Metal building modification
Metal building modification
(OP)
I have a metal building where the new owner would like to remove a center column. It looks like the column is part of the original building's endwall frame, and then the frame was left alone when another bay was added on (a full width frame in the newer part is next to this frame). So you have this single slender column in the middle of a big open space. As best I can tell the members in the old end frame, including the column in question, are w8x15's. I am assuming the end frame was designed for lateral and vertical loading.
I am thinking about creating a new larger frame and attaching to the inside face of the exisitng columns/beams, but that is definitely going to be complicated. Any better ideas on the column removal?
I am thinking about creating a new larger frame and attaching to the inside face of the exisitng columns/beams, but that is definitely going to be complicated. Any better ideas on the column removal?






RE: Metal building modification
If there is now another bay the lateral load should be next to zero and the vertical load should be minimal (depending on the roof framing) if there is a frame for the new bay directly adjacent to this old one.
RE: Metal building modification
RE: Metal building modification
RE: Metal building modification
I had a similar problem proposed to me a few months ago (removing a center column in a PEMB). The client wanted to replace the column with a beam, they call it a "jack beam". I was concerned that the change in stiffness from a column to a beam would produce a "kick" force in the other columns and the foundation would be undersized. I discusses my problems with someone who used to work in the PEMB industry and he said that while I was correct with my concerns, they never gave it much thought and would just size the center beam to carry the loads appropriately (with out concern for stiffness other than what is in the code). He said that his name was on hundreds of these "jack beams" that came after the fact and he has never received a complaint about one failing.
RE: Metal building modification
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Metal building modification
You can then likely find out if it is an expandable endwall and possibly come up with a better solution if the column needs to be removed. Do you have existing foundation information?
RE: Metal building modification
RE: Metal building modification
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering