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installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

(OP)
I want to place a beam across my garage, which will be insignificantly loaded. (light bulb in the middle, and a "shelve" for some long wooden beams that will be stored near the wall, not in mid-span).
Length across is = 13 ft. Walls are brick, sturdy enough to take a shear load but I don't want moment connections.
I've got the beam (see sketch in attachment), so I'd like to use that one.

What would be a good way to detail the end connections? As it must be placed inbetween two existing walls, it must be able to take up some slack.

I was thinking of welding a vertical/perpendicular piece of plate onto both (left and right end) plates that will be bolted to the walls, and fastening the beam to those plates (those will slide into the HSS) using self-drilling screws.

I don't know of any other accepted ways, somebody cares to share his/her thoughts?

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

Most of us are wary about offering engineering advice to non-structural engineers, as my license prohibits it. Even an "insignificantly loaded" beam could fall if not properly connected, perhaps on a child's head, and now you see where I am going with this... Find a friend who is a structural engineer who can help you out with this?

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

(OP)
I know how this site works, been here around long enough to know the ropes, and I perfectly know what you are saying. I specifically didn't ask for any engineering advice, I am looking for alternative ways to fix a beam in between two walls.
I see worse posts than mine that get answered, I didn't even think mine was that bad.

Thanks for the link, I knew about those beam hangers but I thought they were to be used with wooden beams only. I have absolutely zero experience with residential buildings, but I know how to calc a beam as I do basically the same thing, but building machines instead of houses.

So, if someone else cares to answer, there are no problems using those hangers with HSS (1 1/2 x 5) ?

BTW, it appears I've forgotten to upload the sketch in my previous post, so here it is:

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

There's definitely some form of beam hanger you could use. Or you could mount two steel angles to the brick on either side of the beam and bolt through the two angles and the beam.

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

I obviously know nothing of the condition of your brick or your space restrictions...but if the beam is only lightly loaded I would be tempted to just support it on a couple of timber posts down to the slab and avoid anchoring into the brick all together.

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

Then along comes the next door neighbor wanting to lift up his snow blower for repairs via his pickup. Hey, let's use this steel beam up there and use this come along. Gosh, I'm sorry it didn't hold. Sure looked strong enough.

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

(OP)
I cannot do the post thing, as my electrical cabinet is right underneath it.

and I have an overhead crane right above my two-post lift, if my neighbour decides he wants to hang anthing of a beam, he has plenty of choice 20 ft further into my garage. he even has a crane. But again, I don't have to worry about that, as I generally don't invite people in there.

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

Just a few questions/comments:

- Even with a shear connection, you're still going to transfer some bending moment into the brick wall. For one, because your connection will not be a perfect pin. And for two, you're loading the wall eccentrically.

- If the load on the beam is insignificant, why do you need a steel beam to span 13'? Why not use timber? For looks?

- You could put a post on each side of the cabinet and then a short beam across to carry the main beam if you wanted to avoid fastening to the brick.

Again, I know nothing of your brick wall. Its possible you could fasten to the brick wall, hang a truck from your beam and not have a problem. Personally, I would avoid fastening into the brick if at all possible.

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

With steel beams on brickwork, I always support them with a pier, just dont feel comfortable supporting a beam with the steel plate, because it transfer a moment and as oldestguy said someone down the track can decide to hang a chain block for servicing his ute.

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

^^ Wow, haven't heard them called utes in a while. You must be either a Aussie or a Kiwi. Most people call them trucks

RE: installing beam inbetween two brick walls?

How about just cutting some beam pockets? Make them deep enough that you could slide the beam in one way and then back the other way and then grout it in.

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