STA advice notes

STA ADVICE NOTES

STRUCTURAL
Recommended construction tolerances TIMBER ASSOCIATION
Building solutions in timber
for timber structures

No. 4 - January 2014

Part 3 - Timber frame wall panel tolerances

Introduction
Timber framed buildings are prefabricated to a high level of quality within controlled factory conditions and delivered to site for assembly into a structure which can achieve
excellent levels of accuracy.

STA membership requires that all manufacturers operate a minimum standard of quality control which ensures the continuation of high standard within the industry.

Scope of this advice note

This advice note provides a summary of the industry acceptable maximum tolerances of erected timber frame
at the time of handover. This document does not cover manufacturing tolerances of prefabricated panels out of
the factory that are delivered to the site; such tolerances are covered by the manufacturer’s quality procedures

This is Part 3 of the recommended tolerances for timber frame site construction. Other parts in this series are:

Part 1 Foundation tolerances

Part 2 Sole plate tolerances
Part 3 Timber frame wall panel erection tolerances (this document)
Part 4 Roof tolerances
Part 5 Floor tolerances

1 RECOMMENDED CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES PART 3 - WALL PANEL TOLERANCES

 STA ADVICE NOTES
STRUCTURAL
TIMBER ASSOCIATION
Building solutions in timber

Timber frame assembled wall panel erection tolerances

The tolerances given are for the erected walls and floors which are made up of the separate prefabricated wall panels. The tolerances of the prefabricated panels is not covered
by this advice note.

These tolerances express permitted deviations of timber frame wall panels measured relative to the wall panels immediately adjacent to the component under consideration.
All data at time of handover.

Assembled wall panels

Vertical step

Horizontal step

Plan view

Elevation view
Alignment
Internal horizontal building face of the panel on plan shall be a maximum of step of 5mm with an average of no more than 3mm to any one panel.

Steps to the vertical level - either top or bottom of a panel shall be to the top or bottom shall be reviewed to consider the impact on floor/ roof and follow on floor
levels. Gaps above 2mm in height and above 300mm long shall have a rigid full bearing packer inserted. Maximum steps shall be ±5mm before investigations are
undertaken and adjustment works considered.

Deviation from line on plan along a wall at any one horizontal line Distance (m) +/- Tolerance (mm)
=√ (4×d) + 1 or 5mm whichever is the greater 3 5
T is tolerance in mm subject to a minimum of 5mm and 5 6
d is the distance under consideration in metres 10 8
15 9
20 10
25 11
30 12
Table 1: 40 14
Acceptable tolerances
for wall panel erection 50 16

Plumb of assembled panels

± 10mm in storey height up to 3m (refer also to the tolerance for overall building height)

± (Height in mm) / 300) above 3m (for single storey structures)

Gaps between assembled panels

Maximum 5mm gap between vertical fixed panel junctions

To achieve air-tightness, all gaps should be sealed with a suitable foam filler, unless a site installed membrane or other air-tight barrier is to be
fitted to the internal face of the external wall panels on site

2 RECOMMENDED CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES PART 3 - WALL PANEL TOLERANCES

 STA ADVICE NOTES
STRUCTURAL
TIMBER ASSOCIATION
Building solutions in timber

Appropriate references
BS5606:1990: Guide to accuracy in Building Figure 4 (of the BS)
• Verticality in timber columns (up to 3m high) = 10mm

BS EN 1995-1-1:2004 Clause 10.2

The deviation from straightness measure midway between the supports should, for columns and beams where lateral instability can occur, or members in frames, be limited
to 1/300 times the length of solid timber. The limitations on bow in most strength grading rules are inadequate for the selection of material for these members and particular
attention should therefore be paid to their straightness.

Overall building tolerances

Note: This advice note deals with the overall building tolerances as opposed to individual components.

Height of structural frames Horizontal datum line tolerance of the timber frame from
the first lift agreed datum at time of handover. **
The height tolerance +10mm per floor and up to 10mm difference between
structural floor levels with maximum accumulative total values at the time of
hand over as given in Figure 1. 5 to 7 storey level
Values in Figure 1 are from a datum line which is based on the level of the
+50mm/-0mm
first lift agreed level. All values presented are erected values at the time
from datum*
of hand over by the erector and does not include settlement shrinkage or
swelling. Note that it is the contractors responsibility to consider frame
protection after hand over.

3 to 4 storey level
Fig 1: Acceptable maximum accumulative height level tolerance +30mm/-0mm
of the timber frame from the first lift agreed datum from datum*
Note: The maximum over the full height but maximum between any floor
to floor is +10mm. E.g. If the 2nd floor is +0mm from datum then 3rd floor
can be +10mm

Note: For clarity the height tolerance is the distance between horizontal 1 storey
levels. +10mm/-0
from datum
2 storey
+15mm/-0
from datum
DATUM

3 RECOMMENDED CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES PART 3 - WALL PANEL TOLERANCES

 STA ADVICE NOTES
STRUCTURAL
TIMBER ASSOCIATION
Building solutions in timber

Vertical datum line tolerances (plumb) of external

timber frame walls
Variance is measured to an agreed theoretical vertical datum which takes account of the number of storeys constructed.

Out of plumb - storey to storey tolerances to agreed vertical datum line

Vertical datum line

5 to 6 storey level
±25mm from vertical datum1
Maximum deviation for any floor step to
the floor below shall be ±10mm but
accumulate values to be no greater than
the relevant storey tolerance values

3 to 4 storey level
±20mm from vertical datum1

1 to 2 storey level
±10mm from vertical datum1

Note1: Maximum step at any

floor/wall junction ±10mm

Vertical datum line

Fig 2: Acceptable vertical datum line tolerance (standard storey height buildings up to 3m height)

4 RECOMMENDED CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES PART 3 - WALL PANEL TOLERANCES

 STA ADVICE NOTES
STRUCTURAL
TIMBER ASSOCIATION
Building solutions in timber

0mm +10mm +10mm

+10mm +0mm 0mm

Timber frame wall

Timber frame wall

Timber frame wall

0mm -5mm +10mm

Fig 3: Diagramatic representation of vertical datum line tolerances

Adjustment of the cladding and cavity width to suit

horizontal frame tolerances
Where timber frame is erected out of tolerance agreement on action to take is to be carried out between the timber frame company and the main contractor. Vertical out of
alignment is likely to require a variation in the cavity width for the external cladding taking due account of the fixings and cavity barrier design changes needed.

The proposed cladding cavity is to be reviewed by the Main Contractor and cladding engineer prior to commencement of the cladding construction and after the timber frame
has been checked for line and level.

Masonry clad structures should have the “splash course” below DPC left down until the frame is completed. The clear cavity between the masonry and the sheathing should
be minimum 50mm ±10mm.

For masonry the exact position of the wall below DPC can then be determined by plumbing down the building and the cavity width adjusted to suit any deviations in the timber
frame sole plate or wall position. The length and type of cavity wall ties should be reviewed if tolerances are higher than initially considered. The brick coursing shall be agreed
prior to starting masonry to take account of agreed opening cill and head levels taking due account of the differential movement values at each level.

For lightweight cladding a best fit line should be established before fixing battens which should be packed to the agreed line.

The tolerances in this document represent a good level of accuracy compared to other material codes. Higher levels of accuracy for cladding finishes can be easily attained
by the correct use of packers and variable batten depths. It is important that the tolerances outlined in this document are communicated to the cladding contractor to enable
appropriate allowance for any cladding alignment adjustment work to be made.

Structural Timber Association t: 01259 272140

The e-Centre f: 01259 272141
Cooperage Way e: office@structuraltimber.co.uk STRUCTURAL
Alloa w: www.structuraltimber.co.uk TIMBER ASSOCIATION
FK10 3LP Building solutions in timber

5 RECOMMENDED CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES PART 3 - WALL PANEL TOLERANCES