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Longspan bridging for steel joists and trusses

Summary A steel joist manufacturer asked how OSHA’s longspan bridging rule applied. OSHA said “longspan” meant any joist or truss at least 40 feet long, beyond the industry’s product naming; a later correction points readers to a 2002 directive for current steel erection policy. OSHA archives this letter as potentially outdated.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1986-09-05-2
Date issued
September 5, 1986
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA archives this letter and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy. A 2005 correction points to OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-034 for current steel erection policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Steel Erection
Source
View the official document

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The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA archives this letter and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy. A 2005 correction points to OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-034 for current steel erection policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

September 5, 1986
Mr. John M. Spann, Jr.
Vice-President, Engineering
Standard Joist Corporation
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Spann:
This is in response to your letter of August 14, requesting a clarification of OSHA's regulations formerly codified at 1518.751(c)(i), now 29 CFR 1926.751(c)(2).
29 CFR 1926.751(c)(2) required that, where longspan joists or trussess, 40 feet or longer, are used, a center row of bolted bridging shall be installed to provide lateral stability during construction prior to slacking of hoisting line. The word, "longspan" is a recognized product-type name for a steel joist; however, the word longspan as used in 29 CFR 1926.751(c)(2) refers to any joist or truss 40 feet or more in length.
If we may be of further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
John B. Miles, Jr., Director
[Directorate of Construction]
[Correction 6/20/2005. See OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-034 "Inspection policy and procedures for OSHA's steel erection standards for construction" published on 3/22/2002 for the current policy on OSHA's steel erection standards (1926 Subpart R) for construction.]

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