Our Process

The use of heat straightening applied to small areas to change the shape of structural steel is a reliable and most satisfactory method. This process is known as flame bending, flame straightening, beam bending, heat bending or heat straightening. The American Welding Society STRUCTURAL WELDING CODE ANSI/AWS 01.1 in section 3.7 repairs allows the use of flame bending, flame straightening or heat straightening and mechanical force to align structural steel members.
Paragraph 3.7.3 of this code states:

Members distorted by welding shall be straightened by mechanical means or by carefully supervised application of a limited amount of localized heat. The temperature of heated areas as measured by approved methods shall not exceed 1100 degrees F (590 degrees C) for quenched and tempered steel nor 1200 degrees F (650 degrees C) (a dull red color) for other steels. The part to be heated for straightening shall be substantially free of stress and from external forces, except those stresses resulting from the mechanical straightening method.

Few, if any steel structures are produced without the use of considerable flame bending, heat straightening or flame straightening to in sure proper fit up. The 600 ft. high Space Needle in Seattle, Washington could not have been constructed without the use of flame bending, heat straightening or flame straightening. In fact there is not a single member in this structure that did not have considerable application of confined heated zones to fit up the flange edges to permit longitudinal welds to be placed.

The Flame straightening technique that we use is taken with the up most care and is supervised at all times to ensure that all heats are put on properly. Temperatures of heat vary with types and grades of steel, such as low-alloy steels with yield strengths of 45,000 to 75000 psi (1100 to 1200 degrees F) also quenched and tempered steels such as A-514 and A-517 shall not exceed (1000 degrees F). All of our heat straightening methods consists of the use of 4 types of heats which is used to straighten a damaged steel member.

• The first type is called a V heat which is used to help give a direction to a damaged steel member that is out of line (usually on the flange).

• Secondly is the Line heat which is used on flanges to help bring back a dipped flange back to plane with the rest of the flange. Also the line heat can be used on webs but this should be put on very carefully or you will have buckling problems especially with webs under compression. Web heats should be limited to (700 degrees F) maximum.
• Thirdly is the spot heat which is the most effective way to flatten a damaged web. These heats also need to be put on carefully.

• Lastly is the edge heat which is used to straighten minor or gentle bends in girders. These heats do not pull very much and are usually only used on light materials or very gentle sweeps in girders.

I have performed, supervised, and given seminars on flame bending, flame straightening and/or heat straightening and I assure you that this method is highly satisfactory and presents no hazard to the steel when it is performed by an experienced flame straightening person. Heat straightening is the most cost effective way to straighten damaged steel members when compared to total replacement costs.