Metal Building Frame Spacing
Metal Building Frame Spacing
(OP)
Does anyone have a good rule of thumb for a practical maximum spacing of metal building frames?
We usually have to set the spacing prior to a metal building supplier's involvement in the project. Ideally, we like to maximize the spacing within practical limitations.
We usually have to set the spacing prior to a metal building supplier's involvement in the project. Ideally, we like to maximize the spacing within practical limitations.






RE: Metal Building Frame Spacing
Smaller ones - 8 to 12 feet
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Metal Building Frame Spacing
Make your bays about 25' long or say 23' to 28' long. If you are paying for erection by the piece make them longer, say 30', or if you are paying for erection by the square foot make them all close to the average, say 25'.
This all refers to primary and secondary framing. Paneling is all by sq ft any way so it does not make a lot of difference about bay length.
Jim,
10 years with a major mfg and 7 years with a builder.
RE: Metal Building Frame Spacing
RE: Metal Building Frame Spacing
RE: Metal Building Frame Spacing
Give them guidelines (20,25,30 feet)and let them return with sufficient engineering, upon which you should be able to reasonably rely.
RE: Metal Building Frame Spacing
I'm assuming that it is the girts or purlins that become uneconomical or not viable when you get into frame spacings that are much greater than 30 feet?
RE: Metal Building Frame Spacing
That would be a fair statement !
A portal I designed about 3 years ago was 100 ft span with a bay spacing of 30 ft and this had 8 inch purlins.
The purlins were just on the point of working for the wind conditions. I think I took the bay spacings to the maximum.