Halberg Engineering LLC
What is a Post Frame Building? It is essentially a structural framing system used in a wide variety of building applications. More people every day are becoming aware of the economic and environmentally sustainable advantages of Post Frame construction. To address the need for a clear definition of the Post Frame Building system, the following definition was recently approved by the National Frame Building Association (NFBA) Technical & Research committee under the guidance of Dr. Harvey Manbeck:
"Post-Frame Building System. A post-frame building system is characterized by primary structural frames of posts as columns and trusses or rafters as roof framing. The roof framing is attached to the posts, either directly or indirectly through structural headers. Posts are typically graded lumber, graded timbers, laminated lumber or fabricated of composite or hybrid material. Posts are embedded in the soil and supported on isolated footings, or are attached to the top of piers, concrete or masonry walls, slabs-on-grade, or other suitable foundations. Secondary framing members, purlins in the roof and girts in the walls, are attached to the primary framing members to provide lateral support and to transfer sheathing loads, both in-plane and out-of-plane, to the posts and roof framing. Structures are sheathed with a wide variety of materials, including metal and wood structural panels or other suitable materials."
Post Frame buildings are cost effective and enviornmentally sustainable because they use a large amount of renewable structural material and use all materials very efficiently compared to alternative framing systems. Post Frame buildings can be finished with the same interior and exterior finishes of any other framing system or, for ultimate cost savings, they can be covered with light gauge steel panels (similar to pre-engineered steel buildings) which serve as both exterior finish and structural element (replaces the OSB and lap siding with just one material). The material efficiency of Post Frame construction does require a higher degree of certainty in the engineering than other types of construction having more built-in redundancy.
Halberg Engineering is an independent structural engineering consultant specializing in the engineering of Post Frame buildings in a wide variety of applications: commercial, residential, and agricultural. If you have any questions or engineering needs for Post-Frame construction give us a call at 866-694-8602 and ask for Aaron.
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