beam Safe Load Tables

Good luck and please let me know, anyone, let me know, if this is a useful tool to you, OK?

Take care........................

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#9

Re: H-Beam Square Footage

01/27/2009 8:38 AM

Thanks so much for everyone's help...I've received more response than I expected. Your help confirming the size of the interior plates especially helped me to confirm my estimates. The fireproofing has to have a 2 hour burn rating which requires it to be applied much heavier per sq foot than usual. With 4 beams supporting each tank section there appears to be 292 sq feet per tank area. With 36 tanks that estimates approximately 6600 sq ft total area. Because this coating has to be applied so thick, it will only be applied at 3 to 4 sq ft per gallon. That comes to over 150 thousand dollars worth of material. You can.now understand my concer n for accuracy in measurement. Thanks again for everyone's help.

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#10
In reply to #9

Re: H-Beam Square Footage

01/27/2009 6:59 PM

Hello cmwitte,

Thanks for replying with the info on the fire proofing paint and why you had to be as accurate as possible, due to the cost!

I certainly would not like that painting job! Must be like painting with treacle?

Take care......................

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