General opinions and theories of the methods which govern our engineering industries
Background Building codes require that buildings be classified by their level of importance in determining the risk taken with safety factors against their failure under critical design loads. Calculations for the structure’s overall stability, flexure, and fatigue are all based on the assumption of a given risk category design level. ASCE 7 references risk category…
In terms of determining the risk category to a building component mounted to a building, the component ‘inherits’ the design properties of the structure. So a sign attached to a risk category II structure would be risk category II. If the sign is freestanding and not part of a main structure, while matching the…
Perforated Design Method vs. Segmented Design Methods for Shear Walls The International Building Code (2018) defines a shear wall as “a wall designed to resist lateral forces parallel to the plane of a wall.” Lateral forces include, but are not limited to, wind and seismic forces that may shift or deflect a structure laterally.…
The term lag bolt implies a large diameter fastener with a bolt head square or hexagonal head, and the term lag screw indicates a fastener with a wood screw tread. Both terms refer to the same type of fastener and are relatively large diameter fasteners. The National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS) refers to…
FLOOD GLOSSARY The following is provided as a curated summary of terms taken from the referenced standards that appear in the article footing. NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP) The Federal program, create by an act of Congress in 1968, that makes flood insurance available in communities that enact satisfactory floodplain management regulations. FLOOD INSURANCE…
An engineer’s walk through of the design requirements for flood resistant design of building components With Engineering Express’s early start with floodproofing designs for floor barriers and exterior glazing in projects across the US, we quickly became experts in this field. We’ve witnessed and directed static and dynamic flood testing, sat on industry meetings, met…
INTRODUCTION The main purpose foundations serve is to distribute and resist the forces or loads experienced by the host structure due to wind, rain, snow, seismic, & other load conditions. When it comes to building components such as generators, signs, and fences the code leaves a gray area for foundation design. This happens because most…
The Applied Technology Council (ATC) offers site-specific information that is used in our calculators to determine the wind velocity. For the best results, the address of the site may be used. To find your wind speed, follow the step-by-step guide below. Navigate to https://hazards.atcouncil.org/#/ Enter your address, zip code, or city and state in the search…
Here’s a description and illustrations we’ve created for footing types we frequently reference in our work for sunrooms, pergolas, carports, screen rooms, signs, and similar at-grade building component structures. An isolated footing is used to support a single post. Isolated footings are independent footings which are provided for each support. they can be round…
Heat treatment is done by raising the alloy temperature to about 980 degrees F and holding it there for about an hour. The purpose of this is to dissolve all the alloying elements in a solid solution in the aluminum. Then the alloy is quenched in water. The purpose of quenching isn’t really to strengthen…
Many who don’t understand how wind works will state a product is rated to a specific wind velocity which is false advertising and not true. “Rated to 180 MPH wind” is frequently seen in marketing materials which is a false and misleading statement that comes with many unwritten disclaimers. The formula that converts wind velocity to…
ASCE 7 separates wind loading into three types: Main Wind Force Resisting System (MWFRS), Components and Cladding (C&C), and Other Structures and Building Appurtenances. MWFRS is defined as “(a)n assemblage of structural elements to provide support and stability for the overall structure.” Typically, members which receive loading from two surfaces are designed to resist MWFRS…
Here are some useful sites to check the seismic criteria for a location: https://www.fema.gov/earthquake-hazard-maps https://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/designmaps/
About TEK Screws The following information is complied compliments of All Points Fasteners, Totally Nuts And Bolts, and Fastenermart Tek® screws, which are self-tapping fasteners, have a very small carving at the end of its tip called a drill bit. This particular product is very popular since it is basically a self drilling product cutting back on the…
Product Approvals for building components are the general rule in Florida. Building officials, architects, insurance companies, even homeowners ask for them all the time, frequently refusing permits, insurance discounts, and product installations. So what is the legal ruling on when and if product approvals are required for this product? The Florida Building Code requires only…
The Scenario The question comes up from time to time regarding requirements for a fence or railing to be 75% open (such as in the Lighthouse Point FL Building Code Amendments). This is the case for example in Florida when overlooking the Intracoastal in Broward County. This porosity also affects the design calculations for the…
Section 1809.5 of the Florida Building Code (2017) and 2012, 2015 & 2018 International Building Code describe the design requirements of shallow foundations in regions where soil is subjected to seasonal ground freezing. The code requires that footings are protected from frost to prevent a phenomenon known as heave. Frost heave occurs when water penetrates…
Explanation In the event of a high wind event, it is the concern of building codes ASCE-7 and ASTM specifications that windows and doors don’t fail and develop an opening breach in the building. An opening would allow more wind to enter the structure and pressurize the inside of the building, leading to other doors…
Per the Aluminum Design Manual (ADM) 2010, the allowable bending stress of round tubes shall be determined for the limit states of yielding, rupture, and local buckling: that given by section F.6.1 (compressive yielding), or that given by section F.6.1 (tensile yielding), or that given by section F.6.1 (tensile rupture), or that given by section…
This is provided to inform clients of the requirements of the 2010 Aluminum Design Manual, Chapter M – Section M.7 Structures of the alloys covered by the Aluminum Design Manual are not ordinarily painted. Surfaces shall be painted where: 2014-T6 alloys are exposed to corrosive environments. Aluminum alloy parts are in contact with, or are fastened…
Per the National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS) 2012, Section 11.1.4.6 the minimum penetration (not including the length of the tapered tip) of the lag screw into the main member for single shear connections or the side member for double shear connections shall be four times the diameter, Pmin = 4Ø. A 1/2″ lag…
Regarding any aluminum railing project, it is imperative to understand the life-safety issue that arises when welding an aluminum railing or sign post. For example, a rail is classified as a life-saving fall guard for any elevation above 31 inches. The aluminum alloys normally used (such as 6061-T6) get their strength from a heat-treatment process.…
Per AISC-ANSI-360-10, the minimum edge distance for bolts is to follow the below table J3.4 https://www.scribd.com/doc/115942657/Minimum-Edge-Distance-Table-AISC-ANSI-360-10-Specifications-for-Structural-Steel-Buildings or buy direct from AISC: https://www.aisc.org/store/p-1578-steel-construction-manual-14th-ed-fourth-printing-hardbound.aspx
Metal fastening is designed per the requirements of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC): Specification for Structural Steel Buildings in conjunction with the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA): TIR-A9-14 Design Guide for Metal Cladding Fasteners. The (2) most common types of fastener threads used in construction are Unified Coarse Thread (UNC) more commonly…
There is often confusion as to which size product a client actually needs – Pipe Size or OD Tubing Size. Keep in mind that pipe size refers to a nominal – not actual – inside pipe diameter. Schedule refers to the pipe’s wall thickness. The dimensions provided for OD tubing on the other hand refer to the actual…
Note: Updated March 2018 in response to 3 negative user feedback comments for more information. Please thumb this up! A canopy is a structure which provides overhead protection from the elements such as rain, snow, or sunlight. Canopies can be attached to a structure or they can be free standing with their own supports. They…
First, it needs to be said that there is a complicated formula that converts wind velocity to wind pressure. Many wind pressure values can exist from a single wind velocity which vary based on roof height, topography, terrain, even code version, and more. See our wind speed to wind pressure calculators for different ASCE codes by…
Masonry openings in buildings are frequently not exact and are referred to as rough openings for that reason. When window products are placed into openings, they often need to be shimmed into place to properly fit the opening. When a large amount of shimming is required, 1x or 2x pieces of wood are utilized and…
When an anchor is installed into concrete, there is an area surrounding the anchor called a cone of influence in which the anchor is affecting and it is affected by. When two anchors are spaced too closely to one another and/or too closely to an edge, the anchor’s cone of influence reduces or becomes interfered…