- BASIC
TERMS
-
-
- PORTAL FRAME:
- Column and beam bracing used in lieu of
standard rod or cable bracing, to provide clear
access.
-
- POST AND BEAM
ENDWALL:
- A system of endwall framing consisting of
upright or vertical members (posts) with pinned
ends
- and supporting horizontal beams. These posts
and beams are normally cold - formed members.
-
- PRE-ENGINEER:
- To design and detail components beforehand.
Used also to man the fabrication and
- design of standard sections.
-
- PRE - FABRICATE:
- To fabricate or build beforehand. To
manufacture standard sections that can be rapidly
assembled.
-
- PRIMARY FRAMING:
- The main load carrying members of a
structural system, generally the columns and
rafters
- or other main support members.
-
- PRIMER PAINT:
- The initial coat of paint applied in the shop
to the structural framing of a building for
protection
- against the elements during shipping and
erection.
-
- PURLIN:
- A horizontal secondary structural member
bolted to the rafters which transfers the roof
loads
- from the roof covering to the primary frames.
-
- PURLIN EXTENSION:
- A projecting secondary member used in
connection with overhanging roofs.
-
- PURLIN LINE:
- The extreme outer, or exterior, edge of the
purlins.
-
- RAFTER:
- Primary member supported on columns.
-
- RAKE:
- The intersection of the plane of the roof and
the plane of the gable.
-
- REACTIONS:
- The resisting forces at the column bases of a
frame, holding the frame in equilibrium under a
- given loading condition.
-
- REVISION:
- A significant change in building design,
building order, or product worthy of notation.
-
- RIDGE:
- Peak of a gabled building.
-
- RIDGE FLASHING:
- Continuous metal flashing used to close
roofing material along the ridge of a roof.
-
- RIDGE SIGN:
- The finish trim at the highest point of the
gable.
-
- RIDGE CONNECTION:
- A connection between two members which
transfer the moment from one side of the
- connection to the other side and maintains
under application of load the same angle
- between the connected members that exist
prior to the loading. Also, a
- connection that maintains continuity.
-
- RIGID FRAME:
- A structural frame consisting of members
joined together with rigid (or moment)
connections
- so as to render the frame stable with respect
to imposed loads,
- without the need for bracing in its plane.
-
- ROOF COVERING:
- The exterior roof skin consisting of panels
or sheets, and their attachments and weather
sealants.
-
- ROOF EXTENSION:
- An extension of the roof beyond the endwall
and/or sidewall of a building.
-
- ROOF SLOPE:
- The angle that a roof surface makes with the
horizontal. Usually expressed in units
- of vertical rise to 12 units of horizontal
run.
-
- SAG ROD:
- Tie rods used to support flanges of girts or
purlins.
-
- SEALANT:
- Any material which is used to close up cracks
or joints to protect against leaks.
-
- SECONDARY FRAMING:
- Members which carry loads to the primary
framing. In metal buildings this term
- includes base angles, purlins girts, eave
struts, flange braces, etc.
-
- SELF DRILLING
SCREWS:
- Used for attaching panels and trims to girts
and purlins. Pre-drilling is not necessary.
-
- SELF TAPPING SCREWS:
- Self TA tapping screw. Same function as S.D.S
but needs pre-drilled holed.
-
- SHEETING:
- The exterior cover for a building, generally
light gage metal, which has been cold
- formed into a configuration having
appearance, weatherproofing and structural
qualities.
-
- SHIMS:
- Small steel plates used for leveling base
plates or packing between structural members.
-
- SHOP DETAILS:
- Details prepared for and used by
manufacturing in the fabrication of parts and
assemblies.
-
- SIDELAP:
- A term used to describe the lap condition
occurring at the side or lengthwise direction of
panels.
-
- SIDEWALL:
- A term used to describe the entire
composition of a building side.
-
- SILL:
- The bottom horizontal member of a door or
windows opening.
-
- SKYLIGHT:
- Translucent fiberglass panel used in the roof
to transmit natural light.
-
- SLEEVE NUT:
- A long, slender nut normally used to join
two,' brace rods of the same diameter
- together. (Also known as coupling)
-
- SLIDE DOOR:
- A single or double leaf door which opens
horizontally by means of overhead trolleys.
-
- SOFFIT:
- The underside covering of any exterior
portion of a metal building.
-
- SPALL:
- A chip or fragment of concrete which has
chipped, weathered or otherwise
- broken from the main mass of concrete.
-
- SPAN:
- Distance between the supports of beams,
girders or trusses.
-
- SPECIFICATIONS:
- A statement of particulars of a given job, as
to size of building, quality and performance
- of men and materials to be used, and the
terms of the contract. The most common
- specification found in the metal building
industry is the "Recommended Guide
- Specifications For Metal Building
Systems" published by the Metal Building
- Manufacturers Association.
-
- SPLICE:
- A connection in a structural member.
-
- S.S.D.:
- Single Slide Door.
-
- STEEL LINE:
- The extreme outer limits of a buildings'
structural framing system to which the sheeting
is attached.
-
- STEP IN EAVE HEIGHT:
- The condition where a lower building is
attached to a higher building at the endwalls,
- resulting in one building with different eave
heights at each end.
-
- STIFFENER:
- Plate welded to a member to prevent buckling.
-
- STIFFENER LIP:
- A short extension of material at an angle to
the flange of cold formed structural members,
- which adds strength to the member.
-
- STITCH SCREW:
- Used to fasten side laps of panels.
-
- STRUCTURAL STEEL
MEMBERS:
- Load carrying members. May be hot rolled
sections, cold formed shapes, or built- up
shapes.
-
- STRUTS:
- A brace fitted into a frame work to resist
force in the direction of its length.
-
- SUCTION:
- A partial vacuum resulting from wind loads on
a building which cause a load in the outward
direction.
-
- TAPERED MEMBER:
- A built-up plate member consisting of flanges
welded to a variable depth web which
- slopes from one end to the other.
-
- TENSION:
- Stress in a structural member created by
forces tending to draw it apart longitudinally.
-
- THRUST:
- A horizontal component of a reaction.
-
- TOLERANCE:
- A fractional allowance for variations from
the specified standard weight,
- dimensions, etc., of mechanical construction.
-
- TRACK:
- A metal way for wheeled components;
specifically one or more lines of ways,
- with fastenings, ties, etc., for a craneway,
monorail or- slide door.
-
- TRANSLUCENT:
- Allowing the passage of light, but not
permitting a clear view of any object. A
translucent
- material is semi-transparent, or semi-clear.
-
- TRANSVERSE EXPANSION
JOINT:
- A joint across- the width of a building to
allow small relative movements, such as those
caused
- by thermal expansion and contraction of the
materials used in the structure.
-
- TRUSS:
- Structural member made up of several
individual parts welded or bolted together,
- the completed unit acting as a beam.
-
- TUBE COLUMN:
- A vertical structure support member made of a
hollow square tube. Normally used as an
- interior support column in multi-span
buildings or mezzanine floors.
-
- TURN OF NUT METHOD:
- A method of tightening high strength bolts in
accordance with AISC "Specifications for
- Structural Joints Using ASTM A-325
Bolts".
-
- UH CRANE:
- A multi- rail, underhung, material handling
system, manually or electrically operated.