Olympia Steel Buildings Wind Bracing
Olympia Steel buildings use sturdy diagonal bracing consisting of heavy steel cables or steel rods. This diagonal bracing forms an “X” configuration in the brace bay, and is attached to the webs of the steel building columns and rafter beams to stabilize the building and provide tremendous strentgh. When diagonal bracing cannot be used as in the case of door openings, heavy metal portal braces are used that are made of welded H-beams. These pre-engineered steel buildings bracing methods transfer all the wind force into the building structure. There is no stress on the steel screws that attach the steel galvalume panels to the girts and purlins and the wind bracing prevents the steel building from swaying in any direction from strong winds.
Competition's Metal Building Wind Bracing
Many metal buildings competitors use diaphragm bracing (panel shear). The metal sheeting on the side is supposed to act as bracing, putting the entire wind load on the metal screws that attach the roof and wall panels to the building structure. The metal wall sheeting does not transfer the wind force to the building structure allowing the building to sway and/or collapse in strong winds.The resulting stress on the metal screws will eventually cause the screw holes in the panels to become enlarged allowing water to leak into the building. Use of the diaphragm bracing building design means that future door openings cannot be placed on the sides of the building. Cutting door openings into the sides of a metal building that is diaphragm braced would cause all the diaphragm action to be lost and the building could collapse. The metal wall sheeting does not transfer the wind force to the building structure, allowing the building to sway and/or collapse in strong winds.
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