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Steel column at slab on grade edge

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bvbuf

Structural
Jan 22, 2003
30
I've got a project with a 6" HSS column in a 6" metal stud wall at the slab edge. I dropped the footing (-1'-4") and I'm forming and placing grout around the base plate (for concrete cover) after it is installed (top of grout is at -0'-8"). Now what about the face of the column from -0'-8" to 0'-0". The face of the column IS the edge of slab meaning the entire face of the column is exposed to weather or earth unless I build some kind of bump out from -0'-8" to 0'-0". And the architect would hate that. What do you do?
 
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Is this "column" a structural element or there to frame something on the facade? If it is a facade element, there are different approaches. If it's a structural column, a grout pad with leveling nuts etc. would be the right choice.
 
Thank you for the response but I think I was unclear. The baseplate is not the problem. It will be covered with grout (or concrete). My problem is the SIDE of the column. It is a steel building and a structural column. Above the grout level at -8" and below the top of slab at 0'-0" the SIDE of the column is exposed to weather / earth since the side of the steel column is flush with the edge of slab. How do I protect it?
 
i use the following note for exterior columns:

PROTECT STEEL COLUMNS, ANCHORS AND BASEPLATES LOCATED BELOW GRADE AND EXTERIOR TO THE BUILDING WITH TWO COATS OF CARBOLINE BITUMASTIC 50 COAL TAR EPOXY COATING OR APPROVED EQUAL.

id probably shade the portion of the column below grade and call out a modified version of this note to say apply to all sides. hope that helps!
 
Great Note! Thanks for the help
 
If you're in a cold climate, I would suggest having a frank discussion with your architect about potential issues with thermal bridging. As well as noting that the mastic coating will need to be maintained often relative to the life of the building.
 
I live where we couldn't even consider what you're describing because of thermal transfer (as birneys says), but I do deal with canopy columns and the like that have to experience these conditions. Sorry but unlike Boiler106, I always want foundation coating on steel at or near grade if it's not galvanized, and really even if it is. Coal tar epoxy is an excellent coating if there is reasonably predictable or controllable physical abuse or abrasion. However, no matter what the epoxy and paint guys tell you, as soon as their coating is breached in some way, you're screwed. Foundation coatings have a much higher proportion of oil and they are softer, so the oil creeps to protect the surface you didn't quite get cleaned or prepped properly, and it creeps to heal the nick from bozo who hit it with a snowshovel blade or whatever.
 
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