Column ties… how are we doing them?

[joseywales]

Hi all 👋 

 

I'm gearing up to install a steel goal post at the rear of my house, in order to knock through to a small single storey extension. 

the goalpost consists of a horizontal pair of bolted together UB’s (252x133), with a vertical pair of UC’s (152x152) either side (4 total). 

Over the years I have done an awful lot of structural carpentry work, but my steelwork has been limited to the basic installation of single rsj’s onto padstones… this will be my first time doing goalposts. 
 

my engineers drawings have specified column ties at 500 centres between vertical columns and the existing brickwork. 
 

My potential issue, is how do people usually install the column ties? On my party wall side; will this mean pre attaching the column ties to the columns, raking out mortar in line with the position of the ties, filling the voids with resin and then quickly manoeuvring the column into place before the resin sets? This doesn’t fill me with confidence for aligning my bolt holes on the steelwork, My fabricator suggested I get everything into position and bolted, before putting my resin studs into my pad foundation etc...  and to me this makes a lot of sense, since once the columns are tied into the masonry… it will be a struggle to make any alterations to their alignment. 

My engineer was recommended by a work colleague and seemed great at first, but doesn’t seem to have much practical experience in terms of hands on assembling this structure… his suggestion of column ties sounds great in theory, until I picture wrangling a 3.8 metre long 152x152 column into place, trying to align 8 column ties into their resin filled holes… 

Steelwork is at my house waiting for me to install…Please tell me there’s a simple solution?! 

😅

[markc]

If you have a UC or UB against an existing wall you can go drill through the web or flanges (dependant on orientation) and chemical anchor into the existing wall. Far easier to get the steelwork in place and lined/levelled before fixing.

[joseywales]

Thanks, this makes a lot more sense!
 

I was kinda thinking that wall ties were required in order to allow a little bit of movement… but thinking about it, a steel portal frame with moment connections probably shouldn’t be moving anywhere anyway! 

Edited April 1 by joseywales