Deck Production

Steel deck is made by cold

forming structural grade
sheet steel into a repeating
pattern of parallel ribs.
The strength and stiffness
of the panels are a result
of the shape of the ribs and
the material properties of
the steel.
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 Types of Steel Deck

Roof Deck

Form Deck

Composite Deck
Four types of steel decking
are erected widely in the
Specialty Deck non-residential steel
construction market.
These are roof deck, form
deck, composite deck, and
specialty deck.
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 Roof Deck

More than just a roof, a steel

roof deck is the basis upon
which the roofing system is
dependent. The design-engi-
neering objective is to struc-
turally support the required
loads as well as the roofing
membrane system specified
by the designer, while meet-
ing the aesthetic objectives
and cost control interests of
the building owner and
appointed architect.
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 Types of Roof Deck To address these objectives, various
types of roof deck and attachment
methods have evolved – and continue
to evolve.
 
1.0 roof deck provides a minimum
of one-inch thickness to incorporate
rigid roofing insulation. This profile is
1.0 Roof Deck an economical option for applications
where structural spacing is small.
 
Type A roof deck features a narrow rib
Type A Roof Deck to accommodate the most economi-
cal, thinner insulation materials. It will
Narrow Rib 1.5” Deep provide a maximum top surface contact
area for thinner, rigid insulation boards.
 
Type F roof deck is a cost-saving choice
Type F Roof Deck when the application calls for reduced
insulation. When rigid insulation is
Intermediate Rib 1.5” Deep used with F deck, a minimum 1” thick-
ness is required. The flute openings
permit easy attachment of the deck to
the supporting structural members.

Type B Roof Deck  

Type B roof deck with wide rib of-
Wide Rib 1.5” Deep fers the best balance of strength and
economy of all the 1½” deep roof
decks. When rigid insulation is used
with B deck, a minimum 1” thickness is

Type N Roof Deck required.

 
3” Deep Rib Type N roof deck with 3” deep rib
supports the wider spacing of support-
ing members, so long as the spacing
is within the limits of the maximum
construction span.

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 Form Deck

Steel form deck is used

as a form to hold poured
concrete. The form becomes
a permanent steel base for
the cured concrete floor
slabs and requires no form
removal costs. The instal-
lation of this type of deck
is fast, easy and economi-
cal. Unlike composite deck
however, it adds no strength
to the concrete slab.
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 Types of Form Deck

Steel form deck profiles are avail-

9/16” Form Deck able in various depths. All are used

extensively in floor and roof con-
struction as an economical way
to support concrete slabs during

1” Form Deck construction. Specifying form deck

helps eliminate the need for expen-
sive temporary shoring. However,
a related cost consideration is the
spacing of structural members: The
1.5” Form Deck deeper the decking, the wider the
spacing of the structural members.
 
For 1.5” deep form deck, the

2.0” Form Deck

structural members can be spaced
up to 10’ 2” on center.

For 2” deep form deck, the

structural members can be spaced
up to 14’ 4” on center.
3.0” Form Deck
For 3” deep form deck, the
structural members can be spaced
up to 16’ 11” on center.

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 Composite Deck
The difference between
composite deck and form
deck is simple. Composite
deck has embossments in
the vertical ribs that bond
with the concrete slab to
develop a composite floor
system. The system also in-
cludes shear studs installed
and supplied by others, to
provide a composite floor
system that allows for the
loads to be transferred into
the steel frame. Once the
concrete cures, the result-
ing composite floor system
provides superior strength
and stiffness. Alternatively,
form deck serves to support
the poured concrete, but it
does not have embossments
for bonding with the cured
concrete.
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 Types of Composite Deck
Composite deck profiles
range in depth from
1.5 inches to 2 inches,
to 3 inches.
 
1.5” Composite Deck 1.5” composite deck enables
the designer to space the
structural members to over
11’-0” on center without
additional shoring.
2.0” Composite Deck  
2.0” composite deck enables
the designer to space the
structural members to over
14’-0” on center without
3.0” Composite Deck additional shoring.
 
3.0” composite deck enables
the designer to space the
structural members to over
16’-0” on center without
additional shoring.
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 Specialty Deck

Specialty decks cover a

wide variety of deck types,
profiles, depths and com-
binations. These types of
decks have been developed
to provide owners and
architects a broader pallete
for more aesthetic, archi-
tectural roof and floor de-
sign options. So not all deck
manufacturers carry these
profiles and some specialize
in this product line. It is best
to contact your nearest deck
manufacturer or supplier
to see if they carry the
desired type.

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 Cellular decks are manufactured

Types of Specialty Deck with a flat bottom plate with or

without perforations for sound
absorption. They are attached to a
wide range of top profiles and pro-
file depths. The bottom plate pro-

Cellular Deck vides an aesthetically pleasing flat

surface for use in finished exposed
Long Span Deck applications. These decks are used
for non-composite and composite
floor slab designs, as well as roof
applications.
 
Long span decks have a deep
profile for larger support spacing.
These decks are available with or
without perforations for sound
absorption and as cellular or
non-cellular profiles.
 
Dovetail decks are also called
reentrant decks, because they
provide an aesthetically pleasing

Dovetail Deck
surface for use in finished exposed
applications. Dovetail decks can also
span longer distances. These decks
are available for use in composite
floor slab designs, as well as roof
applications. Dovetail roof decks
are available with or without
perforations for sound absorption.

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 Terminology

Fastening
Mechanical Fastening Sidelap Fastening
As you have begun to see in the
context of diaphragm design, fas-
tening is a design function, and
the type and number of fasteners
should be selected by the design
professional. Deck attachment

Fastening Layout can be made either by welding or

using mechanical fasteners. Fas-
tening points are to be spaced an
average of 12” on center, not to
exceed 18” on center. The speci-
fying professional will determine
the fastening points or pattern
based on the prescribed decking.

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 Welding, also called puddle
Terminology welding, calls for a minimum
visible 5/8” diameter puddle
weld. For decking that is 22
gauge (0.0295”) or thinner, weld
washers must also be used to

Fastening
create a stronger connection and
Puddle Welding prevent burn-through.
Side lap attachments are in-
tended to make adjacent deck
units share resisting horizontal
Weld Washers and vertical loads. With concrete
slabs, one of the objectives of
side lap fastening is to prevent
differential sheet deflection dur-
ing concrete loading, therefore
preventing side joints from open-

Button Punching ing. Side laps are to be fastened

together between supports at
a maximum spacing of 36” on
center whenever the deck span
exceeds 5’-0”. Fastening here
can be done using puddle welds
that are ¾ inch or mechanical
fasteners.

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 Steel decking can be manufactured using

Terminology
different finishes to meet different design
and performance goals, including surface
protection and improved appearance.

Galvanized steel can be used to make the

steel deck. Galvanized steel deck features
a rust-resistant zinc, zinc-iron or zinc-
aluminum alloy coating that usually meets
requirements for fire resistance as defined
by Underwriters Laboratories.

Finish Primer-painted finish protects the deck

surface for a reasonable installation period
while the deck is exposed to ordinary
atmospheric conditions. Painted deck, such
as the white painted deck shown here, can
add an aesthetic appeal, while also extend-

Galvanized Deck Painted Deck ing surface protection beyond the erection
phase into the ownership phase of the
building. Remember however, that this is
still a primer and not a finish coat.

Composite deck finishes are either galva-

nized or phosphatized/painted having a
primer coated bottom side and a bare top
surface, which is the side to be in contact
with the concrete. This bare top surface can
be expected to develop rust before concrete
is placed. To inhibit this process, a rust
inhibitor or cleaning chemical is applied to
remove zinc and solvents from the top side
to allow for a uniform oxidation of the steel
which increases the bond of the concrete.

Prime Painted Deck The word “phosphatized” is generally no

longer used as the cleaning agent may not
contain phosphorus, but rather chrome/
silica. Check with the individual manufac-
turer for the chemical used. A cleaned and
painted deck can be a cost savings in lieu
of galvanizing and also reduce surface slip
potential to workers. Whichever type of
finished deck is used, care should be taken
during the delivery, handling and erection of
the material, such as storing off the ground
with one end elevated and protected from
the elements using weatherproof material
that is ventilated to avoid condensation.
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