NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings

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
buildings.

Contents
1. Introduction 2

2. Horizontal deflections for portal frames 2

3. Vertical deflections for portal frames 5

4. Vertical deflections for horizontal roof members 6

5. References 8
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NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings

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, §
7.2 and EN 1990 – Annex A1.4 [2], deflection limits should be specified for each project and
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
not specified, the following might be helpful when deciding relevant deflection limits.

2. Horizontal deflections for portal frames

u
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Figure 2.1 Definition of horizontal deflection

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NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings
Table 2.1 Limiting horizontal deflection
Country Structure
France Portal frames without gantry
cranes
Buildings with no particular
requirements regarding the
deflection.
Deflection at the top of the
columns
Difference of deflection between
two consecutive portal frames
Member supporting metal
cladding
Post
Rail
Other single storey buildings
Buildings with particular
requirements regarding the
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deflection (brittle walls,
appearance…).
Deflection at the top of the
columns
Difference of deflection between
two consecutive portal frames
Germany
Spain Portal frames (without fragile
elements susceptible to failure in
the envelopes, façade and roof)
Single storey buildings with
horizontal roofs (without fragile
elements susceptible to failure in
the envelopes, façade and roof)
Sweden
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Deflection Comments
limits
u
The values to the left are given in the
French National Annex to EN 1993-1-1
and should be used if nothing else is
agreed with the client.
The values of the deflections calculated
from the characteristic combinations
H/150 should be compared to these limits.
B/150
H/150
B/150
H/250
B/200
There are no national deflection limits.
The limits should be taken from
manufacturers instructions (technical
approvals) or should be agreed with the
client.
H/150 The values to the left are given in the
national technical document for steel
structures [3] and in the Technical
Building Code [4] and should be used if
nothing else is agreed with the client.
H/300
- The national regulations [5]contain only
a principle that deformations should not
be harmful or damage other parts of the
buildings.
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NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings

NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings

SN035a-EN-EU

Country Structure Deflection Comments

limits
u
UK Portal frames without gantry There are no national deflection limits.
cranes, with walls of : The figures to the left are
recommended in industry guidance [6].

Steel sheeting H/100

- deflection at top of column
Fibre reinforced sheeting H/150
- deflection at top of column
Brickwork H/300
- deflection at top of column
Differential deflection between
H 2 + B2
two consecutive portal frames
660

Hollow concrete brickwork H/200

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

- deflection at top of column
Differential defection between
H 2 + B2
two consecutive portal frames
330
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NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings

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

Recommended limiting values for vertical deflection are given in Table 3.1

Table 3.1 Vertical deflection limits

Country Structure Deflection limits Comments

France Roofs in general
Roofs frequently carrying
personnel other than for
maintenance
Roofs supporting plaster or
other brittle toppings or non-
flexible parts
Germany
Created on Saturday, January 30, 2010
wmax w3
L/200 L/250 The values to the left are given in
the National Annex to EN 1993-1-
L/200 L/300 1 and should be used if nothing
else is agreed with the client.
The values of the deflections
L/250 L/350 calculated from the characteristic
combinations should be compared
to these limits.
There are no national deflection
limits.
The limits should be taken from
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
cranes, with rafter slopes ≥3r limits. These figures are
recommended in industry
guidance [6].
Differential deflection relative to
adjacent frame
- metal sheeting and fibre B
reinforced sheeting 100
- felted metal decking on purlins B
100
- felted metal supported on B
rafters 200

4. Vertical deflections for horizontal roof members

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.
Definition of vertical deflection in Annex A to EN 1990 is shown in Figure 4.1

wc
w1
w2 wtot
wmax
w3

wc : precamber in the unloaded structural member

w1 : Initial part of the deflection under permanent loads of the relevant combination of
actions

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

w3 : Additional part of the deflection due to the variable actions of the relevant
combination of actions

wtot = w1 + w2 + w3

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

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

France Roofs in general
Roofs frequently carrying
personnel other than for
maintenance
Roofs supporting plaster
or other brittle toppings or
non-flexible parts
Germany
Spain Roofs in general
Roofs with access only
for maintenance
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Wmax W3
L/200 L/250 The values to the left are given in the
National Annex to EN 1993-1-1 and
L/200 L/300 should be used if nothing else is
agreed with the client.
The values of the deflections
L/250 L/350 calculated from the characteristic
combinations should be compared to
these limits.
There are no national deflection
limits. The limits should be taken
from manufacturers’ instructions (
technical approvals) or should be
agreed with the client.
L/300(*) - The values to the left are given in the
national technical document for steel
L/250(*) structures [4] and in the Technical
Building Code [5] and should be used
if nothing else is agreed with the
client.

Sweden There are no binding restrictions.

UK Roofs with access for - L/200 There are no national deflection
maintenance limits. The figures presented are
taken from industry guidance [6].
Roofs accessible to - L/360
personnel other than for
maintenance
(*) This values refers to w2 + w3 but w2 = 0 for steel structures.

4.2 Ultimate limit state: Ponding

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

‰ either collected in pools which may be formed due to the deflection of structural
members or roofing material,
‰ or retained by snow.
These additional checks should be based on the combinations at the Ultimate Limit States.

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.
CEN:

2 EN 1990 Eurocode. Basis of structural design.

CEN .

3 Instrucción de Acero Estructural

Ministerio de Fomento, España, 2006.

4 Código Técnico de la Edificación

Ministerio de Vivienda, España, 2006

5 Regelsamling för konstruktion, Boverkets konstruktionsregler, BKR, byggnadsverkslagen

och byggnadsverksförordningen,
Boverket, Sverige, 2003

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

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RESOURCE TITLE NCCI: Practical deflection limits for single storey buildings

Reference(s)

ORIGINAL DOCUMENT

Name Company Date

Created by Alain BUREAU CTICM

Technical content checked by Jean-Pierre Pescatore CTICM

Editorial content checked by

Technical content endorsed by the

following STEEL Partners:

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

2. France A Bureau CTICM 10/3/06

3. Sweden A Olsson SBI 10/3/06

This material is copyright - all rights reserved. Use of this document is subject to the terms and conditions of the Access Steel Licence Agreement

4. Germany C Müller RWTH 10/3/06

5. Spain J Chica Labein 10/3/06

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

Coordinator

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Translated resource approved by:

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