Your Comprehensive Guide to Cutting Holes in TJI Joists

September 12, 2023 in Wood Products - #techtalk #trusjoist

In the fast-paced world of construction, even the smallest of errors can set back your timeline and budget. The most common mistakes often revolve around improperly cut holes in joists—errors that can lead to structural problems and costly delays.

Here are some resources to help eliminate those pain points.

 

Your On-site Companion

Having our bilingual allowable holes poster readily accessible on the jobsite ensures that everyone working on the jobsite from plumbers and electricians to HVAC experts are on the same page, minimizing the risk of costly mistakes. 

The printable poster serves as your quick-reference guide for allowable holes in TJI® Joists, TimberStrand®, Parallam®, and Microllam® headers and beams.

This guide now features a newly updated 24-inch wide rectangular hole for TJI Joists, simplifying the process of running HVAC equipment through joists.

Allowable Holes Guide

Expert Insights

For a deeper dive, check out our video where Trus Joist Weyerhaeuser territory manager, Steve Rudowsky goes in depth on proper hole placement. 

In this video Steve covers: 

  • Types of acceptable holes: square, round, grouped, rectangle
  • Common mistakes when drilling holes in TJI joists
  • Proper cutting techniques
  • Allowable hole locations, and how to identify no hole zones
  • Knockouts: small prepunched hole for convenient running of wires and plumbing supply lines
  • Resources for calculations


Precision with ForteWEB® Software

When your project requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach, ForteWEB® Software is your next step. This free, web-based software allows you to enter span and support conditions along with loading information and hole details to analyze conditions that go beyond what our literature covers. ForteWEB details specific conditions of your project, making it a must-have tool for those seeking unparalleled precision.

ForteWEB logo

Additional Resources

The following webpages and documents provide all the information you need to correctly size, locate, and cut holes in TJI joists. If you’re still unsure after reviewing this information, reach out to your regional Trus Joist representative with questions.

Making Repairs


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