Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
(OP)
This pertains to low, multi-story building design (4 stories, steel frame with exterior masonry walls). Through a colleague, I heard that structural engineers in a large northeastern metropolitan area are designing very rigid primary structures in order to avoid as much "secondary" framing as possible because of labor costs. My understanding is that heavy rigid frames are used with very low deflection ratios to avoid the use of bracing. With these low deflection ratios come the recommendation that masonry be built tight to the structure. I guess the thinking is that clips angle braces at the tops of non-bearing walls are labor intensive. Also, no relief angles are used to support exterior brick walls at floor lines. This thinking seems very odd to me, to say the least. One of the issues, differential temperature movement, is not addressed by this approach. Have any of you heard of this or a variation of this approach?
-JCali.
-JCali.






RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
as far as using much heavier steel in place of braces every so often for lateral bracing, where I work, we use the braces. I've never heard of people using heavy framing instead of braces.
So I agree, it all seems odd to me.
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
-JCali
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
Why is this recommended?
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
-JCali
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
Ever wonder why in the old days, they made all those bridges and water towers out of latticed channels? Or why they stopped doing it?
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
-JCali
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
RE: Overdesign Primary Structure to save labor cost?
You're right. All constructive input is welcome. I'm sorry.
-JCali