Metal Decking

Metal decking can be used as a temporary safe walking or working surface during the steel erection process. In order for the decking to provide safety, though, it must be safely and properly installed. The following must be accounted for while hoisting, landing, and placing metal decking bundles:

• The bundle packaging must not be used for hoisting, unless it was designed to do so.
• Any items placed on top of the decking bundle must be secured.
• Decking bundles must be landed on some sort of frame that provides enough support to stop the bundles from dislodging while being opened.
• Metal decking must be secured at the end of each work shift, and whenever environmental conditions, such as storms or heavy wind, make it necessary to do so.

Metal decking may not be placed on steel joists until all of the bridging is fully installed and anchored, and all joist-bearing ends are completely attached, unless all of the following points are followed:

• The structure or portion of a structure that the beams will land on must be capable of supporting the load.
  • This must be determined by a qualified person and documented in a site-specific erection plan.
• The decking bundle must be placed on at least three steel joists.
• The joists supporting the bundle must be fully and properly connected at both ends.
• At least one row of bridging must be installed and anchored.
• The total weight of the bundle may not be greater than 4,000 pounds.
• The edge of the load must be placed within one foot of the surface supporting the joist.

Unless all of these conditions are true, landing the decking bundles on a partial or absent bridging structure presents a falling-object and structural-collapse hazard.

To learn more about Construction Steel Erection visit our Construction Steel Erection Safety Online Training web page.