PRODUCTS > CASTELLATED BEAMS
New Millennium offers FreeSpan™ castellated beams and cellular beams for a highly architectural and cost-effective structural option. The typically longer spans erect faster. Lighter framing reduces column and footing sizes. Web openings allow mechanical, electrical and plumbing to pass through. FreeSpan™ castellated and cellular beams can be left exposed for an aesthetic look.
Castellated and cellular beams are manufactured by cutting a hot rolled beam lengthwise, using computer controlled plasma arc torches, often in a half-circle or half hexagon pattern. The split halves are then offset and welded back together to form a deeper beam with full circular or hexagonal shaped web openings. The resulting beam is approximately 50% deeper and much stronger than the original hot rolled beam.
The depth of a simple, straight castellated or cellular beam can be highly customized as to appearance. The strength of a castellated beam can be precisely matched to the load. Castellated and cellular beams are readily available with either hexagonal or circular openings. An advantage of castellated beams and cellular beams is that they support long, clear spans often desired in office buildings, hospitals and parking garages.
Lighter beams can be used to span greater lengths, up to 100 feet and are ideal for parking garages in conjunction with metal decking. Lighter sections can be used for the top portion of the castellated beam and a heavier section on the bottom to further increase the capacity and reduce the weight.
Because the castellating process splits the beam into two flexible halves, it is easy to manufacture FreeSpan™ castellated and cellular beams with camber for floor applications. The beams can be assembled with the appropriate camber needed to offset the dead load deflection of the concrete slab.
Another FreeSpan™ beam design option is to combine a lighter upper half beam with a heavier lower half beam, which are cut from two separately produced beam sections. This works well as a subfloor steel beam supporting a concrete floor, as the studs can be welded to the top flange of the castellated beam to solidly anchor the concrete to the beam.
FreeSpan™ beams are made by cutting a hot rolled beam lengthwise, often using a circular or hexagonal pattern. The top and bottom pieces are staggered and welded together. The web openings accommodate the integration of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire suppression runs.
Joe Buntyn
District Sales Manager – Eastern U.S.
Direct: 772-530-0102
Chris Varner
District Sales Manager – Western U.S.
Main: 775-867-2130
Direct: 702-370-1222
Fax: 775-867-2140
Betty Corkwell
Engineering Manager
Direct: 260-868-6053
Fax: 260-868-6003
FreeSpan™ Literature
Download our steel castellated and cellular beams literature:
FreeSpan Beams Brochure (1.2mb pdf)
Castellated Beams Flyer (328kb pdf)
Material Safety Data Sheets
Download our steel castellated beams Material Safety Data Sheet
Castellated Beams MSDS (45kb pdf)
New Millennium Building Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of Steel Dynamics Inc.
