My current project Structural notes state: The steel structure, or portions thereof has been designed as a non-moment resisting frame relying on the floor and roof decks and braced frames for lateral stability.
The cities special inspector claims that the brace frames are a structural member. My understand is that such questions can only be determined by a structural engineer. Thus, an RFI was submitted to the Arch/S.E. firm (fTC&h). There lazy response was the braces carry a lateral gravity load, thus, they are primary because of the wording 'gravity'. I can find no reference to a "Lateral Load Bracing".
My opinon is this term was made up at the same time the Architect was deciding on what to order with his: I don't give a damn sandwhich.
IBC Code (Table 601) states: "The structural frame shall be considered to be the columns and the girders, beams, trusses and spandrels having direct connections to the columns and bracing members designed to carry gravity loads. The members of floor or rooof panels which have no connection to the columns shall be considered secondary members and not a part of the structural frame."
My contention is the moment frames, lateral bracing, etc. are not a Structural Member, by definition. Perhaps they play a role in load bearing in a secondary compacity, but the primary role is for either; sismic, wind, bracing, etc.
The City Special Inspector is equally oblivious to reality. Am I correct? or are these types of members truly structarl, per this code or UBC for that matter.
Please help or provide a directional arrow, thank you.
David B
RPC
P.M.
The cities special inspector claims that the brace frames are a structural member. My understand is that such questions can only be determined by a structural engineer. Thus, an RFI was submitted to the Arch/S.E. firm (fTC&h). There lazy response was the braces carry a lateral gravity load, thus, they are primary because of the wording 'gravity'. I can find no reference to a "Lateral Load Bracing".
My opinon is this term was made up at the same time the Architect was deciding on what to order with his: I don't give a damn sandwhich.
IBC Code (Table 601) states: "The structural frame shall be considered to be the columns and the girders, beams, trusses and spandrels having direct connections to the columns and bracing members designed to carry gravity loads. The members of floor or rooof panels which have no connection to the columns shall be considered secondary members and not a part of the structural frame."
My contention is the moment frames, lateral bracing, etc. are not a Structural Member, by definition. Perhaps they play a role in load bearing in a secondary compacity, but the primary role is for either; sismic, wind, bracing, etc.
The City Special Inspector is equally oblivious to reality. Am I correct? or are these types of members truly structarl, per this code or UBC for that matter.
Please help or provide a directional arrow, thank you.
David B
RPC
P.M.
