Steel Buildings 101: Part 3— Endwall Steel Framing

Mar 22

In the first two “Steel Buildings 101” articles, we discussed primary framing and secondary framing basics. This last article in the series covers endwall framing.

RHINO Metal Building Framing Diagram — RHINO Steel Building Components

Steel Building Endwalls: Post-and-Beam

There are three basic types of endwalls in pre-engineered metal buildings.

The RHINO standard building endwall illustrated at right is called a POST-and-BEAM endwall, or a BEARING endwall. Endwall POSTS within the endwall help support the load.

The post-and-beam endwall only carries half the load of the bay, so lighter C-channel cold-rolled steel is used. (The first interior frame supports the other half of the first bay, plus half of the bay next to it.) For most applications, a post and beam endwall is the most economical choice.

Steel Building Endwalls: Expandable Rigid-Frame

An EXPANDABLE endwall allows for adding more framing to the structure later. They employ heavier rigid steel I-beam columns and rafters like the rest of the primary framing.

The endwall is engineered to carry the load of half the adjoining bay now — plus another half-bay if extended in the future. Additional framing ordered for remodeling will not require two endwalls. The new metal building framing simply attaches to the existing endwall. This saves engineering time and money on any future expansion project.

If additional floor space may be needed as the business grows, expandable metal frame walls are the smarter choice.

Expandable endwalls can be also completely open, if needed. They require no load-bearing endwall posts and are typically chosen for buildings not completely enclosed. Covered horse riding arenas, open-air pavilions, metal hay sheds, RV or truck storage sheds, boathouses, and steel aircraft hangars often contain an unenclosed endwall. If a lot of glass is required, as in a storefront, expandable rigid-frame endwalls are the better option.

Expandable metal frame walls can be designed up to 150’ in width.

Steel Building Endwalls: Non-Expandable Rigid-Frame

The third type of endwall is NON-EXPANDABLE. It is engineered to hold the load of a half-bay. Future expansion is more difficult and will require another endwall be ordered, increasing the expense of the expansion.

Expandable and non-expandable endwalls provide more flexibility in placement of large openings and overhead doors.Post-and-beam endwalls require x-bracing or some other type of bracing. Overhead doors must be “factory-located” during manufacturing. Relocating large doors or openings isn’t possible on a post-and-beam endwall.

However, expandable and nonexpendable endwalls allow doors or openings to be “field-located”, or later relocated, as needed. That’s an important consideration if the building is use as a rental property. One client may not overhead doors, while the next tenant may require shipping and receiving doors.