TN,U425,ExpJoints.

0 5/17/02 11:26 AM Page 1

T E C H N I C A L N O T E

Temporary Expansion
Joints For Large Buildings
Number U425B be net overall expansion of floor or roof typically would not be noticeable.
April 2002 decks that reflects the combined effects of However, if the building is 160 feet or
panel expansion as absorbed by the spac- 240 feet long, the overall expansion
If wood structural panels are exposed to
ing at panel edges and ends, and restraint could be two or three times as much,
moisture or humidity during construc-
afforded by panel fasteners and framing. and out-of-plumb rim joists or end (and
tion of buildings with large, continuous
interior) walls would be noticeable. In
floor or roof decks, panel expansion may
Floors multi-story buildings, walls would be
accumulate through the framing.
plumb at the building’s mid-length or
All wood products absorb moisture from Floor panels are interconnected by
mid-width, but wall displacement (out-
or give up moisture to the environment bottom plates of exterior and interior
of-plumb) would gradually increase to a
until they reach a moisture content in walls which typically are nailed to the
maximum at the exterior walls. The
equilibrium with their surroundings. floor, or through the floor to the floor
squareness of door or window openings
Wood structural panels have good dimen- framing. Also, floor panels are often
also might be affected, both in interior
sional stability because the tendency of nail-glued to floor framing for added floor
and exterior walls.
individual veneers or strands to swell or stiffness, and to minimize or eliminate
floor squeaks. Either or both of these Designers and contractors can minimize
shrink is greatly restricted by the adjacent
situations may partially offset the effec- displacement by incorporating temporary
veneers or strands in the panel.
tiveness of the recommended spacing at expansion joints in floors of buildings
In typical sheathing applications, relative with wood- or steel-framed walls, when
panel edges and ends, resulting in accu-
humidity might vary between 40% and the building plan dimension (length or
mulation of panel expansion along the
80%, with corresponding equilibrium width) exceeds 80 feet. Such joints for
length or width of the building.
moisture content of wood structural floors might consist of an extra wide
panels ranging between 6% and 14%. For example, in an 80-foot long building,
spacing gap (such as 3/4 inch) between
Total dimensional change of an if net overall expansion of 0.05% occurs
panel ends at the desired expansion joint
unrestrained 48-inch x 96-inch panel in the floor deck during construction, an
intervals. Panel ends can be supported on
exposed to this range of conditions typi- increase in building length of 1/2 inch, or
adjacent doubled floor joists and not
cally averages 1/8 inch in length and 1/4 inch at each end may result. If this
nailed to them until later, to allow for
width. If the panel gets wet during con- expansion occurs on the first floor with a
floor expansion. Also, it is important to
struction, dimensional change could be concrete or masonry foundation below,
insure that wall bottom plates do not
slightly greater. Recommended spacing of the rim or band joists might be displaced
extend across the expansion joint. After
1/8 inch at ends and edges of floor and out-of-plumb by 1/4 inch, which typi-
the building is “closed in,” fastening of
roof deck panels will “absorb” some or cally could be accommodated without
the floor panels can be completed, and a
most of this expansion. problem. If this expansion occurs on the
filler piece or non-shrink grout can be
second floor of a multi-story building
However, such dimensional change in installed to fill the gap between panels,
(assuming an on-grade concrete slab for
installed panels typically is reduced due to where necessary. For shear walls or braced
the first floor), the top end of the first
partial restraint by fasteners and framing. wall panels, a short lumber bottom plate
story walls theoretically might be dis-
Field experience indicates that there can filler block and “doubler” could be added
placed out-of-plumb by 1/4 inch, which

A PA
THE ENGINEERED
WOOD ASSOCIATION
© 2002 APA - The Engineered Wood Association
TN,U425,ExpJoints.0 5/17/02 11:26 AM Page 2

©2002 APA – THE ENGINEERED WOOD ASSOCIATION • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. • ANY COPYING, MODIFICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR OTHER USE OF THIS PUBLICATION OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY APA IS PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS.

FIGURE 1

TEMPORARY EXPANSION JOINT DETAIL FOR FLOORS

12"± gap in wall

bottom plate at
expansion joint(1) Wall studs (typical)

3/4" temporary expansion

joint at 80' intervals
Wall bottom plate
(typical)

Wood structural panel floor deck

16d common nails at 16" inch oc
(2 rows staggered) or as required for
engineered diaphragm shear transfer

Doubled floor joists at expansion joint

After building is “closed in,” nail floor deck and fill
expansion joint with wood strip or non-shrink grout
(provide 1/8" spacing at panel ends and edges).

(1) Install bottom plate filler block and doubler to splice bottom plate, after nailing floor deck when building is “closed in.”

FIGURE 2

DRAINAGE HOLE THROUGH FLOOR TO PREVENT TRAPPED WATER DURING CONSTRUCTION

Wood structural panel floor deck

Drainage hole through floor. Plug later (after building is

“closed in”) with wood dowel or non-shrink grout.

Wood structural panel backer plate; screw-glue to

underside of floor before plugging hole to support
wood dowel or grout repair.

© 2002 APA - The Engineered Wood Association

2
TN,U425,ExpJoints.0 5/17/02 11:26 AM Page 3

later between studs, to splice the bottom Designers or contractors may choose to joints are not incorporated in the design
plate of walls over the expansion joint. omit temporary expansion joints in large or construction of large buildings, it is
See Figure 1 for a possible construction buildings, based on their individual expe- done with the understanding that the
detail for incorporating an expansion joint rience as affected by materials they designer or contractor may face the
in floors; other effective expansion joint choose and the environment and tech- potential risk of structural modifications
details also may be used. niques of construction. For example, or repairs if problems occur later.
Expansion of floor panels can be when large buildings are constructed in Although problems are relatively few,
reduced by minimizing exposure to warm, dry regions or in summer months incorporating temporary expansion joints
moisture during construction. If rain (or where moisture is not likely to occur in such large buildings is recommended
snow) occurs during construction and during construction, the need for expan- as good construction practice.
there are areas of the floor that are sub- sion joints is less. However, if expansion
ject to water ponding, such as when
water is trapped by bottom plates of
walls, drill drainage holes through the FIGURE 3.

floor to allow the water to escape. These TEMPORARY EXPANSION JOINT DETAIL FOR ROOFS
holes can be patched later with glued Temporary expansion
wood dowels or grout and backer plates joint at 80' intervals

cut from wood structural panels that are

screw-glued to the underside of the floor
panels (see Figure 2), or with sheet metal
patches on top of the floor.

Roofs
In the construction of large roof decks
with wood structural panels fastened to
trusses or rafters, sheath 80-foot sections,
omitting a roof sheathing panel (in each
course of sheathing) between sections.
This provides effective temporary expan-
sion joints. (See Figure 3.) Then, the
installation can be completed with “fill-
in” panels, cut to size as necessary. The
roof deck should be covered with roofing Omit roof sheathing panel in each course.
underlayment as soon as possible for Roof framing (typical) Install “fill-in” panel as roofing is applied.
protection against excessive moisture (Laterally brace roof framing.)

prior to roofing application. On large roof CAUTION: During period of construction

when temporary expansion joints create gaps
decks, installation of roofing underlay- in the roof, suitable protective barricades
ment and roofing can be scheduled in should be installed to prevent workers from
sections to avoid exposing the entire falling through open areas.

expanse of roof deck to weathering

during construction.

© 2002 APA - The Engineered Wood Association

3
TN,U425,ExpJoints.0 5/17/02 11:26 AM Page 4

We have field representatives in

most major U.S. cities and in Canada who
can help answer questions involving APA
trademarked products. For additional
assistance in specifying APA engineered
wood products, contact us:

APA – THE ENGINEERED

WOOD ASSOCIATION
HEADQUARTERS
7011 So. 19th St. ■ P.O. Box 11700
Tacoma, Washington 98411-0700
(253) 565-6600 ■ Fax: (253) 565-7265

(International Offices:
Bournemouth, United Kingdom;
Mexico City, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan.)

Addres
eb s
W
@
www.apawood.org :

PRODUCT SUPPORT HELP DESK

(253) 620-7400
E-mail Address: [email protected]

The product use recommendations in this

publication are based on APA – The
Engineered Wood Association’s continuing
programs of laboratory testing, product
research, and comprehensive field experi-
ence. However, because the Association has
no control over quality of workmanship or
the conditions under which engineered wood
products are used, it cannot accept responsi-
bility for product performance or designs as
actually constructed. Because engineered
wood product performance requirements
vary geographically, consult your local archi-
tect, engineer or design professional to
assure compliance with code, construction,
and performance requirements.

Form No. U425B

Revised April 2002/0100

A PA
THE ENGINEERED
WOOD ASSOCIATION