NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings

SN035a-EN-EU

NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings

Recommendations and guidelines for horizontal and vertical defection for single storey

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buildings.

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Contents

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1. Introduction 2

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2. Horizontal deflections for portal frames 2

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3. Vertical deflections for portal frames 5

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4. Vertical deflections for horizontal roof members 6

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5. References 8
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 NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
SN035a-EN-EU

1. Introduction
No specific deflection limits are set in Eurocode 1993-1-1 [1]. According to EN 1993-1-1, §

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7.2 and EN 1990 – Annex A1.4 [2], deflection limits should be specified for each project and

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agreed with the client. The National Annex to EN 1993-1-1 may specify limits for application
in individual countries. Where limits are specified they have to be satisfied. Where limits are

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not specified, the following might be helpful when deciding relevant deflection limits.

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2. Horizontal deflections for portal frames

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Figure 2.1 Definition of horizontal deflection

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 NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
SN035a-EN-EU

Table 2.1 Limiting horizontal deflection

Country Structure Deflection Comments

limits

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u

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France Portal frames without gantry The values to the left are given in the
cranes French National Annex to EN 1993-1-1

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Buildings with no particular and should be used if nothing else is
requirements regarding the agreed with the client.

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deflection. The values of the deflections calculated
from the characteristic combinations

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Deflection at the top of the H/150 should be compared to these limits.
columns

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Difference of deflection between B/150

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two consecutive portal frames
Member supporting metal

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cladding

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Post H/150
Rail B/150
Other single storey buildings @
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Buildings with particular
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requirements regarding the

deflection (brittle walls,
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appearance…).
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Deflection at the top of the H/250

columns
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Difference of deflection between B/200

two consecutive portal frames
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Germany There are no national deflection limits.

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The limits should be taken from

manufacturers instructions (technical
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approvals) or should be agreed with the

client.
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Spain Portal frames (without fragile H/150 The values to the left are given in the
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elements susceptible to failure in national technical document for steel

the envelopes, façade and roof) structures [3] and in the Technical
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Building Code [4] and should be used if

nothing else is agreed with the client.
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Single storey buildings with H/300

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horizontal roofs (without fragile

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elements susceptible to failure in

the envelopes, façade and roof)
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Sweden - The national regulations [5]contain only

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a principle that deformations should not

be harmful or damage other parts of the
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buildings.
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 NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
SN035a-EN-EU

Country Structure Deflection Comments

limits
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UK Portal frames without gantry There are no national deflection limits.
cranes, with walls of : The figures to the left are

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recommended in industry guidance [6].

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Steel sheeting H/100
- deflection at top of column

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Fibre reinforced sheeting H/150
- deflection at top of column

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Brickwork H/300

m
- deflection at top of column

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Differential deflection between
H 2 + B2
two consecutive portal frames

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660

gm
Hollow concrete brickwork H/200
- deflection at top of column
Differential between two
H 2 + B2 @
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consecutive portal frames
500
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Precast concrete units H/200

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- deflection at top of column

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Differential defection between

H 2 + B2
two consecutive portal frames
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 NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
SN035a-EN-EU

3. Vertical deflections for portal frames

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Figure 3.1 Definitions of vertical deflection of apex of portal frame

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Recommended limiting values for vertical deflection are given in Table 3.1
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Table 3.1 Vertical deflection limits

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Country Structure Deflection limits Comments

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wmax w3
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France Roofs in general L/200 L/250 The values to the left are given in
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the National Annex to EN 1993-1-

Roofs frequently carrying L/200 L/300 1 and should be used if nothing
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personnel other than for else is agreed with the client.

maintenance
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The values of the deflections

Roofs supporting plaster or L/250 L/350 calculated from the characteristic
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other brittle toppings or non- combinations should be compared

flexible parts to these limits.
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Germany There are no national deflection

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limits.
The limits should be taken from
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manufacturers instructions
(technical approvals) or should be
agreed with the client.
Sweden There are no national deflection
limits.

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 NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
SN035a-EN-EU

Country Structure Deflection limits Comments

wmax w3
UK Portal frames without gantry There are no national deflection

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cranes, with rafter slopes ≥3r limits. These figures are
recommended in industry

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guidance [6].
Differential deflection relative to

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adjacent frame

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- metal sheeting and fibre B
reinforced sheeting 100

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- felted metal decking on purlins B
100

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- felted metal supported on B
rafters 200

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4. Vertical deflections for horizontal roof members
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4.1 Serviceability limit states
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Guidance for the deflection limits are given in Table 4.1 for a selection of countries.
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Definition of vertical deflection in Annex A to EN 1990 is shown in Figure 4.1

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wc
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w1
to

w2 wtot
wmax
w3
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wc : precamber in the unloaded structural member

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w1 : Initial part of the deflection under permanent loads of the relevant combination of
actions
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w2 : Long-term part of the deflection under permanent loads, not to be considered for
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single storey steel buildings,

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w3 : Additional part of the deflection due to the variable actions of the relevant
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combination of actions
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wtot = w1 + w2 + w3
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wmax : Remaining total deflection taking into account the precamber

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Figure 4.1 Definition of vertical deflections

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 NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
SN035a-EN-EU

Table 4.1 Recommended limiting values for vertical deflections

Country Structure Deflection limits Comments

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Wmax W3
France Roofs in general L/200 L/250 The values to the left are given in the

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National Annex to EN 1993-1-1 and
Roofs frequently carrying L/200 L/300 should be used if nothing else is

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personnel other than for agreed with the client.
maintenance
The values of the deflections

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Roofs supporting plaster L/250 L/350 calculated from the characteristic
or other brittle toppings or combinations should be compared to

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non-flexible parts these limits.
Germany There are no national deflection

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limits. The limits should be taken

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from manufacturers’ instructions (
technical approvals) or should be

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agreed with the client.

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Spain Roofs in general L/300(*) - The values to the left are given in the
national technical document for steel
Roofs with access only L/250(*) structures [4] and in the Technical
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for maintenance in Building Code [5] and should be used
if nothing else is agreed with the
client.
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Sweden There are no binding restrictions.

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UK Roofs with access for - L/200 There are no national deflection

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maintenance limits. The figures presented are

taken from industry guidance [6].
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Roofs accessible to - L/360

personnel other than for
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maintenance
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(*) This values refers to w2 + w3 but w2 = 0 for steel structures.

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4.2 Ultimate limit state: Ponding

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Where the roof slope is less than 5%, additional calculations should be made to check that
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collapse cannot occur due to the weight of water :

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‰ either collected in pools which may be formed due to the deflection of structural
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members or roofing material,

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‰ or retained by snow.
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These additional checks should be based on the combinations at the Ultimate Limit States.
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Precambering of beams may reduce the likelihood of rainwater collecting in pools, provided
that rainwater outlets are appropriately located.
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 NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
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5. References
1 EN 1993-1-1 Design of steel structures – Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings.

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CEN:

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2 EN 1990 Eurocode. Basis of structural design.

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CEN .

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3 Instrucción de Acero Estructural

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Ministerio de Fomento, España, 2006.

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Código Técnico de la Edificación
Ministerio de Vivienda, España, 2006

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Regelsamling för konstruktion, Boverkets konstruktionsregler, BKR, byggnadsverkslagen
och byggnadsverksförordningen,
Boverket, Sverige, 2003 @
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6 Steelwork Design Guide to BS 5950 Volume 4: Essential Data for Designers, P 070, The
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Steel Construction Institute, 1991.

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 NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
SN035a-EN-EU

Quality Record

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RESOURCE TITLE NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings

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Reference(s)

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ORIGINAL DOCUMENT

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Name Company Date

Created by

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Alain BUREAU CTICM

Technical content checked by Jean-Pierre Pescatore CTICM

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Editorial content checked by

Technical content endorsed by the

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following STEEL Partners:

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1. UK G W Owens SCI 10/3/06

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2. France A Bureau in CTICM 10/3/06

3. Sweden A Olsson SBI 10/3/06

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4. Germany C Müller RWTH 10/3/06

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5. Spain J Chica Labein 10/3/06

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Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 08/6/06

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Coordinator

TRANSLATED DOCUMENT
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This Translation made and checked by:

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Translated resource approved by:

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