I work with LVL beams frequently and see a lot of them placed under I-Joists to carry load of the floor. This is usually no big deal in 9' deep basements but in 8' basements an 11-7/8" triple LVL beam takes up a good amount of space. In terms of load, is there any difference in instead putting the LVL beam in the same plane as the I-Joists are, and setting I-Joist hangers on each side of the triple LVL 11-7/8" LVL beam so that the floor joists still use that beam for support, but now there is no "header" or "beam" to have steal some ceiling space? I think in one sense it may be stronger because the beam has a lot less change of twist factor to play where as when it's under the I-Joists it can actually twist one way or another.
I do realize this severely limits accessibility for plumbing, hvac, and wiring though if needing to get into those joist's cavities which is almost guaranteed, but I believe running a small plumbing/hvac/electrical chase down below the LVL beam will take less space than the 11-7/8".
Thoughts? This would not be altering any span ratings, just the method the I-Joists transfer load to the carrying beam.
This is all in question for a space in one basement where the stairs go down and there is a support wall on one side of the stairs once you hit basement level, but an open family room on the other. It would be really slick to have that right side family room have no joist support below the joists for that span for about 10' of the basement. The staircase wall would carry the rest of the floor joist load for the family room space.