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Wall bracing attachments to the top of a column are expressed in one of three different options. A common choice is the direct attachment to the web of the knee on the column. This is achieved by the use of two bracing rods of ¾” or smaller. Another process uses the interior flange of the straight column for a connection to a 7/8″ or larger rod. Still another example of wall-bracing attachment at the top of the column is the bolting of a 7/8″ or larger rod to the top of a tapered frame column. The choice of any one of the three column and rod connections has to be double checked, once installed, to make sure that the bracing rods are tight to prevent noise and building movement.
Typical wall bracing at the bottom of the building columns can either be achieved by the use of a rod brace connected to the web of the frame and fastened with a hillside washer and a nut or by the same attachment link utilizing a cable brace and an eye bolt. A wall bracing alternative at the bottom of the column is the connection of bracing rods to the column with bolted brackets. This can be done to the interior flange of a straight column or the exterior flange of a tapered column.
Any purchaser of a steel building will want to know how many of the bays in the structure will have to have the added expense of bracing. There is no “hard and fast” rule but the required number of braced bays usually works out to a little less than half of the total planned bays in the building, more as wind loads increase from 70 mph. It is essential to also brace building end-walls unless a rigid end frame is engineered for future expansion of the structure.
(to be continued Wednesday … )
One method of bracing is “side-wall bracing.” Side-wall bracing (also known as X-bracing) is generally used in steel buildings that utilize rigid frame construction in selected bays. Normally, a side-wall braced bay will include rod or cable support diagonals with the columns and eave strut on each side. Braces can also be placed in the end bays of the side walls. This placement helps keep vulnerable building corners stable during high wind episodes. Lateral load equalization occurs along the wall from brace to brace with the eave struts. Eave struts are designed for a combination of bending and compression.
Wall bracing is a key component to support the structure of any steel building and add to the inherent integrity of the whole system. Of course, there are various methods of wall bracing and there are different building designs that require different types of bracing. What kind does your building need? This article will describe the various types of different wall bracing.
(to be continued Monday … )
Until then, we are available to answer all your questions at 1-800-745-2685.
WebMaster
Our final and seventh tip involves the longevity benefit of a steel building. Pre-engineered steel structure systems are extraordinarily sturdy. Needless to say that when we speak of steel buildings we are indeed talking about STEEL! Yes, these are very strong, sturdy structures. Not only that, but they require relatively low-level of maintenance, painting, and upkeep over their lifetime. Depending on the manufacturer, a building may be safely occupied from about 20 to 50 years. For this reason, we at General Steel are confident to offer a 50 year structural warranty with all our buildings. Feel free to call us today at 1-800-745-2685 for all the information.
As we were saying yesterday, steel buildings are finished rather rapidly compared to other means of construction. In fact, some steel buildings can be finished and open for business in 60 to 90 days compared to the half a year or more that a conventional building may take to be completed. The sooner you can be finished, the sooner you can stop spending money on labor and construction costs; and the sooner you can be open for business, the sooner you can begin making money. Yes, a steel building = $$$ !!!
(to be continued Sat. … )
Several expenditures figure into the final cost of your building: modern building materials, building insulation, accessories, security for the construction site, just to name a few. Fortunately, the cost savings of a new steel building when contrasted to a traditional wood assembly can be formidable. For example, the cost of labor alone for a pre-engineered steel building could be as much as 30% to 50% as compared to traditional wood construction. Therefore, our sixth tip is this: if you want to save time and money, steel is the smart choice to make!
(to be continued Fri. … )
Any transaction with a provider or manufacturer should be documented. I’ll say it again: “Get it in writing!” This fifth tip should be rather obvious: Whatever you want done … whatever they say they will do … “Get it in Writing!” Unfortunately, word of mouth is not good enough. Assembling all of the particulars on paper will establish that you know exactly what you are buying. (And, should there arise a problem with the project that would necessitate you to go to court, you have documentation of what was and was not agreed upon at the on-set of construction.) Should you ever have questions about what you are paying for or what you can expect to see completed, you have your contract to consult. Therefore, protect yourself and get everything in writing.
A fourth and rather important factor is the compliance of a building with the local building codes. It is your responsibility to ensure that your new steel building complies with state or municipal codes. We recommend that you do not sign a contract or send in any money for the deposit until you have verified the proper coding that you need to get the go ahead to build. Changes in the contract to meet a proper code will always drive the price up. This is not good. In order to avoid surcharges ensure that the contract reflects the proper specifications and coding before you sign. Remember the age old wisdom that tells us that an ounce of prevention …