SS-05 SS-05

STRUT SYSTEMS

B-LINE STRUT SYSTEMS

Cable Tray

Spring Steel
Fasteners

Pipe
Hangers Telecom
Equipment
Supports

Electrical
Anchors
Enclosures

Customer Service
Address: Cooper B-Line Cooper B-Line Canada
509 West Monroe Street 5925 McLaughlin Road
Highland, IL 62249 Mississauga, Ontario Canada L5R 1B8
Phone: 800-851-7415 800-569-3660
Fax: 618-654-1917 888-753-3355
www.cooperbline.com
S
S
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
-
““
B-VOCAL SSMM
0
with B-Line ”
5
Voice Of the Customer...Actively Listening
[email protected]
SYSTEMS THAT MAKE SENSE
618-654-2184 ext. 456
SYSTEMS THAT MAKE SENSE

© 2005 Cooper B-Line Printed in U.S.A. 501105

INTRODUCTION

Cooper B-Line, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and fabricator of steel and

aluminum products which are used in support of equipment for industrial,
commercial, utility, and OEM installations. Cooper B-Line is proud of the
exacting standards of research, design, engineering, and manufacturing that
go into each and every product that comprise our metal framing product
line. Our customers have access to the most complete support systems
offered in the industry, including metal framing, cable tray, pipe hangers,
slotted angle, and fasteners.

Many of Cooper B-Line’s products are listed by the Underwriter’s

Laboratories, Inc. All Cooper B-Line products are manufactured to meet
or exceed MFMA and other industry standards set for their design and
manufacture.
Enclosures Metering
The majority of Cooper B-Line products are produced in four modern
plants consisting of approximately 900,000 square feet. These facilities
are located in Highland, Illinois; Troy, Illinois; Reno, Nevada; and
Sherman, Texas. Regional sales and distribution centers are located
throughout the United States stocking standard Cooper B-Line products
for quick service and delivery.

This catalog is designed to be helpful to engineers and contractors in

the application and selection of strut products for construction and
maintenance.

If a unique application requires a special product not included in this

catalog. Cooper B-Line engineering personnel are ready to furnish design
consultation and realistic cost estimates. In addition, sales representatives
with engineering know-how are located throughout the United States and
abroad for your convenience.

Telecom CommData RCM+ (Rack Cable Manager) E2 Cabinets

Cooper B-Line, Inc.

509 West Monroe Street
Highland, Illinois 62249-0326
Phone: 800-851-7415
www.cooperbline.com

© 2005 Cooper B-Line

Wire Basket Seismic
NEW PRODUCTS
B-LINE C-PORT
ROOFTOP SUPPORTS
Pgs. 136-138

CR - Series CE - Series
CXP C - Series

C6 - Series
CS - Series

CB - Series

Made from 100% Recycled Tires

CLDP10

ARMAFIX® CLAMPS
& ACCESSORIES
Pg. 120
Stop
Condensation
Leaks

Armaflex® Insulation Tape

Clamp & Insert Assembly

Includes: Insert, Clamp, and Hardware

Insert Only
Used with B-Line Pipe Hangers
(Sold Separately)

I
 NEW PRODUCTS
KWIKWIRE™ & ACCESSORIES
Pg. 57

KwikWire™ KwikPak™
Wire Rope (Includes clamps & wire rope)

KwikWire™ Clamps KwikWire™ Cutter Air Duct Corner Protector

AHHK-1/4 & AHHK-3/8 HOT RODS™

AIR HANDLER HANGING KIT Pg. 56
Pg. 205

II
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
BTS22TH B22SHA BK__H112
TELESCOPING CHANNEL SLOTTED BACK-TO-BACK CHANNEL WITH 9/16” HOLES
Pg. 38 & 39 CHANNEL ON 11/2” CENTERS & CUTTING
Pg. 41 MARKS ON 11/2” CENTERS
Pg. 42

B__S58, B__M, B__H25 DCN3/8 B650

CHANNELS CONVEYOR NUT SEISMIC RETROFIT BRACKET
Pg. 42 & 43 Pg. 52 Pg. 70

BxxS58

BxxM

BxxH25

UTILITY POLE BRACKET

Pgs. 90 & 91
B810
B802D
B852S-W-D

B812

B809B
B816

III
 PRODUCT SHOWCASE
PLASTIC END CAPs P CLAMPS
Pgs. 96 & 97 O.D. SIZE .250”-2.750”
B823 Pg. 117
Series

B825
B852 Series

B822A

VIBRACLAMP® BVS-12 & BVS-120 B2417 & B2417-CT

O.D. SIZE 1/4”-61/8” VIBRA STRIP FOR 15/8” WIDE STRUT MOUNTED PIPE GUIDE
PIPE SIZE 1/4”-6” CHANNEL Pg. 123
Pg. 118-119 Pg. 121

Stainless Steel & Aluminum Fiberglass Slotted Angle

Pgs. 154-159 Pgs. 160-177 Pgs. 200-205

IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Technical Data
Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Finishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Welding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Corrosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Design of Strut Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Recommended Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Channel & Combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-37
Channel Hole Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-43
Channel Hole Punch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Channel Nuts & Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-56
KwikWire™ & Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Fittings
Flat Plate Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59-61
90° Angle Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62-67
Angular Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68-70
Braces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Clevis Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
U-Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73-76
Z-Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77-79
Wing Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-82
Post Bases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83-84
Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85-91
Miscellaneous Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92-97
Mechanical Accessories
Beam Clamps & Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99-109
Pipe Clamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-117
Vibra Clamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118-119
Armafix® Clamps & Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Vibra Cushions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Pipe Clamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122-126
Pipe Hangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127-128
Pipe Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Pipe Rollers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130-135
Rooftop Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136-138
Electrical Accessories
Selection Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Fluorescent Fixture Hangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142-144
Electrical Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145-146
Junction Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Strut Joiners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148-149
Electrical Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Porcelain Clamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151-152
Maple Clamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152-154
Special Materials & Fiberglass
Aluminum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155-157
Stainless Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158-159
Fiberglass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161-177
Mini Channel & Fittings
Mini Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179-180
Mini Channel Nuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Mini Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181-189
Econo-Strut & Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Continuous Concrete Inserts
Continuous Inserts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193-196
Spot Inserts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Insert Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Anchors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Slotted Angle
Slotted Angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201-204
Slotted Angle Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Reference Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-215
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216-223
Other Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224

1
 INTRODUCTION
B-Line’s metal framing support system is designed with many time-saving features. They are fully adjustable and
reusable, with a complete line of channels, fittings and accessories for multi-purpose applications.

• No Welding

• No Drilling

• Use Your Imagination

B-Line metal framing installs quickly. There is no

need for special tools. All you need is a wrench
and hacksaw. Channels and parts can be taken
apart for reuse as quickly as they were assembled,
yet they provide the strength of welded construction.
Eliminating welding and drilling produces substantial
savings in time and labor.

1. Tite-Grip channel nut may be 2. A 90 degree turn aligns channel nut

inserted anywhere along continuous grooves with inturned lips of the
slot. Designed for easy insertion and channel.
self-alignment.

3. Position fitting over channel nut and insert bolt to 4. With the twist of a wrench, channel
start any connection. nut locks its teeth firmly against
inturned lips.

2
INTRODUCTION
B-Line’s Metal Framing system provides an
economical solution for electrical, mechanical
and industrial supports with an unlimited
variety of applications in the construction
industry.

Metal Framing Electrical Applications

• Lighting Fixture Supports
• Raceway Systems
• Trapeze Hangers
• Pipe & Conduit Supports
• Cable Tray Supports
• Beam Adjustments

Metal Framing Mechanical Applications

• Piping Racks
• Tunnel Pipe Stanchions
• Concrete Inserts
• Beam Attachments
• Pipe Risers

Metal Framing Industrial Applications

• Racks and Shelving
• Partitions
• Production Line Supports
• Trolley Systems
• Wall Framing

3
 TECHNICAL DATA
MATERIALS environments. More specific information Some common types of environments where
concerning the differences between types Vinyl Ester Resins are recommended, that
Carbon Steel 304 and 316 is available from B-Line. Poly Esters are not, are paper mills, most any
Channels made from high-quality carbon metal plating operation and any condition
steel are continuously roll formed to precise Aluminum with concentrated levels of Chlorine, [ Cl- ].
dimensions. By cold working the steel, B-Line’s standard aluminum channel is Please consult our fiberglass corrosion resis-
mechanical properties are increased, allow- extruded from aluminum alloy 6063-T6. tance charts on pg. 173 for specific chemical
ing lightweight structures to carry the Strut fittings are made from aluminum alloy recommendation data.
required load. Corrosion resistance of carbon 5052-H32.
steel varies widely with coating and alloy. Unlike other base materials depicted in this
See “Finishes” for more detailed informa- The high strength to weight ratio of channel catalog, fiberglass exhibits unique physical
tion. made of aluminum greatly reduces the over- property changes when operating in elevated
all cost of installation through ease of han- temperature conditions, that are a fraction of
Stainless Steel dling and field cutting. increase compared to steel or aluminum.
Stainless steel channel is available in AISI This being true, B-Line advises against using
Type 304 or 316 material. Both are non-mag- Aluminum owes its excellent corrosion resis- fiberglass in temperatures greater than
netic and belong to the austenitic stainless tance to its ability to form an aluminum 200° F.
steels group, based on alloy content and crys- oxide film that immediately reforms when
tallographic structure. Like carbon steel, scratched or cut. In most outdoor applica- Please refer to the "Corrosion Resistance
stainless steel exhibits increased strength tions, aluminum has excellent resistance to Guide" below for specific applications.
when cold worked by roll-forming. “weathering”. The resistance to chemicals,
indoor or outdoor, can best be determined by B-Line Fiberglass Strut systems are manufac-
Several conditions make the use of stainless tests conducted by the user with exposure to tured from glass fiber-reinforced plastic shapes
steel ideal. These include reducing long term the specific conditions for which it is intend- that meet ASTM E-84, Class 1 Flame Rating
maintenance costs, high ambient tempera- ed. The corrosion resistance of aluminum to and self-extinguishing requirements of ASTM
tures, appearance, and stable structural prop- some commonly known chemicals is shown D-635. A surface veil is applied during pultru-
erties such as yield strength, and high creep in the Corrosion Chart. For further informa- sion to insure a resin-rich surface and ultravio-
strength. tion, contact B-Line Systems, Inc. or the let resistance.
Aluminum Association.
Type 304 resists most organic chemicals, While polyester is sufficient for most uses,
dyestuffs and a wide variety of inorganic Fiberglass vinyl ester is suitable for a broader range of
chemicals at elevated or cryogenic tempera- B-Line offers two fire retardant (FR) resins environments.
tures. Type 316 contains slightly more nickel for strut systems, polyester and vinyl ester.
and adds molybdenum to give it better corro- Both resins are ideal for corrosive environ-
sion resistance in chloride and sulfuric acid ments or nonconductive applications with
moderate strength requirements.

6
01A
874 B-Line Steel Strut is stamped with:
6
SS
2
B2 Traceable to the steel’s origin
ine
B -L Material/Finish
B-Line part number designation
Company Name

4
TECHNICAL DATA
FINISHES Chromium/ Zinc Hot Dip Galvanized After Fabrication
Chromium/ Zinc is a corrosion resistant (Hot dip galvanized or batch hot dip
Zinc Coatings composition, which was developed to protect galvanized)
Zinc protects steel in two ways. First it pro- fasteners and small bulk items for automo- Hot dip galvanized strut products are fabri-
tects the steel as a coating and second as a tive use. The coating applications have since cated from steel and then completely
sacrificial anode to repair bare areas such as been extended to larger parts and other mar- immersed in a bath of molten zinc. A metal-
cut edges, scratches, and gouges. The corro- kets. lic bond occurs resulting in a zinc coating
sion protection of zinc is directly related to that completely coats all surfaces, including
its thickness and the environment. This Chromium/Zinc composition is an aqueous edges and welds.
means a .2 mil coating will last twice as long coating dispersion containing chromium,
as a .1 mil coating in the same environment. proprietary organics, and zinc flake. Another advantage of this method is coating
thickness. Strut products that are hot dip gal-
Galvanizing also protects cut and drilled edges. This finish provides 500 hours protection in vanized after fabrication have a minimum
salt spray testing per ASTM B117. thickness of 1.50 ounces per square foot on
each side, or a total 3.0 ounces per square
Zn Pre-Galvanized Zinc foot of steel, according to ASTM A123.
(Mill galvanized, hot dip mill galvanized or
ZnFe continuous hot dip galvanized) Pre-galva- The zinc thickness is controlled by the
Fe ZnO nized steel is produced by coating coils of amount of time each part is immersed in the
sheet steel with zinc by continuously rolling molten zinc bath as well as the speed at
the material through molten zinc at the mills. which it is removed. The term "double dip-
This is also known as mill galvanized or hot ping" refers to parts too large to fit into the
dip mill galvanized. These coils are then slit galvanizing kettle and, therefore, must be
Electrogalvanized Zinc to size and fabricated by roll forming, shear- dipped one end at a time. It does not refer to
Electrogalvanized Zinc (also known as zinc ing, punching, or forming to produce B-Line extra coating thickness.
plated or electroplated) is the process by pre-galvanized strut products.
which a coating of zinc is deposited on the The layer of zinc which bonds to steel pro-
steel by electrolysis from a bath of zinc salts. The G90 specification calls for a coating of vides a dual protection against corrosion. It
.90 ounces of zinc per square foot of steel. protects first as an overall barrier coating. If
A rating of SC3, B-Line’s standard, provides This results in a coating of .45 ounces per this coating happens to be scratched or
a minimum zinc coating thickness of .5 mils square foot on each side of the sheet. This is gouged, zinc's secondary defense is called
(excluding hardware, which is SC1 = .2 important when comparing this finish to hot upon to protect the steel by galvanic action.
mils). dip galvanized after fabrication.
Hot-Dip Galvanized After Fabrication is rec-
When exposed to air and moisture, zinc During fabrication, cut edges and welded ommended for prolonged outdoor exposure
forms a tough, adherent, protective film con- areas are not normally zinc coated; however, and will usually protect steel for 20 years or
sisting of a mixture of zinc oxides, hydrox- the zinc near the uncoated metal becomes a more in most atmospheric environments and
ides, and carbonates. This film is in itself a sacrificial anode to protect the bare areas in many industrial environments. For best
barrier coating which slows subsequent cor- after a short period of time. results, a zinc rich paint (available from B-
rosive attack on the zinc. This coating is Line) should be applied to field cuts. The
usually recommended for indoor use in rela- zinc rich paint will provide immediate pro-
tively dry areas, as it provides ninety-six tection for these areas and eliminate the short
hours protection in salt spray testing per time period for galvanic action to “heal” the
ASTM B117. damaged coating.

Anticipated Life of Zinc Coatings In Various Atmospheric Environments

40
36 Hot Dip Galvanized = Zinc Coating 1.50 Oz./Ft.2 (.0026” Thick)
Pre-Galvanized = Zinc Coating 0.45 Oz./Ft.2 (.00075” Thick)
30 29

Life 25
in 21
Years 20 18

10 8 11
10
7 6 5
3

Rural Tropical Temperature Suburban Urban Highly

Marine Marine Industrial
Environment

5
 TECHNICAL DATA
Dura-Green® and Dura-Copper® and Fittings, UL5” and “Standard for Pipe ride), applied over steel or aluminum channel
Epoxy Coatings Hanger Equipment for Fire Protection and fittings. The PVC coating process begins
Dura-Green and Dura-Copper epoxy coat- Service, UL203” and meets or exceeds all by cleaning the product thoroughly. A bond-
ings are water borne epoxy coatings applied requirements of Federal Specification TT-C- ing coat is applied to the part and then pre-
to B-Line products by a precisely controlled 490B Paragraph 3. heated to a temperature above the melting
cathodic electro-deposition process. This point of the coating powder. The product is
process is accomplished using a conveyor to Due to Dura-Green’s organically based com- then passed through a fluidized bed of vinyl
transport channel and fittings through sever- position, it seats itself into porous surfaces plastic powder where the powder particles
al cleaning, phosphatizing and application more completely and efficiently than zinc melt, adhere and flow out to form a smooth
stages prior to being baked (See diagram coatings. As these porous caverns are filled continuous coating. The thickness is con-
below). along the material profile, the outer finished trolled by the base metal temperature and the
surface demonstrates an increased smooth immersion time in the bed. It is then post-
This custom-designed paint system is used uniform plane which produces considerably heated to complete the fusion of the outer
for painting all channels, channel combina- less off-gasing when tested. surfaces.
tions, slotted angle, and fittings.
B-Line’s Dura-Green channel meets or The standard coating thickness of B-Line’s
Samples are selected on a routine basis for exceeds 100 level clean room standards. This PVC coated products is 15 mils (.380 mm),
Salt Spray (fog) testing to verify the quality was confirmed by testing the channel in plus or minus 5 mils (.125 mm). Since the
of the finish. These tests are performed in accordance with Boeing (PCL) Standards, chemistry, not the thickness of vinyl plastic
accordance with ASTM B117 and evaluated which are more stringent and complete than PVC determines longevity, a coating of 10 to
and related according to ASTM D1654 ASTM E595-93. Dura-Green was found to 20 mils (.250 to .500 mm) is more than ade-
(Tables 1 & 2). be a superior finish, due in part to its proven quate. If the corrosive conditions are such
application process. that the plasticizers are leeched out, a thicker
The Dura-Green and Dura-Copper Epoxy coating will do little to extend the life of a
coatings have been tested and listed by PVC Coating coated product.
Underwriters Laboratories in accordance Another of the corrosion resistant coatings
with “Standard for Surface Metal Raceway offered by B-Line is PVC (polyvinyl chlo- For certain environments, a plastisol dipped
PVC coating is available on request.
SALT SPRAY TEST RESULTS
PVC coating depends totally on the concept
Unscribed Scribed 1/8” (3.2) Creepage of encapsulation attached to the base metal
Type of Finish 5% Failure (1) from Scribe (1) by a bonding agent. If any hole or disconti-
B-Line Epoxy(2) 612 Hours 312 Hours nuity occurs, the corrosive action can under-
Mill Galv. (Pre-Galv.) G90 192 Hours 288 Hours cut the base metal to a point where all that
remains is the PVC.
Perma-Green 438 Hours 231 Hours
Zinc Chromate 36 Hours 96 Hours In the event of field cuts or any other damage
Industry Green (Range) 10 to 36 Hours 4 to 30 Hours to the coating, a liquid PVC patch, available
(1) All salt spray (fog) tests conducted in accordance with ASTM B117 and evaluated and rated from B-Line, must be applied to maintain the
according to ASTM D1654 Tables 1 & 2. Tests are performed and certified by an independent integrity of the coating. After the installation
testing laboratory. is complete, a thorough inspection should be
(2) Dura-Green and Dura-Copper finishes meet or exceed all requirements of Federal Specification performed to assure the absence of voids,
TT-C-490B Paragraph 3. pinholes, or cuts.

DURA-GREEN®/DURA-COPPER® EPOXY COATING PROCESS

TANK 1 TANK 2 TANK 3 TANK 4 TANK 5 TANK 6 TANK 7 TANK 8 BAKE OVEN
The channel A rinse is A phosphatized The material A pre-deionized The electro- The first post The final rinse The curing
and parts are applied to sealer is applied moves through rinse prepares coating tank rinse removes insures a process takes 20
thoroughly remove insol- to insure corro- clear water rinse the metal for the applies a uni- any unelectri- smooth, non- minutes at a
cleaned and uble salts and sion resistance to remove excess cathodic electro- form coat of cally attracted blemish surface. baking temperature
phosphatized. unreacted and paint phosphates. coating. epoxy paint to solids. of 375° F (199° C).
phosphates. adhesion. the entire
surface.

6
TECHNICAL DATA
WELDING the most important advantages in specifying a weld process other than automatic spot
B-Line back-to-back channel. Variables such welding. The same quality control require-
The welding procedures used in the fabrica- as weld sequence, speed and duration are ments are imposed on MIG welded and spot-
tion of B-Line steel products are in accor- carefully controlled and monitored by a welded products.
dance with American Welding Society sophisticated electronic control system. A
Standards. To achieve the highest quality in statistical quality control program, combin- Quality Assurance
our manufacturing processes, our welders ing destructive and non-destructive testing, B-Line System’s Quality Assurance Program
follow standards set by AWS Code. is used by B-Line to ensure high quality has been developed and implemented for
welds. compliance to 10CFR50 appendix B and
Spot Welding NQA-1. B-Line also complies with various
Spot welded back-to-back channel is manu- MIG Welding industry standards and specifications. B-Line
factured using a modern DC powered resis- MIG welded, more properly called gas metal has extensive experience in supplying metal
tance welder controlled by a microprocessor. arc welded (GMAW) combination channels framing components for the nuclear power
This produces a series of spot welds with and fittings, are produced when physical generating industry and complies with
speed and consistency. Consistency is one of dimensions or certain combinations require 10 CFR21.

Spot Weld Mig Weld

7
 TECHNICAL DATA
CORROSION GALVANIC SERIES IN SEA WATER
All metal surfaces are affected by corrosion.
Depending on the physical properties of the
Anodic End
Magnesium
metal and the environment to which it is
Magnesium Alloys
exposed, chemical or electromechanical cor-
Zinc
rosion may occur.
Beryllium
Aluminum - Zinc Alloys (7000 series)
Atmospheric Corrosion
Aluminum - Magnesium Alloys (5000 series)
Atmospheric corrosion occurs when metal is
exposed to airborne liquids, solids or gases. Aluminum (1000 series)
Some sources of atmospheric corrosion are Aluminum - Magnesium Alloys (3000 series)
moisture, salt, dirt and sulphuric acid. This Aluminum - Magnesium - Silicon Alloys (6000 series)
form of corrosion is typically more severe Cadmium
outdoors, especially near marine environ- Aluminum - Copper Alloys (2000 series)
ments. Cast Iron, Wrought Iron, Mild Steel
Austenitic Nickel Cast Iron
Chemical Corrosion Type 410 Stainless Steel (active)
Chemical corrosion takes place when metal Type 316 Stainless Steel (active)
comes in direct contact with a corrosive solu- Type 304 Stainless Steel (active)
tion. Some factors which affect the severity Naval Brass, Yellow Brass, Red Brass
of chemical corrosion include: chemical con- Tin
More Anodic

centration level, duration of contact, frequen- Copper

cy of washing, and operating temperature. Lead-Tin Solders
Admiralty Brass, Aluminum Brass
Storage Corrosion Manganese Bronze
Wet storage stain (white rust) is caused by Silicon Bronze
the entrapment of moisture between surfaces Tin Bronze
of closely packed and poorly ventilated Type 410 Stainless Steel (passive)
material for an extended period. Wet storage Nickel - Silver
stain is usually superficial, having no affect Copper Nickel Alloys
on the properties of the metal. Lead
Nickel - Aluminum Bronze
Light staining normally disappears with Silver Solder
weathering. Medium to heavy buildup Nickel 200
should be removed in order to allow the for- Silver
mation of normal protective film. Proper Type 316 Stainless Steel (passive)
handling and storage will help to assure Type 304 Stainless Steel (passive)
stain-free material. If product arrives wet, it Incoloy 825
should be unpacked and dried before storage. Hastelloy B
Dry material should be stored in a well ven-
Titanium
tilated “low moisture” environment to avoid
Hastelloy C
condensation formation. Outdoor storage is
Platinum
undesirable, and should be avoided whenev-
Graphite
er possible.
Cathodic End
Galvanic Corrosion Metals in descending order of activity in the presence of an electrolyte.
Galvanic corrosion occurs when two or more
dissimilar metals are in contact in the pres- 1. The relative position on the Galvanic
ence of an electrolyte (ie. moisture). An Series Table - the further apart materials are
electrolytic cell is created and the metals in the Galvanic Series Table, the greater the
form an anode or a cathode depending on potential for corrosion of the anodic materi-
their relative position on the Galvanic Series al.
Table. The anodic material will be the one to
corrode. Anodic or cathodic characteristics 2. The amount and concentration of elec-
of two dissimilar metals will depend on the trolyte present - an indoor, dry environment
type of each material. For example: If zinc will have little or no galvanic corrosion com-
and steel are in contact, the zinc acts as the pared to a wet atmosphere.
anode and will corrode; the steel acts as the
cathode, and will be protected. If steel and3. The relative size of the materials - a small
copper are in contact, the steel is now the amount of anodic material in contact with a
anode and will corrode. large cathodic material will result in greater
corrosion. Likewise, a large anode in contact
The rate at which galvanic corrosion occurs with a small cathode will decrease the rate of
depends on several factors: attack.

8
TECHNICAL DATA
Type 304 Type 316 Zinc
Chemical Aluminum Dura-Green PVC Stainless Stainless Coated Steel
Acetic Acid 10% R NR R R R NR
Acetic Acid 2% R F R R R NR
Acetone R R NR R R R
Ammonium Hydroxide-Conc. R R R R R –
Ammonium Hydroxide 10% F R R R R –
Ammonium Hydroxide 2% R R R R R –
Benzene R R NR R R –
Bromine Water NR R R NR NR –
Butanol (Butyl Alcohol) R R R R R R
Carbon Disulfide R R NR R R –
Carbon Tetrachloride F R F R R –
Chlorine Water R R R NR F R
Cutting Oil – R – – – –
Diethanolamine R R NR – – NR
Ethanol R R R R R R
Ethyl Acetate R R NR – – R
Ethylene Dichloride F R NR – – R
Formaldehyde 20% R R R R R R
Gasoline R R R R R R
Glycerine R R R R R R
Household Detergent 10% F R R R R –
Hydrochloric Acid 40% NR NR R NR NR NR
Hydrochloric Acid 10% NR F – NR NR NR
Hydrochloric Acid 2% NR F – NR NR NR
Hydrogen Peroxide 30% R NR R R R –
Hydrogen Peroxide 3% R R – R R –
Hydrogen Sulfide (Gas) R R R F R –
JP-4 Jet Fuel R R R R R –
Lactic Acid 85% F R R NR – –
Latex R R – R R NR
Linseed Oil Fatty Acid R F R R R –
Methanol R R R R R R
Methyl Ethyl Ketone R R NR – – R
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone R R NR – – R
Mineral Spirits R R – – – –
Motor Oil-10W R R R R R R
Naphtha, VM&P R R R R R R
Nitric Acid 2% F NR R R R –
Perchloroethylene R R – – – NR
Petroleum Ether – R – R R R
Phenol 10% R R NR R R R
Phosphoric Acid 2% F NR R R R NR
Potassium Hydroxide 50% NR R R R R –
Potassium Hydroxide 10% NR R R R R –
Potassium Hydroxide 2% NR R R R R –
Sodium Chloride 25% F R R R R F
Sodium Hydroxide 50% NR R R R R NR
Sodium Hydroxide 10% NR R R R R F
Sodium Hydroxide 2% NR R R – – –
Sodium Hypochlorite-C1. 10% F R R – – –
Sodium Hypochlorite-C1. 6% F R R NR R –
Sulfuric Acid 2% F NR R NR R NR
Tall Oil Fatty Acid (Syfate 94) R R R – – –
Tannic Acid 50% F R R R R –
Water-Deionized R R R R R F
Water-Sea F F R R R F
Water-Tap R R R F F R
Xyol R R NR – – –
Fiberglass corrosion chart on page 161.

The corrosion data given in this table is for general comparison only.
The presence of contaminates and the effect of temperature in chemical environments can greatly affect the corrosion of any material.
B-Line strongly suggests that field service tests or simulated laboratory tests using actual environmental conditions be conducted in order
to determine the proper materials and finishes to be selected.

R=Recommended
F=May be used under some conditions
NR=Not Recommended
–Information not available

9
 TECHNICAL DATA
DESIGN OF Cantilever Beam Continuous beam installations can typically
STRUT SYSTEMS Cantilever beams are often viewed as varia- support 20% more load than a simple beam
tions of a fixed beam, but they have special of the same span with approximately half the
Beams characteristics of their own. One end of the deflection.
Beams are usually defined as horizontal channel is firmly attached to a rigid support
members which are subjected to vertical while the other end remains completely free. Therefore, simple beam data should be used
loads such as shelves, platforms or supports for a general comparison only. An example of
for pipes, conduits or cable trays. The fol- A shelf bracket is an example of a cantilever this configuration is found in a long run of
lowing is a brief overview of common beam beam. channel when installed across several supports
configurations: to form a number of spans.

Simple Beam Deflection

An example of a simple beam is a length of Deflection, commonly referred to as “sag”, is
channel placed across two cylinders. When a inherent in applying a load to a beam and
load is applied, the channel will support the cannot be avoided. Any and all beams will
load because of its stiffness. The cylinders deflect when loaded. The amount of deflec-
serve to support the channel, but do not inter- tion will vary depending upon the material
fere with its natural tendency to flex or bend. and the stiffness or moment of inertia. The
Simple beam analysis is used almost univer- deflection equations in this section show that
sally for beam comparisons, even though it is increasing the stiffness can be increased by a
seldom practical in field installations. Continuous Beam variety of methods. Increasing the depth of
This beam configuration is commonly used in the channel is the most direct method.
A cable tray or conduit trapeze hanger close- lighting installations. The continuous beam
ly resembles a simple beam. possesses traits of both the simple and fixed
beams. When equal loads are applied to all Point Load
Point Load spans simultaneously, the counter-balancing
effect of the loads on both sides of a support
restricts the movement of the channel at the
support, similar to that of the fixed beam.
The end spans behave substantially like sim-
ple beams.
The material used affects deflection in a
Fixed Beam manner which is significantly different from
This type of fixed support restricts the move- the way in which it affects load capacity. The
ment of the ends of the channel when a load deflection under load is inversely proportion-
is applied. Because of this, the stiffness of al to a material property known as the “mod-
the channel at the ends and center is ulus of elasticity” designated by “E”.
employed to resist the load. The result is a
load capability which is greater than that of The modulus of elasticity is dependent upon
an identical simple beam. the basic composition of the material and is
not necessarily related to the material’s
The fixed beam can be approximated by strength.
bolting or welding a length of channel to
rigid supports.

10
TECHNICAL DATA
Safety Factor tubing, cable trays, or conduits mounted to Every structural material has its own maxi-
The design loads given for strut beam loads the strut with straps and clamps prevent mum or ultimate stress, which is usually
are based on a simple beam condition using twisting or lateral movement. If no such lat-expressed in “pounds per square inch” (pas-
allowable stress of 25,000 psi. This allow- eral support exists, contact the factory for cals). Any load which causes a member to
able stress results in a safety factor of 1.68. loading recommendations. fail is referred to as its “ultimate” load. In
This is based upon a virgin steel minimum order to prevent channel from being acciden-
yield strength of 33,000 psi cold worked dur- Columns tally loaded up to or beyond its ultimate load,
ing rolling to an average yield stress of Columns are vertical members which carry a safety factor is included into the design.
42,000 psi. loads in compression. One common example The ultimate load is divided by the safety
of a channel column is the vertical members factor to obtain the “recommended” or
Aluminum typically has an elastic modulus of a storage rack. “allowable” working load.
which is 1/3 that of steel even though they
may have identical strength. As a result, the In theory, a column will carry a load equal to When evaluating channel under various
deflection of aluminum channel will be three its cross sectional area multiplied by the ulti- beam conditions, it is often more convenient
times that of steel channel under equal load- mate compressive stress of the material of to compare in terms of the ultimate or recom-
ing. In areas where structures will be subject which the column is made. In reality, there mended “bending moment”. Simple equa-
to general viewing, deflection can produce a are many factors affecting the load capacity tions show the stress is directly proportional to
displeasing effect. To the untrained eye, a of a column, such as the tendency to buckle the bending moment.
sagging channel may appear to be a result of or twist laterally (torsional-flexural buck-
poor design or excessive loading. This is not ling), the type of connection at the top or bot- Therefore, comparing bending moments can
usually the case. Many properly designed tom, the eccentricity of the load application, save time in repeated calculations. The chart
channel installations will show a noticeable and material imperfections. Several of these containing Formulas on Common Beam
deflection at their designed loads. In areas failure modes have been considered in the Loadings (following page) shows how to cal-
where cosmetics are not important, deflec- allowable column load tables shown in the culate the bending moment for various con-
tion should not be a factor. Designing an “Channel” section of this catalog. figurations and load conditions. It should be
entire installation based on minimal deflec- noted that the bending moment is usually not
tion could result in an over designed struc- B-Line strongly recommends that the engi- constant, but varies along the length of the
ture. This translates into increased material neer perform a detailed study of the many span. However, the channel must be
and installation cost. Where cosmetics are variable conditions before the selection designed for a single point, which is the point
important, it may be necessary to limit the process begins. of maximum bending moment.
deflection to an aesthetically pleasing
amount. This “acceptable deflection” Design Factors to be Considered For information regarding dynamic or seis-
amount is typically given as a fraction of the The loading capacity of channel depends pri- mic design, contact B-Line’s Home Office.
span. 1/240 span deflection is typically the marily on the material, its cross-sectional
limit where the amount of deflection appears design, and the beam or column loading con- GENERAL
negligible. For example, a beam span of figuration. It should be noted that if two INFORMATION
240” would be allowed 1” (240/240) of lengths of channel have identical designs and
deflection at the mid point. A 120” span configurations, the one made of the stronger Torque
would only be allowed 1/2” (120/240) of base material will support a larger load. The torque values given throughout the cata-
deflection. The maximum load for the chan- Therefore, any comparison of channel log are to be used as a guide only. The rela-
nel must be limited in order to remain under should begin by determining whether the tionship between the applied torque or torque
these deflection requirements. The allowable materials are approximately equal in wrench reading and the actual tension creat-
load resulting in 1/240 span deflection is strength. ed in the bolt may be substantially different.
posted in the beam load chart for each chan- For example, a dry non-lubricated bolt with a
nel size. The column loading chart for each channel heavy plating may rate 50% as efficient as a
lists the allowable load for each channel in bolt which is lubricated with a mixture of
For even more stringent deflection require- compression. This load varies depending on heavy oil and graphite. Other important fac-
ments, an allowable load is listed in the beam the support condition or “K-factor”. tors affecting torque-tension relationships
load charts which results in 1/360 span include friction under the bolt head or nut,
deflection. This amount of deflection is Several “K-factors” are listed, which corre- hole tolerances, and torque wrench toler-
sometimes used for beams in finished ceil- spond to the following support conditions: ances. Accuracy of many commercial torque
ings that are to be plastered. wrenches may vary as much as plus or minus
K = .8 pinned top - fixed bottom 25%.
Twisting & Lateral Bracing K = .65 fixed top - fixed bottom
Loading of strut on long spans can cause tor- K = 1.0 pinned top - pinned bottom Charts and Tables
sional stress, resulting in the tendency of the K = 1.2 free top - fixed bottom Charts and tables in this section are compiled
strut to twist or bend laterally. This phenom- from information published by nationally
enon reduces the allowable beam loads as There are a number of physical properties recognized organizations and are intended
shown in the beam loading charts. It is rec- which are important to the complete design for use as a guide only. B-Line recommends
ommended that long spans be supported in a of a channel member; the “section modulus” that users of this information determine the
manner to prevent twisting (fixed ends), and designated as “Sx” or “Sy”, “moment of validity of such information as applied to
that the channel have adequate lateral brac- inertia” designated by “Ix” or “Iy”, and the their own application.
ing. Many typical strut applications provide “radius of gyration” which is given as “rx” or
this support and bracing inherently. Piping, “ry”.

11
 FORMULAS ON COMMON BEAM LOADINGS
The data shown in the beam load charts for appropriate channels on page(s) 17 thru 39 is for simply supported, single span beams with a
uniformly distributed load. For other loading and/or support conditions, use the appropriate factor from the chart below.

Load Deflection
LOAD AND SUPPORT CONDITION
Factor Factor
Simple Beam - Uniform Load 1.00 1.00

Span

Simple Beam - Concentrated Load at Center .50 .80

Simple Beam - Two Equal Concentrated Loads at 1/4 Points 1.00 1.10

Beam Fixed at Both Ends - Uniform Load 1.50 .30

Beam Fixed at Both Ends - Concentrated Load at Center 1.00 .40

Cantilever Beam - Uniform Load .25 2.40

Cantilever Beam - Concentrated Load at End .12 3.20

Continuous Beam - Two Equal Spans - Uniform Load on One Span 1.30 .92

Span Span

Continuous Beam - Two Equal Spans - Concentrated Load on Both Spans 1.00 .42

Continuous Beam - Two Equal Spans - Concentrated Load at Center of One Span .62 .71

Continuous Beam - Two Equal Spans - Concentrated Load at Center of Both Spans .67 .48

EXAMPLES:

PROBLEM: PROBLEM:
Calculate the maximum allowable load and corresponding Calculate the maximum allowable load and corresponding
deflection of a simply supported B22 beam with a concentrated deflection of a cantilever B52 beam with a uniformly distributed
load at midspan as shown. load.

96”
SOLUTION: SOLUTION:
From beam load chart for B22 (page 22), maximum allowable From beam load chart for B52 (page 33), maximum allowable
Load is A and the corresponding deflection is B. load is A and the corresponding deflection is B.
Multiplying by the appropriate factors shown in the chart above. Multiplying by the appropriate factors shown in chart above.

LOAD = A x load factor = _______ LOAD = A x load factor = _______

DEFLECTION = B x deflection factor = DEFLECTION = B x deflection factor = _______

12
TECHNICAL DATA
RECOMMENDED BOLTED METAL
FRAMING SPECIFICATION
Brackets [ ] indicate alternative specifica- E. NEC Compliance: Comply with the latest applied by a cathodic electro-deposition
tions which may be substituted by the project revision NFPA 70 - Article 352 “Surface process. Fittings shall be manufactured from
engineer. Metal Raceways and Surface Nonmetallic steel meeting the minimum requirements of
Raceways”. ASTM A1018 33,000 PSI min. yield. The
PART 1 - GENERAL fittings shall have the same epoxy finish as
1.01 WORK INCLUDED F. UL Compliance: Comply with UL the strut. Threaded hardware shall be zinc
A. Continuous slot, bolted framing channels “Standard for Surface Metal Raceway and plated in accordance with ASTM B633
and all associated fittings and hardware. Fittings”. Service Class 1 (SC1). Service Class 1 is not
B. Trapeze type supports for cable tray, con- 1.04 SUBMITTALS an acceptable coating for fittings or compo-
duit, pipe and other similar systems. nents other than threaded hardware.
A. Submit drawings of strut and accessories
C. Use of bolted metal framing as a surface including clamps, brackets, hanger rods and 3. Pre-Galvanized Steel: Strut shall be made
metal raceway. fittings. from steel meeting the minimum mechanical
properties of ASTM A653 33,000 PSI min.
1.02 REFERENCES B. Submit manufacturer’s product data on
yield, mill galvanized coating designation
A. ASTM A108 - Specification for Steel strut channels including, but not limited to, G90. Fittings shall be manufactured from
Bars, Carbon, Cold Finished, Structural types, materials, finishes, gauge thickness steel meeting the minimum requirements of
Quality. and hole patterns. For each different strut
ASTM A1018 33,000 PSI min. yield and
cross section, submit cross sectional proper-
B. ASTM A123 - Specification for Zinc (hot- ties including Section Modulus (Sx) and zinc plated in accordance with ASTM B633
dip galvanized) Coatings on Products Moment of Inertia (Ix). service class 3 (SC3). Threaded hardware
Fabricated from Rolled, Pressed, and Forged shall be zinc plated in accordance with
Steel Shapes, Plates, Bars and Strips. 1.05 DELIVERY, STORAGE AND ASTM B633 Service Class 1 (SC1). Service
HANDLING Class 1 is not an acceptable coating for fit-
C. ASTM A1011, 33,000 PSI min. yield - tings or components other than threaded
Specification for Steel, Sheet and Strip, A. Deliver strut systems and components
Carbon, Hot-Rolled, Structural Quality. carefully to avoid breakage, denting, and hardware.
scoring finishes. Do not install damaged
D. ASTM B633 - Specification for equipment. 4. Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel: Strut shall be
Electrodeposited Coatings of Zinc on Iron made from steel meeting the minimum
and Steel. B. Store strut systems and components in mechanical properties of ASTM A1011
original cartons and in clean dry space; pro- 33,000 PSI min. yield and shall be hot-dip
E. ASTM A653 33,000 PSI min. yield G90 - tect from weather and construction traffic. galvanized after fabrication in accordance
Specification for Steel Sheet, Zinc Coated with ASTM A123. Fittings shall be manufac-
(Galvanized) by the Hot-Dip Process. PART 2 - PRODUCTS tured from steel meeting the minimum
F. ASTM A1018 - Standard Specification for 2.01 ACCEPTABLE requirements of ASTM A1018 33,000 PSI
Steel, Sheet and Strip, Heavy-Thickness MANUFACTURERS min. yield, and hot-dip galvanized after fab-
Coils, Carbon, Hot-Rolled, Structural A. Manufacturer: Subject to compliance with rication in accordance with ASTM A123. All
Quality. these specifications, strut systems to be hardware shall be stainless steel Type 316
installed shall be as manufactured by B-Line [Type 304] or chromium zinc ASTM F1136
G. MFMA - Metal Framing Standards Systems, Inc. [or engineer approved equal.] Gr. 3. All hot-dip galvanized after fabrication
Publication, MFMA-1. products must be returned to point of manu-
2.02 STRUT CHANNELS AND facture after coating for inspection and
1.03 QUALITY ASSURANCE COMPONENTS removal of all sharp burrs.
A. Manufacturers : Firms regularly engaged A. General: Strut shall be 15/8” wide in vary-
in the manufacture of bolted metal framing ing heights and welded combinations as 5. Stainless Steel: All strut, fittings and hard-
of the types required, whose products have required to meet load capacities and designs ware shall be made of AISI Type 316 [Type
been in satisfactory use in similar service for indicated on the drawings. 304] stainless steel as indicated. Channels
not less than 5 years. must be identified as required in previous
B. Material and Finish: Material and finish section 1.03 Quality Assurance.
B. A material heat code number shall be
specifications for each strut type are as
stamped on all strut and fittings. This is
follows: PART 3 - EXECUTION
required to maintain traceability of the prod-
3.01 INSTALLATION
uct to the material test reports to the ASTM 1. Aluminum: Strut shall be manufactured of
A. Install strut as indicated; in accordance
standard. extruded aluminum alloy 6063-T6. All with equipment manufacturer’s recommen-
C. For stainless steel items, the part number fittings and hardware shall be zinc plated dations, and with recognized industry prac-
shall contain a material designator (EXAM- according to ASTM B633. For outdoor use, tices.
PLE: B-Line B22SS6 for type 316 or all fittings and hardware shall be stainless
B22SS4 for type 304), or a separate stamp steel Type 316 [Type 304] or chromium zinc, B. All nuts and bolts shall be tightened to the
shall be included to reference the type of ASTM F1136 Gr. 3. following values.
material used. Bolt Size Torque (ft-lbs)
2. Epoxy Painted: Strut shall be made from 1/4-20 6
D. MFMA Compliance: comply with the lat- steel meeting the minimum mechanical 5/16-18 11
est revision of MFMA Standard Publication properties of ASTM A1011 33,000 PSI min. 3/8-16 19
Number MFMA-3, “Metal Framing”. yield, then painted with water born epoxy 1/2-13 50
x
13