Moment frame on drilled piers - grade beam

[CQT3]

Hi, I am designing a small moment frame. Each steel column in the moment frame will be on separate drilled piers. Does the drilled piers need to be connected to one another via a horizontal tie? I recall reading somewhere that it should be connected by a grade beam or similar structure but I could not find the building or design code provision that requires this. The closest I have found was IBC 1809.13 but I am only in seismic design category C. Thanks.

 

[human909]

No. You don't have to have horizontal ties.

You can get drilled piers to work just fine without horizontal ties. However lateral loads or moment on drilled piers are more challenging to deal with. But surely if you are an engineer you don't shy away from challenges!

 

[TRAK.Structural]

See below the text I believe you are referring to from the IBC. If you meet the requirements of the exceptions than no you don't need additional elements, but otherwise I interpret this as saying that you do need them.