RSW-MT-01

“Construction Details”

Date issued: August 16, 2024

Date due: August 23, 2024
Date submitted: August 23, 2024

Submitted by:
Digman, Sean Elvin B.
Submitted to:
AR. Sheena Assayco

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
LOAD-BEARING WALLS
- A load-bearing wall or bearing wall is a wall that is an active structural element of a
building. that is, it bears the weight of the elements above said wall, resting upon
it by conducting its weight to a foundation structure. The materials most often
used to construct load-bearing walls in large buildings are concrete, block, or brick.
By contrast, a curtain wall provides no significant structural support beyond what is
necessary to bear its own materials or conduct such loads to a bearing wall.
(Wikipedia contributors, 2024)
- In housing, load-bearing walls are most common in the light construction method
known as "platform framing"(fig.01), and each load-bearing wall sits on a wall sill
plate which is mated to the lowest base plate. The sills are bolted to the masonry
or concrete foundation.
- Load-bearing structures provide increased durability, stability, cost-effectiveness,
and design flexibility. These structures can provide convenient access to utility
areas without compromising the building’s structural integrity by incorporating
general-purpose plastic access panels. As such, general-purpose plastic access
panels are a reliable and cost-effective solution for utility access in load-bearing
structures. With their durability, ease of installation, and aesthetic appeal, general-
purpose plastic access panels are ideal for commercial and residential projects.
(Zia, 2023)

(fig.01
MAIN TYPES OF LOAD-BEARING WALL:
)
1. Precast Concrete Wall
- known for its durability and superior
strength. The precast concrete wall is
easy to install and provides excellent
protection. By casting concrete in a
reusable wall mould, precast concrete
walls are constructed and then in a
controlled environment, it is cured and
transported to the construction site.

a. Characteristics:
- Thermal resistance
- Moisture protection
- Fire safety
- Durability
- Maintainability.

2. Retaining Wall
- Retaining a wall has many benefits like
protecting areas from being saturated and
reducing erosion and the retaining wall
provides support this wall is also called a
breast or revetment wall.
a. Types:
- Gravity retaining wall.
- Crib retaining wall.
- Cantilever retaining wall.
- Piled retaining wall

3. Masonry Wall
- The masonry wall allows for unlimited
architectural expressions and is the most
durable part of any structure and provides
strength and durability. To control the
temperature outdoor and indoors, the
masonry wall also helps in it and also
increases fire resistance. There is a very low
lateral stiffness of the masonry wall.

4. Pre Panelized Load Bearing Metal Stud Wall

- For building exterior wall cladding, pre-
panelized load-bearing metal stud walls are
used and the metal can be aluminium,
stainless steel, and copper. Pre panelized
load-bearing metal stud walls support
gravity, wind, and seismic loading.

5. Engineering Brick Wall

- The engineering brick wall uses double open-ended bond beam blocks and by
using a mold, it is built. To improve the technical and structural performance of a
 wall or building, engineering bricks are specifically made, and to improve the look
of a building these are more useful from a practical point of view.
- In construction where strength and
resistance to water and frost attack are
necessary, engineering bricks are used in
such construction, and through the top to
the bottom, engineering bricks have a
smooth finish with perforations. In blue or
red they are widely available and by their
uniform shape, they are identifiable.

6. Stone Wall
- As a stone structure, the stone wall is
treated and it is like masonry construction
and the stone wall provides structure to a
building and encloses an area. By piling loose
field stones into a drystone wall, the first stone
walls were constructed by farmers and primitive
people.

- Stone walls are made of stone and mortar

or without mortar which is known as a
drystone wall and these walls are mostly used for outdoor purposes.

MAIN FEATURES:
1. This wall is a structural element and from the roof and upper floors, it carries the
weight of a house.
2. To the foundation or other suitable frame members, these walls transfer loads all
the way.
3. The structural members like beams, slabs, and walls on the above floors, these
walls can support these members.
4. If the wall is designed to carry the vertical load directly above the beam, then it is
called a load-bearing wall.
5. On each floor, these walls are typically over one another and can be used as
exterior or interior walls.
6. To the floor joists or ridge, these walls will often be perpendicular.
ADVANTAGES:
a. Lightweight and Durable: General-purpose plastic access panels are
lightweight yet durable, making them an ideal solution for various utility access
points. They can withstand adverse weather while resisting moisture and
chemicals, ensuring a long-lived service.
 b. Easy Installation: General-purpose plastic access panels are easy to install,
requiring only a few essential tools. This ease of installation ensures they can
quickly and efficiently integrate into load-bearing structures.
c. Aesthetic Appeal: You can paint general-purpose plastic access panels to
match the surrounding area, ensuring they blend seamlessly into the building’s
design. This feature allows the panels to match the building’s aesthetic appeal.
d. Versatility: You can also use access panels made of general-purpose plastic in
many places, such as homes, businesses, and factories. They can provide easy
access to utility areas in buildings of all types.
DISADVANTAGES:
a. During the action of earthquakes, load-bearing wall structure performs badly
and most of the structures that collapsed are load-bearing masonry buildings if
looked through the history of past earthquake disasters.
b. Required more labor.
c. The construction of the load-bearing wall structure is slow.
d. These structures consume a large number of masonry units and there is a high
weight of load-bearing wall structures.
e. There are very poor thermal insulation properties of the load-bearing wall.
SAMPLE PLANS FOR LOAD BEARING WALLS:
LOAD BEARING STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE SAMPLE:
LOAD-BEARING WALL SHOWING FOUNDATION DETAILS SAMPLE:
LOAD-BEARING WALL CROSS SECTION SAMPLE:
LOAD DISTRIBUTION PATH SAMPLE:
 Load path is the direction
in which each
consecutive load (structura
l weight) will pass through
connected members. How
a load is distributed helps
to determine if a wall is
load bearing.
It also helps an engineer
create new support
systems once the wall is
removed. It can be
challenging to engineer
solutions and lots of math
calculations are required.

LIGHT-GAUGE STEEL CONSTRUCTION:

- Light gauge steel framing is a popular option in both residential and commercial
construction due to its reliability and innovative design. This material poses several
advantages over traditional wood framing, including increased strength and
durability, resistance to rot and pests, and improved fire resistance to name a few.
Light gauge steel is created through a process known as cold forming. This
involves passing thin sheets of steel through rollers and presses while at room
temperature, to create various shapes such as C, Z, or S-shaped sections. This
method produces a final output that is highly precise and consistent in shape and
design. In contrast, heavy or
structural steel is hot-rolled. In
this method of steel
manufacturing, the steel is
heated to about 400-800
Celsius and then passed
through roll formers to shape
them in their desired form.
This temperature range
enables the steel to be
shaped and formed more
easily during the hot-rolling
process. Structural steel
components are typically
thicker and heavier than light
gauge steel components.
Depending on the project
needs, medium-size
construction can benefit from
either structural steel or light
gauge. (Shuster, 2023)
- Light gauge steel framing is a construction method that cold formed steel sections
to create a structural framework for buildings, which at its simplest is an assembly
of columns and beams.
- To prevent fire damage, steel is coated with zinc or a combination of zinc and
aluminum, also referred to as “galvanized” steel. This protective coating
safeguards the steel from corrosion. The thickness of the coating depends on the
intended environment of use. For instance, steel pieces intended for humid
settings require a thicker coating, while those in drier regions can have a thinner
coating.
- Regarding light gauge steel construction, various building elements and techniques
can be utilized depending on the construction project’s requirements. This includes
using light gauge steel in foundations, floors, walls, roofs, and different connection
methods.
Modular Construction:
- Modular construction involves the production of entire sections of a building
(modules) in a factory setting, which is then transported to the site and assembled.
The modules can include
light gauge steel framing,
steel panel systems, or a
combination. Modular
construction offers
significant benefits,
including high-speed
construction, reduced
waste, and improved quality
control, as the modules are
built in a controlled
environment. Additionally, it
allows for greater design
flexibility, as modules can
be designed and built in
various shapes and sizes to
meet specific needs.

Composite Systems:
- Composite systems in light gauge steel construction refer to structures that use
steel in combination with other materials to achieve enhanced performance
characteristics. An excellent example of a composite system is the steel-concrete
composite, where a concrete slab is poured onto steel decking, acting as the
tensile reinforcement for the concrete and the formwork. This system capitalizes
on the strength and elasticity of steel and the compressive strength of concrete,
offering a robust, fire-resistant, and efficient solution for floors and roofs.
- Another example
is light gauge
steel framing with
exterior insulation
and finish
systems (EIFS).
The EIFS provides
thermal insulation
and
weatherproofing,
while the steel
frame provides
structural
integrity.
ADVANTAGES:
a. its precision and ease of construction. The steel components can be
manufactured in a factory setting at precise specifications, ensuring
consistency and accuracy during the final assembly process.
b. The material’s natural strength allows architects and engineers to create
complex and innovative structures, including curved walls, volumetric
modular pods and more.
c. Light gauge steel structures are fireproof, making them suitable for a wide
range of building types. To enhance fire resistance, steel is coated with fire-
rated sheeting.
d. steel doesn’t decompose, rot, or warp, it makes steel an excellent alternative
to wood in areas prone to termite attacks.
e. Strength and Durability: Cold formed steel is stronger and more durable than
wood.
f. Fire Resistance: Cold formed steel is non-combustible and offers superior fire
resistance.
g. Consistency and Precision: Cold formed steel components are manufactured
to precise specifications, ensuring consistency and accuracy.
h. Design Flexibility: Cold formed steel allows for versatile architectural designs
and flexible building configurations.
i. Cost-Effectiveness: Cold formed steel can provide long-term cost savings due
to its durability and reduced maintenance requirements.

DISADVANTAGES:
a. Cost: Light gauge steel construction does tend to be more costly up-front
than alternative building materials. Though it does allow cost savings over
time with efficient construction and durability, the initial installation cost is
often higher. While uncommon, it is also more expensive and time-
consuming to deal with manufacturing or planning errors since materials
can’t be easily cut or adjusted on-site.
b. Insulation: Metal is not a good insulation material on its own, and light
gauge steel construction can create condensation, which may lead to drywall
damage. Installing a moisture barrier will help mitigate this, but this will also
increase the overall cost of construction.
c. Complex Installation: Metal framing can require specialized tools and
construction expertise as compared to wood framing. Experienced builders
and engineers will be needed to oversee the light gauge steel framing
installation.
SAMPLE PLANS:
REFERENCES:
1. Wikipedia contributors. (2024, July 18). Load-bearing wall. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Load-bearing_wall
2. Zia, M. A. (2023, March 3). What advantages do load-bearing structures bring?
S3DA DESIGN Structural and MEP Design. https://s3da-design.com/what-
advantages-do-load-bearing-structures-bring/#:~:text=Improved%20Stability%3A
%20Load%2Dbearing%20structures,a%20durable%20and%20sturdy
%20foundation.
3. Ramiz, E. (2022, August 20). Load Bearing Wall: Advantages, Disadvantages & its 6
Types. Civil Click. https://www.civilclick.com/load-bearing-wall/#:~:text=The
%20disadvantage%20of%20Load%20Bearing%20Wall%3A&text=Required
%20more%20labour.,of%20the%20load%2Dbearing%20wall.
4. Are these walls load bearing? (n.d.). Home Improvement Stack Exchange.
https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/192423/are-these-walls-load-bearing
5. Rbtech labs. (2020, September 7). Load Bearing Structure | Civil engineer [Video].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-aH2Scy3_8
6. Mn, C. (2021, December 28). How to determine if a wall is load bearing [Update
2022]. Complete Building Solutions. https://cbsmn.com/how-to-determine-if-a-wall-
is-load-bearing/
7. Forehand, L. (n.d.). Light gauge Steel Construction. Pressbooks.
https://lbcc.pressbooks.pub/buildingconstruction/chapter/84/
8. Shuster, E. (2023, August 31). Understanding Construction: What is Light Gauge
Steel Framing? - Strucsoft Solutions. Strucsoft Solutions.
https://strucsoftsolutions.com/blog/understanding-construction-what-is-light-gauge-
steel-framing/
9. Light Gauge Steel Framing | PSE Consulting Engineers, Inc. (2023, December 29).
PSE Consulting Engineers, Inc. https://www.structure1.com/sustainable-portfolio-
projects/light-gauge-steel/#:~:text=While%20uncommon%2C%20it%20is
%20also,cut%20or%20adjusted%20on%2Dsite.&text=Metal%20is%20not%20a
%20good,may%20lead%20to%20drywall%20damage.
10.