Beam

A beam spans between two or more supports and carries the loads placed on it by resisting bending. In a concrete-framed building, slabs rest on beams and beams rest on columns. Beams can be reinforced concrete, steel, solid timber or glulam, and their depth grows with the span they cross and the load they carry. In Turkish the word is kiriş.

Types of beam

A simply supported beam rests on a support at each end. A continuous beam runs over several supports and spreads the load more evenly. A cantilever beam is fixed at one end and free at the other, a common choice for balconies and eaves. In concrete buildings, whether a beam is a downstand projecting below the slab or a flat beam hidden within the slab depth changes the architectural result considerably.

Architectural decisions

• Downstand beams reduce clear ceiling height and complicate service routes, so their positions should be considered while the plan is drawn.
• How beams line up with the heads of windows and doors affects the need for lintels and the look of the facade.
• Exposed timber or steel beams can become a feature that defines the character of an interior.

Leaving beams out of a visualisation model is a common mistake. A beam in the right place on the ceiling changes how light and shadow fall across a room, and that detail matters for a believable interior render.