What kind of roof system is this? 3

[RacingAZ]

Wondering if anyone here can ID this roof system and the manufacturer. It looks like a space frame system to me but not sure since the top members are only running in 1 direction. In typical space frames that I have seen, they normally run in both directions.

The girders are at 40' o.c. (top and bottom made out of WT sections) while the joists (red iron that looks like hat channels) are at 5'-0" o.c. (running from girder to girder) then steel deck on top. The building is at least 30+ years old located in the Southwest US.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[msquared48]

Looks like a forerunner two dimensional linked truss system, similar to the space truss system that just collapsed.

Just kidding - actually never seen it before. Wish I could help.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[ajh1]

This is the Space Grid system sold by Butler Manufacturing Co. back in the mid 1970's. From your picture it looks to be in pretty good shape. What sort of information are you needing on the system?

Al..

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Sure is pretty!!

 

[RacingAZ]

Thanks ajh1, I would not have been able to figure that out. We're looking to put in solar panels on top and I need to find out if the system can handle the additional loads.

The good thing is that Butler is still around so hopefully I might be able to get some info but the system is no longer in their catalog. I'll give them a call right now.

 

[ajh1]

I'm the guy you need to talk to. Call Butler's Kansas City office and ask for Al Harrold.
What I'm looking at right now indicates a 34 psf total live plus dead load design level for a 40' space truss. Keep in mind that the design is based on AISI Cold-Form provisions from back in the mid 70's. Like every other design spec around, requirements have gotten more stringent over the years so there may not be quite that much capacity if checked to today's codes.

Al...

 

[RacingAZ]

Al, just finished talking to Mike and actually just sent him a detailed e-mail with all the info that I can think of. Can I forward the e-mail to you? I'm assuming that your e-mail address follows this format? ajlastname -at- butlermfg.com?

Thanks!

 

[RacingAZ]

Al, thanks again. I just got the load charts and specs from Mike and I think I'm set.

 

[RacingAZ]

Thanks to whoever deleted ajh1's e-mail info. I got excited after I saw his response and wasn't thinking right. I realized my mistake after I posted it and wish we have an edit feature on this forum.

 

[hokie66]

Another success story. Cheers to Butler for maintaining and making available this type of vital information.

 

[DRWeig]

Ain't eng-tips great???

Goober Dave

 

[ajh1]

RAcingAZ, I'm curious as to exactly who you talked to (last name). The Space Grid product is old enough that there are only a limited number of us still around who even know that it existed let alone have information on it. I just want to double check that you got the correct stuff.

In addition to an edit function, it would be nice if there was a way to take a discussion private on this forum so that one could pass email addresses and phone numbers around one-on-one when appropriate.

Al..