Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
(OP)
Other than tilt-up, what options have you guys used for high bay warehouse exterior walls? Client wants 36' clear, so likely 40' total height exterior walls. Might need Brick finish, PEMB won't work at this location because it needs to look nice. Any other creative solutions other than tilt-up that you all have seen used? To me, this seems tilt-up or bust. Maybe offsite made precast wall panels? SE U.S. is location.






RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
These guys (www.metromont.com) make pre-cast wall panels. Might work for you application. You could also do a steel frame with a a few girts and metal studs.
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
Dave
Thaidavid
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
Here's a link to one manufacturer: http://www.metlspan.com/
This requires horizontal girts between columns to attach the panels to. Typically about 12 ft. o.c. vertical spacing unless you are near the coast - then perhaps 4 to 8 ft. spacing depending on the panel type and thickness.
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RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
They also used to do them with thin brick veneer.
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
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RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
Cheaper looking wall panels won't work at the site since it's a nicer business park that likely won't allow an eye sore.
I'm leaning towards attempting precast wall panels, but very happy to learn of these other options for the future
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
CMU-Hard to span vertically that distance. Twelve inch blocks are pretty labor intensive.
Cast in Place or Tilt-Up Concrete-Probably the easiest to design and construct, especially plant cast.
Some kind of Metal Siding-Probably more work for you, detailing girts and sag rods, but very feasible. I don't think it's all that much of a price difference from tilt up.
One thing that's driving our designs more and more is energy code considerations. If the warehouse is not conditioned, it's not a big deal (except for the guys and gals in there sweltering), but if it's cooled or heated, you need a minimum wall "R" value. Ten inches of concrete gives you an R of .75. That's unlikely to be enough to meet any code requirement. So you're either going to have to go with sandwich panels or add insulation on the outside (EIFS) or inside (furred walls with insulation panels in them). Of course metal panels provide no insulation value, unless they're made with a foam layer. CMU can have interior insulation or the options above.
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
As far as aesthetics go - I've seen where a lower, concrete, block, or brick system is used in the bottom 12 ft. of the wall and the upper part is a metal panel.
That requires the lower wall to either cantilever up off the footing or some type of horizontal girt beam provided to brace the top of the wall yet accommodate the steel frame movements.
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RE: Exterior Wall Options for High Bay Warehouse?
I'd really like to hear if you find that precast solid, hollow-core, or sandwich panels work out for this application.