RSJ
Rolled Steel Joist — an I-shaped steel beam. Used as a heavy fence or gate post where the load or the span is beyond a standard hollow section.
Also called: rolled steel joist, rsj post, universal beam
RSJ stands for rolled steel joist — an I or H shaped beam rolled from a single piece of steel, with a vertical web and a flange top and bottom. The shape puts the metal where the bending happens, which is why an RSJ carries far more load than a solid bar of the same weight.
In fencing and landscaping the section turns up wherever a post has to take load from two directions. Palisade fencing uses RSJ posts; so does the intermediate post in a sleeper wall, where the H shape gives a channel on each face so sleepers can arrive from both sides and meet inside the steel.
Where you will see it here
- Sleeper retainer posts, intermediate — RSJ (H) 117.6 x 64, 8.6 kg/m, 4.5mm web, 5mm flanges.
- Palisade posts — RSJ sections sized to the fence height.
The alternative section is a PFC channel, a U rather than an H, used where timber or infill only arrives from one side — end and corner posts in a sleeper wall.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between an RSJ and a channel?
An RSJ is an H or I shape with a flange on both sides of the web, so it has a slot on each face. A PFC channel is a U with one slot. RSJ for intermediate posts, channel for ends and corners.