Wall Support in a Pre-Engineered Steel Building: Integral to Overall Soundness

Wall Support in a Pre-Engineered Steel Building: Integral to Overall Soundness

The many attributes of distinct wall reinforcements and relevant important factors that should be examined will be described in this article. Wall support is a key component to hold up the structure of any steel building system and boost the basic soundness of the complete system.


Any pre-engineered steel structure buyer should understand that the quantity of bays in the scheme determine the added cost of buttressing. There is no set principle, but the recommended number of braced bays commonly is about half of the total prospective bays in the steel structure, and more as wind loads increase from 70 miles per hour. It is key to also reinforce structure endwalls unless a rigid end frame is planned for future expansion of the steel structure.

At the base of the steel building supports, ordinary structural wall bracing can either be accomplished by the choice of a rod brace joined to the web for the frame and attached with a hillside washer and nut; or by the identical attachment link employing a cable brace and an eye bolt. A building wall bracing substitute at the base of the column is the affixing of bracing rods to the pillar using bolted brackets. This can be implemented with the outside flange for a tapered column or the inner flange of a straight column.

For rigid frame classifications of pre-fabricated, pre-engineered steel structures, soundness is largely contributed by sidewall bracing, or X-bracing, in specific bays. Cable or rod reinforcement diagonals with the eave strut and columns on each side are normally included in a sidewall braced bay. The end bays for the sidewalls of the structure can have braces installed in them and this method assists in keeping vulnerable steel structure edges sound throughout high wind episodes. Lateral load equalization follows along the building wall from brace to brace with any eave struts, and eave struts are implemented for both bending and compaction.

Wall bracing connections to the peak of a column are represented in the selection of one of three various elections. The direct affixing to the web for the knee on the column is usually a common selection. Two bracing rods of ¾” or less do this. Another approach involves implementing the internal flange for the straight column for a link to a 7/8″ or bigger rod. The final option of structural wall bracing anchoring at the pinnacle of the column is the bolting of a 7/8″ or larger rod to the crest of a tapered frame column. The choice of any one of the trio of rod and column adherences has to be inspected, upon assembly, to confirm that the bracing rods are secure to prevent structural movement and noise.

For taller and some more diminutive buildings there are deviations to the guideline in suitable building wall bracing. X-bracing may not be able to be utilized within tall buildings, but a tiered rod brace solves this problem. In regards to correct brace durability and symmetry, this involves the utilization of a girt into the bracing rod scheme. Many repair shops, or other smaller pre-engineered steel buildings, may have abundant doors and windows in a single side of the building that will not permit side bracing. One solution is the use of only one braced sidewall, the two endwalls, and the creation of a rigid roof diaphragm to assist with loading dispersal to the auxiliary system regarding the three side braced walls of the structure.