For the RAM Structural System to determine if a particular joint is valid (refer to limitations section for definition of valid) the engineer must provide the maximum angle that a beam can frame into the column and still be considered attached to the flange of the column. This angle refers to the angle between the major axis of the column and the longitudinal axis of the beam. Beams framing into a column beyond this angle are assumed to frame into the web of the column.

Several codes require the engineer to do specific checks only where two compressive forces are applied to opposite sides of a column at the same elevation (concurrent-compression check). For a valid joint with a single lateral beam framing into each flange of an I-Section column, the top flanges of the beams are assumed to be at the same elevation. In the event that the top flanges of both beams apply a compressive force on the column, these concurrent-compression checks will be performed. However, depending on the depth of each beam, the bottom flanges may not be at the same elevation. The engineer is responsible for determining the maximum difference in elevation that can exist between the bottom flanges of the two beams for which they still want the concurrent-compression checks performed. The distance provided by the engineer for the concurrent-compression check is also used to determine the maximum difference in elevation for a single diagonal stiffener to be used. When necessary, beams whose difference in bottom flange elevation exceeds the value provided by the engineer will be provided with two horizontal stiffeners (one for each beams bottom flange). For beams whose difference in bottom flange elevation is less than the value provided by the engineer, one diagonal stiffener will be provided between the beam flange elevations. Note that for different depth beams that are within the distance specified by the user, no shear check will be performed for the column panel zone between the bottom of the two adjacent beams.