Tag Archives: structural integrity

In What Ways Does Hansen Pole Buildings Provide the Strongest Post Frame Building?

In What Ways Does Hansen Pole Buildings Provide the Strongest Post Frame Building?

My curiosity got an upper hand on me this morning, so I asked AI Chat this very question. Here is what it responded with:

“Hansen Pole Buildings stands out in the post-frame building industry for several reasons that contribute to the strength and durability of their structures:

1. Superior Materials: They use glulam columns that are 157% stronger than typical lumber, which are also treated for moisture resistance. This helps prevent warping and twisting, ensuring long-lasting stability.
2. Engineered Designs: Each building is fully engineered to meet specific local conditions, including snow and wind loads. This engineering is backed by a professional engineer’s seal, ensuring that the structures are built to withstand various environmental stresses.
3. High-Quality Lumber: Hansen employs machine stress-rated lumber for wall girts and trusses, which minimizes defects and enhances strength. This type of lumber is less prone to warping and provides better dimensional stability.
4. Innovative Connections: They utilize advanced fastening systems, such as Simpson screws, which provide stronger connections than traditional nails, allowing for easier adjustments during construction.
5. Customization and Versatility: Their buildings can be tailored for various uses, from agricultural to residential, and they offer extensive customization options to meet specific client needs.
6. Lifetime Warranty: Hansen Pole Buildings offers a limited lifetime structural warranty on their kits, which reflects their confidence in the durability and quality of their products.

These features collectively ensure that Hansen Pole Buildings provides some of the strongest and most reliable post-frame structures available on the market today.

Building the strongest possible post frame building offers several distinct advantages that enhance its performance, longevity, and overall value. Here are the key benefits:

1. Enhanced Structural Integrity: A strong post frame building is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including heavy snow loads and high winds. The deep anchoring of posts provides stability, reducing the risk of structural failure.
2. Longevity: With high-quality materials and robust construction techniques, these buildings can last for decades with minimal maintenance. The durability of pressure-treated wood and metal siding helps resist rot, pests, and corrosion.
3. Energy Efficiency: Strong post frame buildings can accommodate thicker insulation due to their design, leading to better energy efficiency. This results in lower heating and cooling costs, making them more economical over time.
4. Flexibility in Design: The absence of interior load-bearing walls allows for large, open spaces that can be customized for various uses. This adaptability is beneficial for future modifications or expansions.
5. Cost-Effectiveness: While the initial investment might be higher for stronger materials, the long-term savings on maintenance, energy bills, and repairs make it a cost-effective choice. The reduced need for repairs and upkeep translates to lower lifetime costs.
6. Quick Construction: Strong post frame buildings can be erected faster than traditional structures due to their simplified design and fewer components. This efficiency can be crucial for businesses needing to minimize downtime.
7. Versatility: These buildings can serve multiple purposes, from agricultural storage to commercial spaces, making them a versatile investment. Their strength allows them to be used in various applications without compromising structural integrity.

In summary, investing in a strong post frame building not only ensures durability and energy efficiency but also provides flexibility and cost savings over time. It’s a smart choice for anyone looking to build a reliable and adaptable structure. Hansen Pole Buildings is known for providing high-quality DIY post frame building kits that emphasize strength and durability. Here are some key features that contribute to the robustness of their structures:

1. Glulam Columns: Hansen uses glulam (glued laminated timber) columns, which are stronger and more stable than traditional solid-sawn lumber. This material is 45% stronger and offers better dimensional stability, reducing the risk of warping.
2. Engineered Plans: Each kit comes with engineer-sealed plans tailored to local building codes and load requirements, ensuring that the structure can withstand environmental stresses like wind and snow.
3. High-Quality Materials: The kits include premium kiln-dried lumber and structural screws that provide superior shear strength compared to nails. This results in a more secure and durable building.
4. Double Truss System: Hansen employs a double truss system that enhances the roof’s load-bearing capacity, distributing weight more evenly and reducing the likelihood of roof failure.
5. Lifetime Warranty: They offer a written limited lifetime warranty on structural components, which reflects their confidence in the durability of their buildings.

Overall, Hansen Pole Buildings provides a strong option for DIY enthusiasts looking to construct a durable post frame building. Their focus on quality materials and engineering makes them a reputable choice in the market.”

Artificial Intelligence proves to be intelligent! Don’t just take AI’s word for it, call 1.866.200.9657 for “The Ultimate Post Frame Building Experience™”.

Storage Space Strength, Spray Foam on Steel, and Endwall Glulams

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the chance shelves in a storage space could hurt the integrity of the building, his opinion on the effects of spray foam on steel panels, and placement of glulams on endwalls for load transfer.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I’m creating storage space in post framed shop. I used 3 – 4″ torx lags and 2 – 4″ torx screws to attach 2×6 to the post. The shelf is 2′ deep and 9.5′ long. Joists are at 24″ and used 3″ and 4″ torx at the rim, hangers on the girt side. The lumber is Doug fir. I feel like these are quite stout and won’t hurt the integrity of the building. Am I right to feel that way? Would diagonal braces at the ends to the posts be necessary? About how much would be too much weight for them? Whatever info you got would be appreciated.

Thanks. MATT in RIDDLE

DEAR MATT: You are asking me to practice structural engineering here without a license. While you are unlikely to negatively affect your building’s structure (other than probably overloading wall girts), only the engineer who originally sealed your building plans could adequately provide an analysis. I would be skeptical in regards to the ends of your system being adequate, without either vertical support or some sort of diagonal back to the columns. There is a system already developed for exactly your application: https://thepostrack.com/

 

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Came across your articles on spray foam. I’ve also found a couple things saying chemicals in it can cause the metal to rust prematurely. Have you found that correct or no? RON in HARTVILLE

DEAR RON: Only articles I have read in regards to possible premature steel degradation have been on websites selling other types of insulation, so I take them with a block of salt. I have closed cell spray foam in my own post frame barndominium and we used it when we added onto our warehouse, can’t say we have experienced any negative challenges. We have also had hundreds of clients successfully use closed cell spray foam applied directly to steel roofing and siding.

 

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Mike, on the gable ends of a building how do the poles (glulams) compare to the sidewall poles? When I am sketching a building layout I just put a dot every 12′ along the perimeter. It seems gable end walls don’t have to support any of the roof’s weight because their tops end along the bottom chord of the end trusses. Or is the design of the end truss different so that roof weight is transferred onto the lower chord all along its length? If so, are there key measurements where to place the supporting pole down to frost line must be placed, e.g. every 12 feet’? BRIAN in LEROY

DEAR BRIAN: Endwall trusses are typically designed so roof loads are transferred via internal web members to column locations. For practical purposes, place columns on endwalls anywhere working with your door and/or window openings, up to 16′ on center. Try to keep them on multiples of two feet for best use of materials.

Sloppy Construction or a Structural Integrity Issue?

Sloppy Construction or a Structural Integrity Issue?

Reader BRISHA in EARLY BRANCH writes:

“This is a barndo that will be our home. Is it acceptable to have metal trusses not come completely together (see pic)? Also, multiple (MANY) screws in the wood that trusses connected to are in at an angle? Is this just sloppy construction or is this a structural integrity issue?”

My objection to steel trusses is they seemingly rarely follow “the rules”. By rules, I mean the Building Codes. Building Codes specify truss quality assurance. IBC (International Building Code) requirements for steel trusses:

Rarely do light gauge welded up steel trusses meet requirements for third-party quality control.

From your photos, my best guess is your gaps at center are from poor workmanship, not from a manufacturing defect. Your contractor should provide engineer sealed drawings as to adequacy of his or her field assembly. Personally, I would find these gaps to be aesthetically (if not structurally) unacceptable.

Moving forward to screw connections between steel truss clips and wood roof purlins. Besides issues of screws being driven in at an extreme angle, I was greatly surprised to see steel roofing/siding screws being used in this application, rather than actual structural screws such as those manufactured by Simpson Strongtie. You will want to review your building’s engineer sealed drawings to verify what connectors are specified.

This very well could be both a sloppy connection and a structural integrity issue. Your builder may need to hire a Registered Professional Engineer to do a site inspection and either approve as installed, or provide an engineered repair. Your attorney may require this as well.

Additions, Notching Posts, and Stem Walls

This Monday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about adding to an existing pole barn, the possibility of notching girts into posts, and use of a stem wall on an uneven site.

Hansen Buildings TaglineDEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have an existing 36x36x12 pole barn and would like to do an additional 36-48 roof only build off the back. I used the Oregon ready build plans for my existing barn, built in 2019. My 2 over head doors are on the end wall. I was told by my county official that the ready build plans cannot be added onto because they are stand-alone buildings, but maybe with engineering they could be. Do I need to consider building a separate barn 12′ behind mine or can I possibly get it engineered to be attached? Thank you. CLAYTON in SCAPPOOSE

DEAR CLAYTON: Your county official is correct in stating your existing pole barn is a stand-alone building. It is likely we could engineer and provide your proposed extension, however it may require some modifications to your existing building. A Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer will be reaching out to you to further discuss your building needs.

 

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: If a DIYer had all the time in the world to build a post frame, could the posts be notched for the girts? MARK in KNOXVILLE

DEAR MARK: My lovely bride and I spent a fair amount of time in Knoxville as our oldest son got his Master’s degree at U.T., lived in Maryville and taught high school at Lenoir City. His youngest sister, used to play summer basketball for Pat Summit (she has a piece of championship basketball court signed by Pat for being best player one year). Beautiful area!

Could and should are not necessarily the same. Sound engineering practice limits notch depths in columns to 1/6th of direction being notched, without requiring more complex engineering review. On a 6×6 (actual dimensions 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″) this would allow notches to be only 7/8″ deep for an externally mounted girts, or if one was doing bookshelf girts, 7/16″ deep on both sides of column. With externally mounted girts, this could pose challenges with aligning other wall framing members such as splash planks, door headers, etc. For bookshelf girts, nail or screw connections would have to be angled, reducing lateral strength of this connection so as to require extra fasteners.

 

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: My site is not level. Can you build in a stem wall? CHRIS in SEQUIM

DEAR CHRIS: You can either excavate and have a stem wall on the formerly high side, or have a stem wall on the low side and fill. Stem wall can be poured concrete, ICFs or concrete block with wet set brackets, or we can incorporate a Permanent Wood Foundation wall between columns. A Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer will be reaching out to you for more information about your new post frame building.

 

 

I Like Building Officials

For those of you who are not Building Officials, stop laughing, I am serious. Building Officials have a job – to protect those who use structures (which include buildings).

In Chapter 1 of the IBC (International Building Code), under Purpose of the code, it states, “This code is intended to provide minimum requirements to safeguard the public safety, health and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment.”

How would you like it if this was your job description?

This is not an easy proposition, by any means. The IBC itself has been simplified to roughly 800 pages – which might be manageable, if it were not for the literally hundreds of other texts and documents which the building code now incorporates by reference!

There is just no possible way for any one person to know all of this information, and how it applies.

An example from just this morning: A Building Official from a township in Michigan was doing a review of the plans we had provided for one of our clients. This particular building has a design ground snow load of 25 psf (pounds per square foot). With a 6/12 roof slope, and the other appropriate factors applied, the roof live load is 18 psf. The building has a 29 gauge steel roof and 2×6 #2 roof purlins on edge spanning a distance of 11’ 7-1/2” from center of joist hanger to center of joist hanger.

In Chapter 23 of the IBC are provided basic tables for rafter spans, which the aforementioned official was attempting to apply to the roof purlins. While these tables may be handy as a reference for rafters in a “stick frame” type of construction with shingled roofing over sheathing, they just do not apply for the design of purlins.

The closest the official could get was a table with a 20 psf roof live load (11% higher than our case) and a 10 psf dead load (833% higher than actual). Using these much greater loads, the tables would only allow for a span of 11’7” with a spacing of 24 inches on center.

The Building Official contacted us, and we provided full calculations to justify the design as submitted. These calculations easily extend for over a full page, typed without spacing between lines. The calculations include footnotes as to the sources of all data and calculations, as a verification they are indeed correct and complete. Checked in them are strength in bending from snow, and wind loads. Also verified is… does the member meet shear and deflection criteria and the connection of the purlin to the trusses?  Yes, it does, calculations were provided.

Should the official have known enough structural engineering to have been able to calculate these himself? I think not, and even if he would happen to be a registered professional engineer (which most Building Departments do not have the luxury of having on staff), unless these were calculations he was performing on a daily basis – no.

The Building Official was doing due diligence in requesting backup information on something which just did not look quite right to him. From our aspect, we are always able to provide and glad to assist.