11 Nov The 4 Structural Loads That Affect Steel Frame Buildings

Steel frame buildings are an increasingly popular option for construction projects across the UK due to steel’s excellent strength and durability compared to other materials. Structural steel beams, columns and channels are fabricated together to use these advantages to create bespoke designs.

Due to the intricacies of creating a steel frame building, every component and structural load needs to be accounted for before construction can begin. If you and any steel fabrication companies you use don’t account for these, they can lead to massive damage or even the destruction of your construction project.

Specifically, this guide expands further on structural loads, which comes with many factors that the structural steel fabrication experts at Baker Steel Trading can help you to resolve.

What are Structural Loads?

The technical names for structural loads include deformations and accelerations, amongst other external forces, all of which you may have to contend with and can affect the stability of a structure.

As mentioned above, when designing and constructing a steel frame building, it’s essential to consider the structural loads it may face. Even if you’ve dealt with structural loads when constructing buildings from alternate materials, structural steel loads are different from those that affect traditional structures. 

This is because of the different minimum and maximum load values that come with using fabricated steel. Safety is paramount, so take the time to research the various rules and regulations regarding safely erecting structural steel buildings.

4 Types of Structural Loads

One of the most well-known types of steel, stainless steel is created by adding chromium to molten steel. This gives it additional robustness and corrosion resistance. The process used to produce stainless steel maintains its corrosion resistance even when in contact with saltwater, meaning it’s commonly used when more intensive corrosion protection is required. Stainless steel fabrication tends to be more expensive than alternate options, as specific steps need to be taken when heating and cooling stainless steel.

The structural loads you need to consider depend on various factors, including where your building is situated, the environment around it, its elevation, and the intended use of the building itself. These factors have resulted in four significant classifications of structural load existing, which include:

Dead Loads

Also known as permanent or static loads, dead loads refer to the weight of the core materials and the building itself. This includes core parts of the structure, including the roof and the galvanised steel frame, along with other permanent items such as any HVAC systems or built-in furniture.

Live Loads

Live loads are the opposite of dead loads, which means they are temporary and situational loads that can act on the building after construction is completed. Also known as imposed loads, sources of this include foot traffic, vehicles, machines, furniture and more. It’s difficult to accurately estimate the live loads that a steel frame building may have to withstand, so estimates are created assuming they will be constant throughout the day.

Environmental Loads

As their name suggests, environmental loads are created by the weather, with common causes including wind and snow. The extra weight created by snow or standing water can significantly impact a steel frame building, so you must ensure this is considered during the structural design process.

Miscellaneous Loads

Anything not mentioned above, such as fire and corrosion, is referred to as a miscellaneous load. During the design and planning of your steel frame building, decisions can be made to reduce the risk of these loads occurring. For example, you can use stainless steel or galvanise your structural steel beams to reduce the risk of rust.

Load Combinations and Steel Frame Buildings

As you’d expect, it’s very rare for any steel frame building to only experience one of these four types of structural loads simultaneously. Depending on the combination of weight placed upon the structure, there could be a significant risk of damage. This makes it essential to work with steel fabrication companies that can take every possible step to ensure this doesn’t occur.

The experienced team at Baker Steel Trading works with structural engineers and designers to complete on-site surveys and fabrication drawings, reassuring you that our structural steel fabricators will finish work to the highest quality. These are necessary steps to ensure that your steel frame building is legal and compliant with your local building codes and regulations.

Steel Frame Building and Steel Fabrication Services

Baker Steel Trading provide fully end-to-end managed steel frame building services and additional off-site and on-site steel fabrication for any emergency work required. All of these services that our friendly and experienced team provide make it as easy as possible to create a safe and secure steel frame structure as you require. For a free estimate, get in touch with a member of our team today.