For Standard Joists and Constant Shear Joists selected from the joist tables, RAM Steel selects actual joists with specific load capacities and depths. If no depth restriction is assigned, the optimal joist size will be chosen and the depth will be assigned accordingly. If a depth restriction is assigned in the RAM Modeler, the joist selected from the table will conform to the depth restriction. The Layout - Joists - Depth Restrictions... command in the RAM Modeler provides the engineer with the means to limit the depth of joists.

For Standard Joists with custom designations, Joist Girders and Special Joists, RAM Steel is merely specifying a label and is incapable of determining the optimum depth. If no depth restriction is specified in the RAM Modeler, the joist depth in the joist designation will be given as “XX”. If a depth restriction is assigned, it is used as the joist depth in the joist designation. Thus for these types of joists, the RAM Modeler's Layout Joists Depth Restriction... command provides a means of assigning the actual depth to be specified in the joist label in place of “XX”. For example, if a 14 inch depth restriction is assigned to a joist determined to be a Special Joist, it will be given the label of 14GSP rather than XXGSP.