Accessory: A building product which
supplements a basic solid panel building such as a
door, window, light transmitting panel, roof vent,
Agricultural Building: A structure
designed and constructed to house farm implements,
hay, grain, poultry, livestock or other agricultural
products. Such structures should not include: spaces
meant for habitation or to be occupied, spaces in
which agricultural products are processed, treated,
or the possibility of being as a place of occupancy
by the general public.
Aluminum Coated Steel: Steel coated with
aluminum for corrosion resistance.
Anchor Bolts: Bolts used to anchor members
to a foundation or other support.
Anchor Bolt Plan: A plan view drawing
showing the diameter, location and projection of all
anchor bolts for the components of the Metal
Building System and may show column reactions
(magnitude and direction). The maximum base plate
dimensions may also be shown.
Approval Drawings: A set of drawings that
may include framing plans, elevations and sections
through the building for approval of the dealer.
ASD: Allowable Stress Design.
Assembly: A group of mutually dependent
and compatible components or subassemblies of
Astragal: a closure between the two leaves
of a double swing or double slide door.
Automatic Crane: A crane which when
activated operates through a preset series of
Auxiliary Crane Girder: A girder arranged
parallel to the main girder for supporting the
platform, motor base, operator's cab, control
panels, etc., to reduce the torsional forces that
such a load would otherwise impose on the main crane
Axial Force: A force tending to elongate
or shorten a member
Bar Joist: A name commonly used for Open
Web Steel Joists
Base Angle: An angle secured to a wall or
foundation used to attach the bottom of the wall
Base Plate: A plate attached to the bottom
of a column, which rests on a foundation or other
support, usually secured by anchor bolts.
Base Tube: See
Cast in Place Base
Bay: The space between the main frames
measured normal to the frame
Beam: A member, usually horizontal, that
is subjected to bending loads. Three types are
simple, continuous, and cantilever.
Beam and Column: A Structural system
consisting of a series of rafter beams supported by
columns. Often used as the end fame of a building.
Bearing End Frame: See
Beam and Column
Bearing Plate: A steel plate that is set
on the top of a masonry support on which a beam or
purlin can rest
Bill of Materials: A list that enumerates
by part number or description each piece of material
or assembly to be shipped. Also called tally sheet
or shipping list.
Bird Screen: Wire mesh used to prevent
birds from entering the building through ventilators
Blind Rivet: A small headed pin with
expandable shank for joining light gauge metal.
Typically it is used to attach flashing, gutters,
Box Girder: Girders, trucks or other
members of rectangular cross section enclosed on
Bracing: Rods, angles or cables used in
the plane of the roof and walls to transfer loads,
such as wind, seismic and crane thrusts to the
Bracket: A structural support projecting
from a structural member. Examples are canopy
brackets, lean-to brackets, and crane runway
Bridge (Crane): That part of an overhead
crane consisting of girders, trucks, end ties,
walkway and drive mechanism that carries the trolley
and travels in a direction parallel to the runway
Bridge Crane: A load lifting system
consisting of a hoist, which moves laterally on a
beam, girder or bridge which in turn moves
longitudinally on a runway made of beams and rails
Bridging: Bracing or systems of bracing
used between structural members
British Thermal Unit (BTU):
The amount of
heat required to raise the temperature of one pound
of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.
Building: A structure forming an open,
partially enclosed, or enclosed space constructed by
a planned process of combining materials,
components, and subsystems to meet specific
conditions of use.
Building Aisle: A space defined by the
length of the building and the space between
Building Code: Regulations established by
a recognized agency describing design loads,
procedures and construction details for structures
usually applying to a designated political
jurisdiction (city, county, state, etc.).
Built-Up Roofing: A roof covering made up
of alternating layers of tar and materials made of
Built-Up Section: A structural member,
usually an "I" shaped section, made from individual
flat plates welded together.
Bumper: An energy-absorbing device for
reducing impact when a moving crane or trolley
reaches the end of its permitted travel, or when two
moving cranes or trolleys come into contact.
Butt Plate: The end plate of a structural
member usually used to rest against a like plate of
another member in forming a connection. Sometimes
called a splice plate or bolted end plate.
Bypass Girt: A wall framing system where
the girts are mounted on the outside of the columns.
"C" Section: A member in the shape of a
block "C" formed from steel sheet, that may be used
either singularly or back to back.
Cab-Operated Crane: A crane controlled by
an operator in a cab supported on the bridge or
Camber: Curvature of a flexural member in
the plane of its web before loading.
Canopy: A projecting roof system that is
supported and restrained at one end only.
Cantilever Beam: A beam supported only at
one end with the other end free to move.
Capillary Action: That action which causes
movement of liquids when in contact with two
adjacent surfaces such as panel sidelaps.
Cap Plate: A plate located at the top of a
column or end of a beam for capping the exposed end
of the member.
Capacity (Crane): The maximum load
(usually stated in tons) that a crane is designed to
Cast In Place Base: A continuous member
imbedded in the edge of the foundation to which the
wall panels are attached.
Caulk: To seal and make weather-tight
joints, seams, or voids by filling with a
waterproofing compound or material.
Chalking: When the paint finish on panels
has a white powder film due to over exposure.
Channel, Hot Rolled: A member formed while
in a semi-molten state at the steel mill to shape
having standard dimensions and properties.
Cladding: The exterior metal roof and wall
paneling of a Metal Building System. See also
Clip: A plate or angle used to fasten two
or more members together.
Closure Strip: A strip, formed to the
contour of ribbed panels and used to close openings
created by ribbed panels joining other components,
either made of resilient material or metal.
CMU: Concrete Masonry Unit. Generally,
used to construct masonry walls
Cold Forming: The process of using press
brakes or rolling mills to shape steel into desired
cross sections at room temperature.
Collateral Loads: The weight of additional
permanent materials required by the contract, other
than the Building System, such as sprinklers,
mechanical and electrical systems, partitions and
Column: A main member used in a vertical
position on a building to transfer loads from main
roof beams, trusses, or rafters to the foundations.
Component: A part used in a Metal Building
System. See also
Components and Cladding.
Components and Cladding: Members which
include girts, joists, purlins, studs, wall and roof
panels, fasteners, end wall columns and endwall
rafters of bearing end frames, roof overhang beams,
canopy beams, and masonry walls that do not act as
Concealed Clip: A hold down clip used with
a wall or roof panel system to connect the panel to
the supporting structure without exposing the
fasteners on the exterior surface.
Connection: The means of attachment of one
structural member to another.
Continuity: The terminology given to a
structural system denoting the transfer of loads and
stresses from member to member allowing the members
to act as a single unit.
Continuous Beam: A beam having three or
Covering: The exterior metal roof and wall
paneling of a Metal Building System.
Crane: A machine designed to move material
by means of a hoist.
Crane Aisle: That portion of a building
aisle in which a crane operates, defined by the
crane span and the uninterrupted length of crane
Crane Girder: The principal horizontal
beams of the crane bridge that supports the trolley
and is supported by the end tracks.
Crane Rail: A track supporting and guiding
the wheels of a top-running bridge crane or trolley
Crane Runway Beam: The member that
supports a crane rail and is supported by columns or
rafters depending on the type of crane system. On
underhung bridge cranes, the runway beam also acts
as the crane rail.
Crane Span: The horizontal distance
center-to-center of runway beams.
Crane Stop: A device to limit travel of a
trolley or crane bridge. This device normally is
attached to a fixed structure and normally does not
have energy-absorbing ability.
Crane Support Column: A separate column
that supports the runway beam of a top-running
Curb: A raised edge on a concrete floor
slab or in the roof for accessories.
Curtain Wall: Perimeter wall panels that
carry only their own weight and wind load.
Damper: A baffle used to open or close the
throat of ventilators. They can be operated manually
or by motors.
Dead Loads: The dead load of a building is
the weight of all permanent construction, such as
floor, roof, framing, and covering members.
Design Professional: Any Architect or
Diagonal Bracing: See
Diaphragm Action: The resistance to
racking generally offered by the covering system,
fasteners, and secondary framing. Distortion of the
overall roof, floor, or wall shape.
Door Guide: An angle or channel used to
stabilize or keep plumb a sliding or rolling door
during its operation.
Downspout: A conduit used to carry water
from the gutter of a building.
Drift (Sidesway): Horizontal displacement
at the top of a vertical element due to lateral
loads. Drift should not be confused with Deflection.
Drift (Snow): The snow accumulation at a
Drift Pin: A tapered pin used during
erection to align holes in steel members to be
connected by bolting.
Eave: The line along the sidewall formed
by the intersection of the planes of the roof and
Eave Canopy: A projecting roof system on
the sidewall whose overhanging edge is supported at
Eave Gutter: See
Eave Height: The vertical dimension from
finished floor to the top of the eave strut.
Eave Strut: A structural member located at
the eave of a building that supports roof and wall
Edge Strip: The surface area of a building
at the edges of the roof and corners of the walls
where the wind loads on components and cladding are
greater than at other areas of the building.
Effective Wind Area: The area used to
determine the wind coefficient. The effective wind
area may be greater than or equal to the tributary
Elastic Design: A design concept utilizing
the a property of materials allowing for
non-permanent shape distortion under a specified
range of loading.
Electric Operated Crane:
A crane in which
the bridge, hoist or trolley is operated by electric
Electric Overhead Traveling Crane:
electrically-operated machine for lifting, lowering
and transporting loads, consisting of a movable
bridge carrying a fixed or movable hoisting
mechanism and traveling on an overhead runway
End Approach: The minimum horizontal
distance, parallel to the runway, between the
outer-most extremities of the crane and the
centerline of the hook.
End Bay: The bays adjacent to the endwalls
of a building. Usually the distance from the endwall
to the first interior main frame measured normal to
End Frame: A frame located at the endwall
of a building that supports the loads from a portion
of the end bay.
End Post: See
End Stop: A device attached to a crane
runway or rail to provide a safety stop at the end
of a runway.
End Truck: The unit consisting of truck
frame, wheels, bearings, axles, etc., which supports
the bridge girders.
Endwall: An exterior wall that is parallel
to the interior main frames of the building.
Endwall Column: A vertical member located
at the endwall of a building that supports the girts.
In post and beam endwall frames, endwall columns
also support the rafter.
Endwall Overhang: See
End Zone: The surface area of a building
along the roof at the endwall and at the corners of
Engineer/Architect of Record: The engineer
or architect who is responsible for the overall
design of the building project. The manufacturer's
engineer is not the Engineer of Record.
Erection Bracing: Materials used by
erectors to stabilize the building system during
erection, also typically referred to as temporary
Erection Drawings: Roof and wall erection
(framing) drawings that identify individual
components and accessories furnished by the
manufacturer in sufficient detail to permit proper
Erection of the Metal Building System.
Erector: A party who assembles or erects a
Metal Building System.
Expansion Joint: A break or space in
construction to allow for thermal expansion and
contraction of the materials used in the structure.
Exterior Framed: A wall framing system
where the girts are mounted on the outside of the
Fabrication: The manufacturing process
performed in a plant to convert raw material into
finished Metal Building System components. The main
operations are cold forming, cutting, punching,
welding, cleaning and painting.
Facade: An architectural treatment,
partially covering a wall, usually concealing the
eave and/or the rake of the building.
Fading: Refers to the paint finish on
panels becoming less vibrant of color.
Fascia: A decorative trim or panel
projecting from the face of a wall.
Field: The job site, building site, or
general marketing area.
Filler Strip: See
Film Laminated Coil: Coil metal that has a
corrosion resistant film laminated to it prior to
the forming operation.
Fixed Clip: A standing seam roof system
hold down clip that does not allow the roof panel to
move independently of the roof substructure.
Fixed Base: A column base that is designed
to resist rotation as well as horizontal or vertical
Flange: The projecting edge of a
structural member ( e.g. the top and bottom
horizontal projections of an I beam).
Flange Brace: A member used to provide
lateral support to the flange of a structural
Flashing: The metal used to "trim" or
cover the juncture of two planes of material.
Floating Clip: A standing seam roof system
hold down clip that allows the roof panel to
horizontally move independently of the roof
substructure. Also known as a "Sliding Clip" or
Floor Live Load: Those loads induced on
the floor system by the use and occupancy of the
Flush Girts: A wall framing system where
the outside flange of the girts and the columns are
Footing: A pad or mat, usually of
concrete, located under a column, wall or other
structural member, that is used to distribute the
loads from that member into the supporting soil.
Foundation: The substructure, which
supports a building or other structure.
Framed Opening: Framing members and
flashing which surround an opening.
Framing Plans: See
Gable: The triangular portion of the
endwall from the level of the eave to the ridge of
Gable Overhang: See
Gable Roof: A roof consisting of two
sloping roof planes that form a ridge and form a
gable at each end.
Galvanized: Steel coated with zinc for
Gantry Crane: A crane similar to an
overhead crane except that the bridge for carrying
the trolley or trolleys is rigidly supported on one
or more legs running on fixed rails or other
Girder: A main horizontal or near
horizontal structural member that supports vertical
loads. It may consist of several pieces.
Girt: A horizontal structural member that
is attached to sidewall or endwall columns and
Glaze: The process of installing glass in
windows and doors.
Glazing: Glass panes or paneling used in
windows and doors.
Grade: The term used when referring to the
ground elevation around a building.
Grade Beam: A concrete beam around the
perimeter of a building.
Ground Snow Load: The probable weight of
snow on the ground for a specified recurrence
interval exclusive of drifts or sliding snow.
Grout: A mixture of cement, sand and water
used to fill cracks and cavities. Sometimes used
under base plates or leveling plates to obtain
uniform bearing surfaces.
Gusset Plate: A steel plate used to
reinforce or connect structural elements.
Gutter: A light gauge metal member at an
eave, valley or parapet designed to carry water from
the roof to downspouts or drains.
"H" Section: A steel member with a cross
section in the shape of an "H".
Hair Pin: "V" shaped reinforcing steel
used to transfer anchor bolt shear to the concrete
Hand-Geared (Crane): A crane in which the
bridge, hoist, or trolley is operated by the manual
use of chain and gear without electric power.
Haunch: The deepened portion of a column
or rafter designed to accommodate the higher bending
moments at such points. (Usually occurs at the
intersection of the column and the rafter.)
Header: The horizontal framing member
located at the top of a framed opening.
High Strength Bolts: Any bolt made from
steel having a tensile strength in excess of 100,000
pounds per square inch.
High Strength Steel: Structural steel
having a yield stress in excess of 36,000 pounds per
Hinged Base: See
Hip: The line formed at the intersection
of two adjacent sloping planes of a roof.
Hip Roof: A roof that is formed by sloping
planes from all four sides.
Hoist: A mechanical lifting device usually
attached to a trolley that travels along a bridge,
monorail, or jib crane. May be chain or electric
Horizontal Guide Rollers:
near the ends of end trucks, which roll on the side
of the rail to restrict lateral movement of the
Hot-Rolled Shapes: Steel sections (angles,
channels, "S" shapes, "W" shapes, etc.) which are
formed by rolling mills while the steel is in a
Ice Dam: A buildup of ice which forms a
dam at the eave, contributing to an excessive
build-up of snow on the roof.
Impact Load: A dynamic load resulting from
the motion of machinery, elevators, craneways,
vehicles, and other similar moving forces.
Impact Wrench: A power tool used to
tighten nuts or bolts.
Importance Factor: A factor that accounts
for the degree of hazard to human life and damage to
Installation: The on-site assembling of
fabricated Metal Building System components to form
a completed structure.
Insulation: Any material used in building
construction to reduce heat transfer.
Internal Pressure: Pressure inside a
Jack Beam: A beam used to support another
beam, rafter or truss and eliminate a column
Jack Truss: A truss used to support
another beam, rafter, or truss and eliminate a
Jamb: The vertical framing members located
at the sides of an opening.
Jib Crane: A cantilevered or suspended
beam with hoist and trolley. This lifting device may
pick up loads in all or part of a circle around the
column to which it is attached.
Jig: A device used to hold pieces of
material in a certain position during fabrication.
Joist: A light beam for supporting a floor
Kick-Out (Elbow) (Turn-Out):
attached to the bottom of a downspout to direct
water away from a wall.
Kip: A unit of measure equal to 1,000
Knee: The connecting area of a column and
rafter of a structural frame such as a rigid frame.
Knee Brace: A diagonal member at a column
and rafter intersection designed to resist
Lean-to: A structure having only one slope
and depending upon another structure for partial
Length: The dimension of the building
measured perpendicular to the main framing from
outside to outside of endwall girts.
Leveling Plate: A steel plate used on top
of a foundation or other support on which a
structural column can rest.
Lift (Crane): Maximum safe vertical
distance through which the hook, magnet, or bucket
Lifting Devices (Crane): Buckets, magnets,
grabs and other supplemental devices, the weight of
which is to be considered part of the rated load,
used for ease in handling certain types of loads.
Light Transmitting Panel: Panel used to
Liner Panel: A metal panel attached to the
inside flange of the girts or inside of a wall
Live Load: Loads that are produced (1)
during maintenance by workers, equipment, and
materials, and (2) during the life of the structure
by movable objects and do not include wind, snow,
seismic, or dead loads. Also see Roof or Floor Live
Load Indicating Washers:
A washer with
dimples, which flatten when the high strength bolt
is tightened. The bolt tension can then be
determined by the use of feeler gauges to determine
the gap between the washer and the bolt head.
Longitudinal: The direction parallel to
the ridge or sidewall.
Longitudinal (Crane): Direction parallel
to the crane runway beams.
Louver: An opening provided with fixed or
movable slanted fins to allow flow of air.
Low Rise Building: A description of a
class of buildings usually less than 60' eave
height. Commonly, they are single story, but do not
exceed 4 stories.
LRFD: Load and Resistance Factor Design.
Main Frame: An assemblage of rafters and
columns that support the secondary framing members
and transfer loads directly to the foundation.
Main Wind Force Resisting System: A
structural assembly that provides for the overall
stability of the building and receives wind loads
from more than one surface. Examples include shear
walls, diaphragms, rigid frames, and space
Manufacturer: A party who designs and
fabricates a Metal Building System.
Manufacturer's Engineer: An engineer
employed by a manufacturer who is in responsible
charge of the structural design of a Metal Building
System fabricated by the manufacturer. The
manufacturer's engineer is not the Engineer of
Masonry: Anything constructed of materials
such as bricks, concrete blocks, ceramic blocks, and
Mean Roof Height: Average height of roof
Metal Building System: A complete
integrated set of mutually dependent components and
assemblies that form a building including primary
and secondary framing, covering and accessories, and
are manufactured to permit inspection on site prior
to assembly or erection.
Mezzanine: An intermediate level between
floor and ceiling occupying a partial area of the
Mill Duty Crane: Cranes with service
classification E and F as defined by CMAA.
Moment: The tendency of a force to cause
rotation about a point or axis.
Moment Connection: A connection designed
to transfer moment as well as axial and shear forces
between connecting members.
Moment of Inertia: A physical property of
a member, which helps define strength and deflection
Monolithic Construction: A method of
placing concrete grade beam and floor slab together
to form the building foundation without forming and
placing each separately.
Monolithic Pour: The placing of concrete
in a monolithic construction.
Monorail Crane: A crane that travels on a
single runway beam, usually an "S" or "W" beam.
Multi-Gable Building: Buildings consisting
of more than one gable across the width of the
Multi-Span Building: Buildings consisting
of more than one span across the width of the
building. Multiple gable buildings and single gable
buildings with interior columns are examples.
Multiple Girder Crane: A crane, which has
two or more girders for supporting the lifted load.
Oil Canning: A waviness that may occur in
flat areas of light gauge formed metal products.
Structural integrity is not normally affected by
this inherent characteristic; therefore oil canning
is only an aesthetic issue. Oil canning is not a
cause for rejection of the material.
Open Web Steel Joists: Lightweight truss.
Order Documents: The documents normally
required by the Manufacturer in the ordinary course
of entering and processing an order.
Auxiliary Crane Girder.
Overhanging Beam: A simply supported beam
that extends beyond its support.
Overhead Doors: See
Sectional Overhead Doors.
Panel Notch: A notch or block out formed
along the outside edge of the floor slab to provide
support for the wall panels and serve as a closure
along their bottom edge.
Pan Panel: A standing seam panel, which
has vertical sides and has no space between the
panels at the side laps.
Parapet: That portion of the vertical wall
of a building that extends above the roofline.
Parts and Portions: See
Components and Cladding.
Peak: The uppermost point of a gable.
Peak Sign: A sign attached to the peak of
the building at the endwall showing the building
Pendant-Operated Crane: Crane operated
from a pendant control unit suspended from the
Personnel Doors: doors used by personnel
for access and exit from a building.
Pick Point: The belted part of panel
bundles where the bundle is to be lifted.
Piece Mark: A number given to each
separate part of the building for erection
identification. Also called mark number and part
Pier: A concrete structure designed to
transfer vertical load from the base of a column to
Pig Spout: A sheet metal section designed
to direct the flow of water out through the face of
the gutter rather than through a downspout.
Pilaster: A reinforced or enlarged portion
of a masonry wall to provide support for roof loads
or lateral loads on the wall.
Pinned Base: A column base that is
designed to resist horizontal and vertical movement,
but not rotation.
Pin Connection: A connection designed to
transfer axial and shear forces between connecting
members, but not moments.
Plastic Design: A design concept based on
multiplying the actual loads by a suitable load
factor, and using the yield stress as the maximum
stress in any member, and taking into consideration
Plastic Panels: See
Light Transmitting Panels.
Ponding: 1) The gathering of water at low
or irregular areas on a roof.
2) Progressive accumulation of water from
deflection due to rain loads.
Pop Rivet: See
Porosity: The measurement of openings in
buildings, which allow air to enter during a
Portal Frame: A rigid frame so designed
that it offers rigidity and stability in its plane.
It is generally used to resist longitudinal loads
where other bracing methods are not permitted.
Post and Beam: A structural system
consisting of a series of rafter beams supported by
columns. Often used as the end frame of a building.
Post-tensioning: A method of pre-stressing
reinforced concrete in which tendons are tensioned
after the concrete has reached a specific strength.
Power Actuated Fastener: A device for
fastening items by the utilization of a patented
device that uses an explosive charge or compressed
air to embed the pin in concrete or steel.
Pre-tensioning: A method of pre-stressing
reinforced concrete in which the tendons are
tensioned before the concrete has been placed.
Pre-Painted Coil: Coil of metal, which has
received a paint coating.
Press Brake: A machine used in
cold-forming metal sheets or strips into desired
Pre-stressed Concrete: Concrete in which
internal stresses of such magnitude and distribution
are introduced that the tensile stresses resulting
from the service loads are counteracted to a desired
degree; in reinforced concrete the pre-stress is
commonly introduced by tensioning the tendons.
Primary Framing: See
Prismatic Beam: A beam with a uniform
Public Assembly: A building or space where
300 or more persons may congregate in one area.
Purlin: A horizontal structural member
that supports roof covering and carries loads to the
primary framing members.
Purlin Extension: The projection of the
roof beyond the plane of the endwall.
Rafter: The main beam supporting the roof
Rail (Crane): See
Rails (Door): The horizontal stiffening
members of framed and paneled doors.
Rake: The intersection of the plane of the
roof and the plane of the endwall.
Rake Angle: Angle fastened to purlins at
rake for attachment of endwall panels.
Rake Trim: A flashing designed to close
the opening between the roof and endwall panels.
Rated Capacity (Crane): The maximum load
(usually in tons), which a crane is designed to
Reactions: The resisting forces at the
column bases provided by foundations that hold a
structure in equilibrium under a given loading
Reinforcing Steel: The steel placed in
concrete as required to carry the tension,
compression and shear stresses.
Remote-Operated Crane: A crane controlled
by an operator not in a pulpit or in the cab
attached to the crane by any method other than
pendant or rope control.
Retrofit: The placing of new metal roof or
wall systems over deteriorated roofs or walls.
Rib: The longitudinal raised profile of a
panel that provides much of the panel's bending
Ribbed Panel: A panel, which has ribs with
sloping sides and forms a trapezoidal shaped void at
the side lap.
Ridge: The horizontal line formed by
opposing sloping sides of a roof running parallel
with the building length.
Ridge Cap: A transition of the roofing
materials along the ridge of a roof; sometimes
called ridge roll or ridge flashing.
Rigid Connection: See
Rigid Frame: A structural frame consisting
of members joined together with moment connections
so as to render the frame stable with respect to the
design loads, without the need for bracing in its
Rolling Doors: Doors that are supported at
the bottom on wheels that run on a track.
Roll-Up Door: A door that opens by
traveling vertically and is gathered into a roll
suspended some distance above the floor.
Roof Covering: The exposed exterior roof
surface consisting of metal panels.
Roof Live Load: Loads that are produced
(1) during maintenance by workers, equipment, and
materials, and (2) during the life of the structure
by movable objects which do not include wind, snow,
seismic or dead loads.
Roof Overhang: A roof extension beyond the
endwall or sidewall of a building.
Roof Slope: The tangent of the angle that
a roof surface makes with the horizontal, usually
expressed in units of vertical rise to 12 units of
Roof Snow Load: The load induced by the
weight of snow on the roof of the structure.
Runway Beam: See
Crane Runway Beam.
Runway Bracket: A bracket extending out
form the column of a building frame, which supports
the runway beam for top-running cranes.
Runway Conductors: The main conductors
mounted on or parallel to the runway, which supplies
electric current to the crane.
"S" Shape: A hot rolled beam with narrow
Sag Member: A tension member such as rods,
straps or angles used to limit the deflection of a
girt or purlin in the direction of its weak axis.
Sandwich Panel: A panel used as covering
consisting of an insulating core material with inner
and outer metal skins.
Screw Down Roof System: A screw down roof
system is one in which the roof panels are attached
directly to the roof substructure with fasteners
that penetrate through the roof sheets and into the
Scupper: An opening in a gutter or parapet
system, which prevents ponding.
Sealant: Any material that is used to seal
cracks, joints or laps.
Secondary Framing: Members that carry
loads from the building surface to the main framing.
For example - purlins and girts.
Seaming Machine: A mechanical device that
is used to close and seal the side seams of standing
seam roof panels.
Sectional Overhead Doors:
constructed in horizontally hinged sections. They
are equipped with springs, tracks, counter
balancers, and other hardware, which roll the
sections into an overhead position clear of the
Seismic Load: The lateral load acting in
any direction on a structural system due the action
of an earthquake.
Self-Drilling Screw: A fastener that
combines the function of drilling and tapping.
Self-Tapping Screw: A fastener that taps
its own threads in a predrilled hole.
Shear: The force tending to make two
contacting parts slide upon each other in opposite
directions parallel to their plane of contact.
Shear Diaphragm: See
Shim: A piece of steel used to level base
plates or align columns or beams.
Shipping List: See
Bill of Materials.
Shop Primer Paint: The initial coat of
primer paint applied in the shop. A temporary
coating designed to protect the steel during
shipping and erection until the building exterior
and interior finish coverings have been installed.
This coating may or may not serve as a proper prime
coat for other finishing paints.
Shot Pin: See
Power Actuated Fastener.
Side Lap Fastener: A fastener used to
connect panels together above their length.
Sidewall: An exterior wall, which is
perpendicular to the frames of a building system.
Sidewall Overhang: See
Sill: The bottom horizontal framing member
of a wall opening such as a window or louver.
Simple Connection: See
Simple Span: A term used in structural
design to describe a beam support condition at two
points which offers no resistance to rotation at the
Single Slope: A sloping roof in one plane.
The slope is from one sidewall to the opposite
Siphon Break: A small groove to arrest the
capillary action of two adjacent surfaces. (Anti-
Sister Column: See
Crane Support Column.
Slide Door: A single or double leaf door,
which opens horizontally by means of sliding on an
Sliding Clip: A standing seam roof system
hold down clip, which allows the roof panel to
thermally expanded independently of the roof
Snow Drift: See
Snow Load: See
Roof Snow Load.
Snug Tight: The tightness of a bolt in a
connection that exists when all plies in a joint are
in firm contact.
Soffit: A material, which covers the
underside of an overhang.
Soil Bearing Pressure: The load per unit
area a structure will exert through its foundation
on the soil.
Soldier Column: An intermediate column
used to support secondary structural members; not
part of a main frame or beam and column system.
Spacer Strut (Crane): A type of assembly
used to keep the end trucks of adjacent cranes on
the same runway beams a minimum specified distance
Span: The distance between two supports.
Specification (Metal Building System):
statement of a set of Metal Building System
requirements describing the loading conditions,
design practices, materials and finishes.
Splice: A connection in a structural
Spreader Bar: Elongated bar with attached
hooks and/or chains used from a crane to lift long
sections of panels, or structural members such as
Spud Wrench: A tool used by erectors to
line up holes and to make up bolted connections; a
wrench with a tapered handle.
Square: The term used for an area of 100
Stainless Steel: An alloy of steel, which
contains a high percentage of chromium to increase
corrosion resistance. Also may contain nickel or
Standing Seam: Side joints of roof panels
that are arranged in a vertical position above the
Standing Seam Roof System:
A roof system
in which the side laps between the roof panels are
arranged in a vertical position above the roofline.
The roof panel system is secured to the roof
substructure by means of concealed hold down clips
attached with screws to the substructure, except
that through fasteners may be used at limited
locations such as at ends of panels and at roof
Stiffener: A member used to strengthen a
plate against lateral or local buckling.
Stiffener Lip: A short extension of
material at an angle to the flange of cold formed
structural members, which adds strength to the
Stiles: The vertical side members of
framed and paneled doors.
Stitch Screw: A fastener connecting panels
together at the sidelap.
Straight Tread Wheels: Crane wheels with
flat-machined treads and double flanges, which limit
the lateral movement of the crane.
Strain: The deformation per unit length
measured in the direction of the stress caused by
forces acting on a member. Not the same as
Stress: A measure of the load on a
structural member in terms of force per unit area.
Strut: A member fitted into a framework,
which resists axial compressive forces.
Stud: A vertical wall member to which
exterior or interior covering or collateral material
may be attached. May be either load bearing or
Suspension System: The system (rigid or
flexible) used to suspend the runway beams of
underhung or monorail cranes from the rafter of the
Sweep: The amount of deviation of
straightness of a structural section measured
perpendicular to the web of the member.
Tapered Members: A built up plate member
consisting of flanges welded to a variable depth
Tapered Tread Wheels: End truck wheels
with treads which are tapered; the large diameter
being toward the center of the span.
Tensile Strength: The longitudinal pulling
stress a material can bear without tearing apart.
Tension Forces: Forces acting on a member
tending to elongate it.
Thermal Block: A spacer of low thermal
conductance material that is installed between the
purlin and roof insulation, to prevent energy loss.
Thermal Conductance, (C-Factor):
rate of heat flow through unit area of a body
induced by unit temperature difference between the
body surfaces. Units are BTU / (Hour x ft 2 x degree
F) [Imperial system] or Watts / (m 2 x degree C) [SI
Thermal Conductivity, (K-Factor):
rate of heat flow through unit thickness of a flat
slab of a homogenous material in the perpendicular
direction to the slab surfaces induced by unit
temperature gradient. Units for K are (BTU x in) /
(hour x ft 2 x degree F) or BTU/ (hour x ft x degree
F) [Imperial System] and Watts / (m x degree C) [SI
Thermal Resistance (R-Value): Under steady
conditions, the mean temperature difference between
two defined surfaces of material or construction
that induces unit heat flow through unit area. Note:
Thermal resistance and thermal conductance are
reciprocals. To obtain the U-Factor, overall thermal
transmittance, R-Value for materials and/or
combinations of materials must first be evaluated.
U-Factor is then the reciprocal of the sum of these
Thermal Resistivity: Under steady
conditions, the temperature difference between
parallel surfaces of a slab (large enough so there
is no lateral heat flow) of unit thickness that
induces unit heat flow through unit area. Note:
Thermal resistivity and thermal conductivity are
reciprocals. Thermal resistivity is the R-Value of a
material of unit thickness.
Thermal Transmittance (U-Factor): The time
rate of heat flow per unit is under steady
conditions from the fluid on the warm side of a
barrier to the fluid on the cold side, per unit
temperature difference between the two fluids. To
obtain, first evaluate the R-Value and then compute
Through-Fastened Roof System: A roof
system in which the roof panels are attached
directly to the roof substructure with fasteners,
that penetrate through the roof sheets and into the
Through Ties: Reinforcing steel, usually
in the concrete, extending from one column pier to
the other column pier, tying the two columns of a
rigid frame together to resist thrust.
Thrust: The horizontal component of a
reaction usually at the column base.
Tie: A structural member that is loaded in
Ton: 2,000 pounds.
Track: A metal way for wheeled components;
specifically, one or more lines of ways, with
fastenings, ties, etc., for a crane way, monorail or
Translucent Panels: See
Light Transmitting Panels.
Transverse: The direction parallel to the
Tributary Area: The area directly
supported by the structural member between
Trim: The light gauge metal used in the
finish of a building, especially around openings and
at intersections of surfaces. Sometimes referred to
Trolley (Crane): The unit carrying the
Trolley Frame (Crane): The basic structure
of the trolley on which are mounted the hoisting and
Truss: A structure made up of three or
more members, with each member designed to carry a
tension or compression force. The entire structure
in turn acts as a beam.
Turn-of-the-Nut Method: A method for
pre-tensioning high strength bolts. The nut is
tightened an additional amount from the Snug Tight
position, corresponding to a few blows of an impact
wrench or the full effort of a man using an ordinary
spud wrench. The amount of rotation required depends
on the bolt diameter and length.
Twist Off Bolts: Bolts with a segment,
which shears off at a predetermined torque during
bolt tightening. These bolts utilized a specially
designed wrench for proper installation.
Uplift: Wind load on a building, which
causes a load in the upward direction.
Valley Gutter: A heavy gauge gutter used
for multi-gabled buildings or between buildings.
Vapor Barrier: Material used to retard the
flow of vapor or moisture to prevent condensation
from forming on a surface.
Ventilator: A roof mounted accessory,
which allows the air to pass through.
"W" Shape: A hot rolled I-shaped member
with parallel flanges generally wider than "S"
Wainscot: Wall material, used in the lower
portion of a wall that is different from the
material in the rest of the wall.
Walk Door: See
Wall Covering: The exterior wall surface
consisting of panels.
Web: That portion of a structural member
between the flanges.
Web Stiffener: See
Wheel Base: Distance from center-to center
of the outermost crane wheels.
Wheel Load: The vertical forces without
impact produced on a crane ok wheel bearing on a
runway rail or suspended from a runway beam. Maximum
wheel load occurs with the crane loaded at rated
capacity and the trolley positioned to provide
maximum vertical force at one set of wheels.
Width: The dimension of the building
measured parallel to the main framing from outside
to outside of sidewall girts.
Wind Bent: See
Wind Column: A vertical member designed to
withstand horizontal wind loads, usually in the
X-Bracing: Bracing system with members
arranged diagonally in both directions to form an
"Z" Section: A member cold formed from
steel sheet in the approximate shape of a "Z".
Zinc-Aluminum Coated: Steel coated with an
alloy of zinc and aluminum to provide corrosion