STEEL FRAME CONSTRUCTION

Learning Objectives

 Become acquainted with drawings prepared for

structural steel buildings
 Describe the procedure for fabricating and erecting the
structural steel frame of a building
 Be familiar with the fastening techniques used to join
structural steel members
 Learning Objectives (cont’d.)

 Describe fire-protection procedures for structural steel

members required by building codes
 Discuss steel framing systems using manufactured
components
Steel Frame Construction

 Utilize skeleton frame construction in which walls,

floors, and roof are supported by a structural
framework of steel beams, columns, girders, and
related structural elements
 Steel frames are strong, lightweight, and durable
structures
 Conducted according to the Code of Standard Practice
for Structural Steel Buildings and Bridges (AISC 303-
10)
FIGURE 17.1 STEEL-FRAMED BUILDINGS UTILIZE A SKELETON FRAME
OF WALLS, FLOORS, AND ROOF, SUPPORTED BY A STRUCTURAL
FRAMEWORK OF STEEL BEAMS, COLUMNS, AND GIRDERS.
Structural Steel Drawings

 Engineering design drawings

 Indicate type of construction
 Shop drawings
 Contain necessary information for fabrication of each
member
 Erection plans
 Assembly drawings used on-site to direct placement of
each member in its desired location
The Steel Frame

 The members making up a steel frame are joined with

metal connections and riveted, bolted, or welded
 Connections transmit vertical (shear) forces and bending
moments (rotational forces) from one member to the
other
 Frame Stability
The Steel Frame (cont’d.)

 Steel Frame Connections

 Simple Connections
 Moment Connections
 Riveted Connections
 Bolted Connections
 Welded Connections
The Steel Frame (cont’d.)
 The Erection Process
 Steel erection is considered one of the most dangerous of all
construction activities.
 Necessary to ensure safety during steel erection
 Finished members are delivered on-site in the order in which
they are needed during erection
The Steel Frame (cont’d.)
 Decking
 Metal Decking
 Composite decking
 Concrete Decking
FIGURE 17.35 COMPOSITE DECKING SERVES AS A
FORM FOR A CONCRETE FLOOR OR ROOF SLAB.
The Steel Frame (cont’d.)
 Pre-Engineered Metal Building Systems
 Complete building system that has been engineered and
fabricated to specifications
 Common types of pre-engineered buildings available include:
 Welded rigid frame
 Truss type
 Post-and-beam
 Sloped roof
 Other Steel Construction System

 Pre-fabricated steel truss components used for:

 Roof trusses
 Open-web joists
 Space frames
 Coplanar (forces operating in the same plane)
assembly of structural members joined at their ends
Tensile Structures

 Framed using high-strength cables of cold drawn steel

suspended between supporting members and secured
with cable stays
 Span large distances in almost unlimited number of
shapes and curvatures
Light-Gauge Steel Framing

 Formed from flat cold-rolled pieces of carbon steel

 Gauge thicknesses from No. 12 - No. 20
 Shape form
 Single steel sheet
 Several forms shape-welded
 Nailable and non-nailable types
Fire Protection of the Steel
Frame
 Structural steel is an incombustible material that will not
melt even during a building fire
 However, when subjected to sustained extreme heat its
properties, including strength, are affected
 This can lead to steel column and beam failure during a
prolonged fire
Fire Protection of the Steel
Frame
 To protect a building’s occupants and structural integrity,
codes require coating certain steel frames with a fire-
resistant material
 Materials used include concrete, tile, brick, stone, gypsum
board, gypsum blocks, fire-resistant plasters, sprayed-on
mineral fibers, intumescent fire-retarding coatings, liquids,
and flame shields
Figure 17.47 Cementitious materials
are sprayed on steel frames to provide
fire protection.