Structural Steel T Supports 1

[nader666]

Hi everyone,

I have designed a T steel supports for overhead duct line. The contractor have used channels between the T support and the pipe support (photo attached) to make up the difference in elevation due to some short T supports. The contractor did not get a field adjustment approval and did it without bringing the problem to the field inspector. The contractor has agreed to replace some the horizontal I beams but he is trying to claim that some should be accepted because it is normal field adjustment due to allowable survey error and trying to get approval of field adjustment detail (sketch attached)for some of the adjusted supports. My question is how much the reasonable tolerance that could be accepted in such case and if there is any code that limits the tolerance of field adjustment and should be applied in this case.

Thank You
Happy New Year

 

[a2mfk]

I think the short answer is that if you check it out, and it works, what is the issue? Field adjustments and modifications happen on every project. They should have sent you an RFI, but no need to punish them if the detail works and meets code and other project specifications.

Is it OK that there is a space between the horizontal leg of the pipe support and the I beam? It is now spanning between the shims as you have drawn it, not sure if you needed continuous support or not. You may have to have them add more shims under the vertical legs of the pipe support.

 

[nader666]

Attached is a photo of one of the supports that they try to keep it without replacement but they have agreed to replace the support that has two channels on top of each other(shown on the previous photo).

 

[a2mfk]

It is ugly and a lot of steel and fabricating, but again, IF it works, why replace it?

However, if they messed up this bad on an elevation, I would wonder what else did they do wrong. Though perhaps the mechanical guy did not give the right dimension to the fabricator?