Portal Frame Construction: Structural, Footing, Wall, Floor, Roof and Service Systems

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PORTAL FRAME CONSTRUCTION
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction.........................................................................................................................................3
2.0 Background.........................................................................................................................................4
3.0 Footing system....................................................................................................................................5
4.0 Structural system................................................................................................................................7
4.1 Fly bracing..........................................................................................................................................8
4.2 Column and rafter...............................................................................................................................9
4.3 Endwall column................................................................................................................................11
4.4 Girts and purlins...............................................................................................................................12
4.5 Bracing..............................................................................................................................................13
5.0 Floor system......................................................................................................................................13
5.1 Surface treatment..............................................................................................................................14
5.2 Floor joints.......................................................................................................................................16
5.21 Contraction Joints...........................................................................................................................16
5.22Construction joints..........................................................................................................................16
5.23 Isolation joints................................................................................................................................17
5.24 Expansion joint...............................................................................................................................18
6.0 Wall sytems.......................................................................................................................................18
6.1 Connctions and fixtures...................................................................................................................19
7.0 Roof stsem for portal frame systems..............................................................................................19
7.1 Roof cladding....................................................................................................................................20
7.2 Gutter and flashing details...............................................................................................................21
8.0 Service systems.................................................................................................................................22
8.1 Electricity and telecommunications...............................................................................................22
8.2 Sewage and water.............................................................................................................................22
8.3 Fire protection...................................................................................................................................23
9.0 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................24
10. 0 Reference.......................................................................................................................................26

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PORTAL FRAME CONSTRUCTION
1.0 Introduction
Portal frame construction refers to the technique of designing and constructing structures,
whereby two-dimensional rigid frames with basic characteristics of the rigid joint are between
the beam and the column are utilized (Hiriyur,2010). The main aim of using this method of
designing and construction is to reduce the bending moments in the beam in order to allow the
frame to act as one structural unit. With that, the size of the structural element can be reduced or
at the same time, and the span can be increased for the same size of the structural elements. Due
to that, the portal frames are considered to be very efficient and reliable construction method to
be used for the buildings with long span.
Portal frames are generally being used in the low-rise structures, which are comprised of beams,
columns or pitched rafters that are connected by the moment resisting connections. The
resistance to vertical and lateral actions is offered by a suitable haunch, or the deepening of the
rafter sections This type of continuous frame structure is usually stable in its plane, and it offers
clear span which is not obstructed by the bracing. In most cases, the portal frame construction is
used in the construction of single-level structures, and it is usually seen in the construction of
factories, warehouses, barns and other areas where large open spaces are needed at low cost and
a pitched roof is also accepted.
A portal frame structure usually comprises a series of transverse frames which are braced
longitudinally. The primary steelwork is made up of rafters and columns, which makes the form
portal frames and bracing. The gable frame can be either a portal frame or a braced arrangement
of columns and rafters.

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The light gauge secondary steelwork is made up of the side rails which are used for the walls and
the purlins that are used for the roof. The secondary steelwork offers support to the building
envelope, but it also plays a very significant role in restraining the primary steelwork. The wall
cladding and the roof separates the building envelope from the external environment as well as
offering acoustic and thermal insulation. The function of cladding is to transfer the loads to the
secondary steelwork and at the same time to restrain the flange of rails or purlins to which it is
attached (Paolacci and Giannini 2012). The figure below shows the anatomy of a typical portal
frame.
Fig 1: A cross-section showing portal frame and its restraints

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Fig 2: Principal Components of a portal framed structure.
The key focus of this paper provides a discussion of the technical aspects of the portal frame
construction. The area which is analyzed in this paper include; structural system, footing system,
wall system, floor system, roof system, and services. The information which is contained in this
paper is based on the deep investigation of Industrial unit 6D,1-3 Endeavour road. The
photographs are included in the discussion part to over clarification. The areas which were
mentioned in the assignment brief have been covered for simplicity.
2.0 Background
The industrial unit is located within the center of the Sutherland Shire’s Industrial Precinct. It has
a total area of approximately 850 m2. The ground floor is typically a warehouse of

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approximately 600m2 while the upper floor of 150m2 is for office. The warehouse has a parking
capacity of 10 vehicles. The main structure is a fixed structure of steel portal frame with a clear
span of 18m and a ceiling height of 7.0 m. The figures below are illustrations of the Industrial
unit 6D,1-3 Endeavour road.
Fig 3: Industrial unit 6D,1-3 Endeavour road.
Fig 4: 6D,1-3 Endeavour road interior

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3.0 Footing system
Footing refers to the components of the building which transfers the load from the build to the
foundation. The primary purpose of designing the footing is to ensure that the loads from the
structure are safely transmitted to the subsoil, economically and at the same time ensuring that
there is no unaccepted movement during the construction process and throughout the anticipated
lifespan of the structure.
The factors which are usually put into consideration during the design of the footing system are;
type of the structure, the soil conditions, economic factors, structural loadings, construction
problems and the proposed construction period. Of all these factors structural loading and the
soil condition are the most essential during the design process of the footings. The footing
system which is properly designed can significantly help to eliminate or minimize the differential
settlement which occurs when the weight of the structure stresses the soil. In the cases where no
settlement occurs, it must occur equally under the building.
According to the geotechnical report of the industrial unit above the site, foundation materials
are made up of sandy over the shale, having a high bearing capacity at a depth of about three
meters. According to this data, it is reasonable to assume that there is some soil movement on the
upper stratum of the foundation. Hence it is much safer to rest the footing at the shale level
which offers sound bearing pressure with very minimal movement. The engineer used two types
of footing during design. A 150mm thick structural raft shaft having stiffened edge and integral
beams over the piers were driven to the shale foundation. The main function of the raft is to
distribute the load both the live and dead load evenly over a large base in order to reduce the load
which is acting per unit area. The piers were used to bypass the reactive soil and at the same time

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transfer the superstructure load at the edge beam to the lower level of subsoil where suitable
ABP exist. The figure below shows the arrangement of this structural members.
Another appropriate kind of footing possibly is pad footing. This is the most common footing
style for the portal frame. A concrete pad footing is the easiest and cheapest type of footing used
in vertical support and transmitting of structure loads to the subsoil. A pad footing of adequate
size to stop uplift will be sufficient as long as it does not surpass an Acceptable Bearing Pressure
of 100kPa. Occasionally deep pad footing has to be used to reach the soil lay providing sufficient
APB, or a pedestal may be required to support the column base plate. The figure below shows
how the pad footing is connected to the frame.
Fig 5: pad footing connection
The images below which were obtained from the site shows a holding down bolt, a pad footing
having HD bolt that are cast in situ and a universal column set into the concrete pad footing. It
was observed that the holding down bolts were underneath the top layer of the additional
concrete grout over the footing.