Issue: 01:13

Load Bearing vs. Non-load Bearing Walls

There are several things that we need to know when dealing with
load bearing and non-load bearing walls. I am going to try to explain
the differences between some basic wall systems and provide some
valuable information on how to make us more competitive when dealing with these wall systems.
A non-load bearing wall is a wall that does not support any gravity
loads from the building, hence doesnt bear any weight besides its own.
A load bearing wall is a wall that bears some of the buildings weight
in addition to its own weight. Both, load bearing and non-load bearing
walls may see lateral loading such as wind loads and seismic loads.
Also, both load bearing and non-load bearing walls can serve as shear
walls to brace the building in lateral and/or longitudinal directions.
Important questions to think about when doing a takeoff for a project:
1. Is this a load bearing or non-load bearing wall?
Yakov Filipets, PE
2. Can this wall be utilized as a shear wall?
3. Can we make the end walls load bearing to eliminate two full frames?
Project Engineer
4. Are the walls going to be designed with a bond beams?
yfilipets@nbstx.com
5. Can we flange brace to the wall?
Why are these important?
1. If the walls are load bearing we can eliminate sidewall columns and endwall frames. In
this case we are left with a very economical rafter and bracing system. By eliminating the
above mentioned components on a 120x200x30 building with 40 modular frames and post
and beam endwalls the difference in primary framing can be as much as 35% or approximately
$12960 (on this particular building).
2. If the concrete or block walls are non-load bearing we might ask to see if the endwalls
can be made load bearing. It is usually cheaper to add some rebar to the cmu or concrete tilt-up
walls and bear the purlins on it versus providing a full size frame next to the structural wall. On
a 120x200x30 building this change can reduce the primary framing by 15% or in this case by
$7800.
3. It is important to figure out if the walls are designed with or without the bond beam. If a
bond beam is used in the wall design there is no need for us to provide spandrel beams. Overlooking this small detail could make a difference of $13800 on the above mentioned building,
and could potentially cost us a job.
4. Flange bracing to the cmu or tilt up walls (load bearing and non-load bearing) is a fairly common practice. However it requires more coordination between the structural engineer and metal building engineer. The loads that flange braces impose onto
the wall are minor and may not require any additional reinforcement in the wall. The difference between the flange braced columns versus unbraced columns is approximately $4800 on the above menThanks,
tion building.
Yakov
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
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