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Timber frame structures

platform frame construction (part 3)

Introduction
This Engineering Bulletin provides guidance for engineers involved in the
design of timber frame building structures on the structural stability issues
commonly referred to as design for structural robustness or design to avoid
disproportionate collapse in buildings.

Structural stability guidance is supported by tests which were conducted by

BRE and TRADA on the TF2000 building (Figure 1).

Stability, robustness and disproportionate collapse

There are three different conditions that need to be satisfied by the structural
engineer in the design of a multi-storey timber frame building:

Strength and stiffness design (see Engineering Notebook No.3 for more
information) Figure 1
Robustness design based on good practice but not case-specific Six storey timber frame test building TF2000, Cardington, Bedfordshire
calculations
Disproportionate collapse design based on case-specific calculations for
undefined accidental damage events Principle Code references
Robustness of timber frame construction is generally achieved by the Actions and load combinations appropriate for the accidental load case are
application of standard detailing that has become established over the last 30 provided in BS EN 1991-1-7:2006 and its supporting documents.
years or more. STA member companies and information on the STA website
(www.structuraltimber.co.uk.) provide typical detailing to achieve proven Partial factors for actions are given in BS EN 1990 Eurocode 0 and its
robust solutions. National Annexes. Partial factors for materials are given in BS EN 1995-1-1
and its National Annex and are reduced to 1.0 for the accidental load
Specific design checks for accidental damage should be carried out by the situation.
engineer to determine whether the building form is unduly sensitive to
damage (caused accidentally or otherwise) such that collapse or partial
collapse is not disproportionate to the original cause. The accidental design Building Regulations requirements for robustness
situation is an ultimate limit state and in general, serviceability criteria do not Regulations exist for accidental damage design limitation based on the
need to be considered. principle that, in the event of damage occurring to a building, partial collapse
In addition, as with all construction materials, there is no defined period for a is acceptable providing it is proportionate to the cause. In the Approved
building to survive when subject to accidental damage. The only requirement Document A to the Building Regulations 2010, the area of floor collapse at
being that safe escape of occupants and safe access for emergency repair any storey cannot exceed 15% of the floor area of that storey or 70m2,
works should be possible. whichever is smaller, and the collapse must not extend further than the
immediate adjacent storey. It should be noted that the permitted collapse
area differs from the 100m2 given in BS EN 1991-1-7 clause 3.3(2) which is
adopted in this Bulletin.

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In the Approved Document A, Section 5, buildings are classified into four Figure 2
building classes (called Risk Groups in Scotland and Consequence Classes Consequence Classes applicable to single occupancy houses up to five
in BS EN 1991-1-7) according to the perceived consequences of failure. storeys

Table 1: Definition of Consequence Classes

Figure 3
Consequence Classes applicable to single occupancy houses up to five
storeys built over basements

Table 2: Building classes based on building type, number of storeys

and occupancy Figure 4
Consequence Classes applicable to apartments up to six storeys

Determination of the Consequence Class

The purpose of the Consequence Class is to ensure that buildings are
designed and constructed to the appropriate requirements for robustness, as
discussed in this Bulletin.

Classes are derived on the basis of building type, building height (number
of storeys), floor plan area per storey (for retail) and occupancy. A structure
could be comprised of different Consequence Classes.

BS EN 1990 Table B1 gives guidelines for the choice of Consequence Class

as indicated in Table 1.

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Classification of structure Examples of the required building classes to be applied to single occupancy
dwellings and apartments are indicated in Figures 2-4 (where KE refers to a
Table A.1 of BS EN 1991-1-7 categorises buildings into Consequence
structure designed as a key element or strong floor meeting the requirements
Classes based on their occupancy and number of storeys. Note that
of Consequence Class 2B).
Consequence Class 2 in Table 1 covers a very broad spectrum of building
types and so is divided into Classes 2A and 2B (Table 2). Most timber frame
buildings will fall into Classes 1, 2A or 2B. Class 3 structures require a risk Means of achieving compliance
assessment-based approach which is not considered here. A buildings structural form will significantly affect its robustness. Cellular
Number of storeys forms of construction such as those commonly seen in platform timber frame
With the exception of buildings to which the public are admitted, the number buildings (Engineering Bulletin No. 3) with many loadbearing walls, assure
of storeys is fundamental to a buildings classification. a sensible level of robustness and resistance to accidental damage, because
loss of any one wall will generally not lead to the collapse of a large
Part storeys such as mezzanines and galleries or rooms-in-the-roof can
proportion of the structure.
generally be discounted if their floor area is less than 25% for a building with
a large floor plan (800m2) or 50% of a building with a smaller floor plan In addition to the provision of horizontal ties to meet the criteria for
(300m2). Consequence Class 2A, there are three methods of achieving the
requirements of Consequence Class 2B:
Many four storey timber frame structures are constructed off a reinforced
concrete or steel podium structure. If the podium structure is designed to Provision of both horizontal and vertical ties
meet the Class 2B requirements and to withstand the collapse of the timber Notional removal of elements
frame structure above, by applying a static debris loading distributed over an Provision of structurally adequate Key Elements.
area 25% larger than the original footprint of the timber frame building, then Figure 5 is a flow chart, guiding the engineer through the various robustness
the podium structure may be deemed as a strong floor and the four storey options to be applied to the diff erent building classes.
timber frame structure above can be designed to meet Class 2A requirements.

< Figure 5
Disproportionate collapse flow chart for design

Floor joists
perpendicular to Floor joists
wall parallel to wall

1) Wall panel
2) Bottom rail
3) Sole plate
4) Structural subdeck
5) Rimbeam or rimboard Figure 6
6) Headbinder or wallplate Details of effective anchorage of floors to timber
7) Floor joist
8) Top rail frame walls in buildings of Consequence Class 2a

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Table 3: Required tying forces for internal ties for robust detailing of a timber frame building or a building with timber floors

Building types of Consequence Class 2A For platform timber frame structures with a regular arrangement of
loadbearing walls, the horizontal tie requirement is satisfied by adopting the
For Class 2A buildings, robustness will be achieved by providing effective
eff ective anchorage requirements for Consequence Class 2A together with
horizontal ties, or effective anchorage of suspended floors to walls. The
one of the following methods:
structural layout of platform timber frame is cellular in nature and effective
anchorage of each floor member to wall junction in accordance with Clause Method 2: By checking for notional removal of a loadbearing wall, one at a
A5.2 of EN 1991-1-7 and the UK National Annex (which is satisfied by time in each storey.
adopting the good building practice of providing lateral restraint to walls and Method 3: By providing critical key or protected elements, which must be
designed mechanical anchorage details for fl oors to wall connections) is the able to resist an accidental pressure of 34kN/m2 in any direction (accidental
preferred approach. For post and beam forms of construction, the provision of loadcase).
distinct horizontal ties is more likely to be needed.
Where necessary, these methods may be used in combination.
For conventional timber frame buildings of cellular plan form, the effective
anchorage of floors to walls will be achieved with a minimum density of Platform timber frame building structures which comprise loadbearing wall

nails in all horizontal interfaces equivalent of 3.1mm diameter at a maximum panels typically have a distributed arrangement of vertical walls. Notional

spacing of 300mm centres as shown in Figure 6 (taken from Annex B of PD removal of loadbearing elements (or notional panel removal), one at a time

6693-1:2012). in each storey of the building in accordance with EN 1991-1-7 Clause A7, is
therefore the preferred approach for platform frame construction.
The density of fi xings has been derived from test evidence backed by
calculations undertaken by the STA and submitted to the UK code In all cases the design process should involve checking the capacity of the

committee for approval and publication in PD 6693-1: 2012. The density of component interfaces (e.g. panel rail to soleplate, soleplate to floor deck,

fixings is such that it gives an appropriate uniform distributed lateral tie force. floor joists to head binder and head binder to panel rail) against the variable
horizontal wind forces. The timber frame designer should therefore be
For timber structures the requirements for horizontal tie forces can also be providing a robust connection at each and every junction as part of the
achieved using Clause A5.1 of EN 1991-1-7 as amended by the UK National normal design process.
Annex to Eurocode 1-7 clauses NA 2.43 and NA.3. These design tie forces are
given in Table 3. In calculating the strength of connections to resist the tying forces,
factors should be taken as the instantaneous values from Table 3.1 of EN 5 i.e.
= 1.1 and = 1.0 (accidental condition).
Building types of Consequence Class 2B
For Class 2B structures, robustness can be achieved either by any of the
following:

Method 1: By providing eff ective horizontal and vertical ties at all floor and
roof levels (Table 3). For beam and post type structures or for loadbearing
wall structures with an irregular or distributed arrangement of loadbearing
walls, this can be achieved by designing connections between members for
the required accidental tie forces.

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Figure 7
Diagrammatic descriptions of the Notional removal method for preventing
disproportionate collapse in timber platform frame structures

External or party wall panel

The timber rimbeam is designed to
support the wall and the floor joists at
Continuous timber
thelevel above by bridging over the
floor joists
notionally removed wall panels.
Subsequent rimbeams provide support
to outer walls and floors, thereby
preventing propagation of the collapse

Removal of end support:

Following notional removal of a
wall panel providing joists end
support, unless the joists are
top-hung from the rimbeam, the
joists are assumed to collapse and
a check should be carried out
to ensure that the resulting collapse
area is within allowable limits

Timber rimbeam
Removal of internal support: within foor depth
Following notional removal of an
internal load bearing wall, the joists
act in double span at each level and
are checked for the accidental
floor loads and the self weight of a
single store wall supported off of
the joists allowable limits

Figure 8
Notional panel removal end span support wall

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Notional removal of loadbearing element for Key element post method for Consequence Class 2B
Consequence Class 2B - The Rimbeam Method
Key element posts are often provided in combination with rim beams, to
A separate engineered timber rim beam is used to span between points of either reduce the length of wall panel that must be considered for notional
vertical lateral restraint (intersecting return walls or key element posts) and panel removal, or to support transfer beams within the timber frame structure.
ensures that structural continuity is achieved in the event of notional removal
Key element posts can be an engineered timber (e.g. LVL) post within a timber
of a loadbearing wall panel, by providing vertical load transfer as a bridging
frame wall panel with steel brackets connecting the key element post to the
element over this panel (Figure 7).
rimbeams at each fl oor level, to transfer the accidental loads back into the
Using rim beams also allows joisted floor structures to be factory assembled floor diaphragm.
as cassettes, with rimboards used to connect the joist ends together for
Key element posts are designed for an accidental load of 34kN/m2 (see BS EN
transportation. The rim beam can later function as a vertical load transfer
1991-1-7 clause 3.3) applied over the width of the post in one direction
element in the completed structure.
at a time. The additional reaction of adjacent wall panels, which are connected
The rim beams need to react onto wall intersections and the wall returns must to the key element posts with nails, is likely to be small but should be
be of 1200mm minimum length excluding any framed openings. Such walls considered (Figure 11).
can be non-loadbearing in the conventional sense, but must still be capable
Principles of the rim beam design methodology are indicated in Figs 7-10
of transferring loads down through the structure (see structural notes on
and the worked example.
notional panel removal and Figures 8-10 which accompany them).

Figure 9 Figure 11
Height of wall or column between horizontal restraints Key element posts acting in conjunction with rimbeams
(taken from Fig. A3 of EN 1991-1-7:2006)

Figure 10
Notional panel removal intermediate support wall

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Worked Example
Engineered timber rim beam design example to BS EN 1995-1-1
Eurocode 5 and BS EN 1991-1-7 Eurocode 1:

The rim beam within the fl oor zone shown, is located at the end of a 5.0m
span fl oor cassette. The fl oor structure has a self weight of 1.00kN/m2 and
a design imposed fl oor load of 1.50kN/m2. The rim beam is located within
an external wall panel which has a storey height of 2.75m and a self weight
(including supported cladding) of 0.50 kN/m2.

Following the notional removal of a 4.5m length of the external wall panel
between intersecting return walls, check that the rim beam will meet the
ULS requirements of EC0 and EC5 for the residual structure following an
accidental event. The rim beam is assumed to be prevented from lateral
buckling by the connections of the wall panels and soleplates above the
beam.

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Other methods of designing against disproportionate

collapse
There are other methods of achieving support for walls and floors following
the notional removal of wall panels. These include:

The use of room-size floor cassettes with cassette edge boards acting as
rim beams, bridging over removed wall panels. This is possible where
small repeatable room sizes are present (e.g. hotel type accommodation)

Loose floor construction with top-hung joists or joists supported in joist

hangers from loose rim beams which bridge over removed wall panels

The use of wall panels designed as deep beams in lieu of rim

beams - applicable where there are no openings in wall panels such
as hotel bedroom dividing walls

Where joist span lengths are repetitive, using alternate doublespanning

joists with selected walls designed as deep beams (a check should be
made that overall building instability does not occur due to a lack of
restraint at the back span of any cantilevered joists)

Cantilevered joists supporting walls where the fl oor joists are

designed to support the point load reaction from a single storey of wall
panel plus any supported claddings following notional panel removal.

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RELEVANT CODES OF PRACTISE The Institution of Structural Engineers (2010) Practical guide to structural
robustness and disproportionate collapse in buildings London: The Institution
The Building Regulations 2010, Approved Document A - Structure
of Structural Engineers Lancashire R. and Taylor L. (2011) Timber Frame
(2004 ed. incorporating 2010 amendments)
Construction (5th ed.) High Wycombe: TRADA
BS EN 1990:2002 Eurocode 0: Basis of structural design
BS EN 1991-1-7:2006 Eurocode 1: Actions on structures: STA Design guide to separating distances during construction
Generalactions Accidental actions (Version 2) [Online] Available at www.structuraltimber.co.uk/information-
NA to BS EN 1991-1-7:2006 Eurocode 1: Actions on structures: centre/information-centre/technical-library/design-documents/
General actions Accidental actions
BS EN 1995-1-1 Eurocode 5: Design of Timber Structures Part 1-1:
General Common rules and rules for buildings
BS EN 1995-1-1 UK National Annex to Eurocode 5: Design of Timber
Structures Part 1-1: General Common rules and rules for buildings
PD 6693-1:2012: UK Non-Contradictory Complementary Information
(NCCI) to Eurocode 5: Design of timber structuress
NHBC Technical Guidance Note 2004 The Building Regulations
(2004 ed. Requirement A3 Disproportionate collapse)

DEFINITIONS
Accidental event an event due to a specified or un-specified cause which
results in accidental damage being suffered to the structure of a building.

Key element posts reinforced load bearing elements of structure which

are designed for combinations of permanent and variable actions and for
accidental actions applied in any direction, to satisfy robustness checks
during disproportionate collapse design.

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

Porteus J. and Kermani A. (2008) Structural Timber Design to Eurocode 5
Chichester: John Wiley & Sons

British Standards Institution (2012) Concise Eurocodes: Design of Timber

Structures BS EN 1995-1-1: Eurocode 5 London: BSI

STA Engineered Wood Products Code of Practice [Online] Available at:

www.structuraltimber.co.uk/

STA Structural Guidance for Platform Timber Frame [Online]

Available at: - www.structuraltimber.co.uk/information-centre/information-
centre/technical-library/structural-documents/

The Institution of Structural Engineers/TRADA (2007) Manual for the design

of timber building structures to Eurocode 5 London: The Institution of
Structural Engineers/TRADA

STA Engineering Bulletin No. 3: Timber frame structures platform frame

construction (part 1) (online) Available at www.structuraltimber.co.uk/infor-
mation-centre/information-centre/technical-library/engineering-bulletins/

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