Which element runs horizontally between girders to connect them and transfer loads?

• A. Filler beam
• B. Beam
• C. Joist
• D. Girder

Answer: (A)

When you look at load transfer in floor framing, a filler beam is the member that sits between the main girders to tie them together and carry load across the bay. It runs horizontally between those girders, creating a continuous path for loads from the deck or from joists to move into the girders, and it helps distribute that load more evenly so no single girder is overstressed. A joist, by contrast, typically spans between girders to support flooring but doesn’t serve as the primary connector between girders across the bay. A girder is a main supporting beam itself, not the intermediate piece that links two girders together.