Wall Bracing in Pre-Engineered Steel Structures

Wall Bracing in Pre-Engineered Steel Structures


A key component to support the structure of any building and enhance the essential integrity of the complete system is wall bracing. There are features of certain wall reinforcements that you should familiarize yourself with.

In pre-engineered, pre-fabricated steel structures that rely on rigid frame construction, reliability is largely provided by structural sidewall bracing, or X-bracing, in particular bays. Any building’s sidewall braced bay, usually, will contain rod or cable support diagonals with the eave strut and columns on either side. The end bays of the building sidewalls can also have braces installed in them. Throughout extreme wind episodes this addition helps keep vulnerable steel structure perimeters firm. Horizontal load equalization then occurs near the wall of a structure, from brace to brace with the eave struts. Eave struts are pre-engineered for a combination of both compression and bending.

Standard wall bracing at the foundation of the steel building pillars can either be achieved by including a rod brace connected to the web of the frame and fastened with a hillside washer and nut; or by the identical attachment link utilizing a cable brace and an eye bolt. A wall bracing alternative, at the base of the column, can be achieved by linking the bracing rods with the column, to bolted brackets. Linking to the internal flange provides for a straight column or, to the exterior flange, a tapered column.

You should be aware of the number of structural bays in the building, because a higher number will demand the added expense of structural bracing. The required number of braced bays is usually about 50 percent of the entire prospective structural bays in the pre-engineered building, and more if wind loads exceed from 70 mph. It is essential to also shore up building endwalls except when a rigid end frame is designed for enlargement of the structure.

The installation of wall bracing fastenings to the top of a column is possible in one of three distinctive options. A regular choice is the direct fixing of the knee to the web on the column. This is realized with the utilization of two bracing rods of 3/4″ or less. Implementing the inner flange for the straight column for a joining to a 7/8″ inch or bigger rod is another approach. A final example of wall bracing attachment at the top of the column is the securing of a 7/8″ or greater rod to the crown of a tapered frame column. To establish that the bracing rods are close-fitting to prevent sound and structural shifting, the choice of any of these three rod and column fastenings must be examined once implemented.

In precise building wall bracing for both taller and some more modest structures there are exceptions to the regulation. Higher buildings may not be capable of using X-bracing. This is resolved with a tiered rod brace. The employment of a girt into the bracing rod system to result in proper brace symmetry and durability is needed. A lot of repair shops, in addition to some other smaller steel buildings, may have various entrances and windows on a single part of the building that will not accept side bracing. The use of a single braced sidewall, the two endwalls, and the planning of a rigid roof diaphragm to help with precise loading distribution to the ancillary system for the three braced walls of the steel structure is one popular solution.