Low self-weight of roof and floor construction, allowing smaller columns and foundations
Increased bay dimensions, thereby reducing the number of joists and columns and simplifying building erection
Greater floor plan layout flexibility
Maximum ceiling height due to installation of ducts through the joist web systems
Easy adaptation to acoustical insulation systems
Floor and roof composition having long-term resistance to fire (as established by the Underwriters Laboratories)
CAL introduced locally-produced open web steel joists and floor decking last year, answering the call for a more economical and efficient way of facilitating the construction process, according to the company.
CAL is the only company in the region that custom-designs, fabricates and supplies open web steel joists, he says.

Open-web steel joists offer substantial weight and cost savings and are ideal for floors and roofs in all types of buildings, whether steel or concrete, the spokesman says. The Canam joist system for flooring and roofing construction has proven to be the most effective solution when compared with other systems. Canam joists can be economically used for long column-free spans due to their high load-bearing-capacity-to-weight ratio, offering more open interior space.

Open web steel joists represent unitised construction and can be installed immediately on arrival at a job site, as no forming, pouring, curing or stripping is required. This, combined with their lightweight nature, ensures a fast and simple erection procedure. Moreover, the erection and bridging of the joists with ends fixed  creates a working platform for the immediate follow up of allied trades, thereby enabling field work to be progressed rapidly and efficiently, he explains.

The spokesman continues: The benefits don't stop there: the truss-like configuration of the steel joists (opening in the web) allows the passage and concealment of pipes, ducts and electric conduits within the depth of the floor. This eliminates the need for extra height inside the buildings and reduces again the overall cost. In addition, open web steel joists in combination with other materials can provide fire resistive assemblies for nearly any hourly rating required.

CAL has been associated with several prestigious projects, because of the benefits the system has to offer. The projects include commercial centres such as the 'Panda' project in Riyadh and 'the First Finance' project in Qatar; high-rise buildings such as the 'Charles DeGaulle' project in Romania; low rise buildings such as 'The World Trade and Business Centre' in the UAE, as well as various other projects in different countries, he says.
Dammam-based ZIIC is participating at this year's Big 5 show and will feature several of its latest systems.