Steel ring beam installation for timber frame - how hard can it be?

[Great_scot_selfbuild]

So we're getting quotes in for a steel ring beam for our timber frame to sit on. The design structure is quite straight forward and it will sit on screw piles. I'm an engineer and familiar with designs that come with torque specifications on every nut and bolt; I'm not expecting this of the ring beam. The design and connections are straight forward, and we will be measuring prior to manufacture in order to get the fit correct. I'm looking at working with my builders to install the ring beam and the block and beam floor in order to save some serious money (quoted c.15k installation).

 

Has anyone done this before? when steelwork is bolted to a concrete foundation, is there a torque setting expected, or is it as basic as I'm expecting on a building site?

 

Is there something I should be considering? The task isn't technical - the technical bit is all in the design and measure before manufacture; the building control inspector is looking at the build matching the SE-specified design.

 

TIA

[Alan Ambrose]

Well that sounds an interesting project. Torque settings, to me, suggests a rather finer level of engineering sophistication that I associate with residential construction. Maybe steel frames for skyscrapers would? But I suspect not.

 

>>> Is there something I should be considering?

 

Well obviously the thermal detailing is hard around structural members that are good heat conductors. I expect some marmox blocks somewhere involved as a compromise. You’re happy with the expected life of screw piles?

 

Sounds a great project, have a drawing or two?

[Gus Potter]

22 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

You’re happy with the expected life of screw piles?

Take this on board. Ensure your research is sound.

[Gus Potter]

On 12/06/2025 at 21:25, Great_scot_selfbuild said:

So we're getting quotes in for a steel ring beam for our timber frame to sit on. The design structure is quite straight forward and it will sit on screw piles. I'm an engineer and familiar with designs that come with torque specifications on every nut and bolt; I'm not expecting this of the ring beam. The design and connections are straight forward, and we will be measuring prior to manufacture in order to get the fit correct. I'm looking at working with my builders to install the ring beam and the block and beam floor in order to save some serious money (quoted c.15k installation).

 

Has anyone done this before? when steelwork is bolted to a concrete foundation, is there a torque setting expected, or is it as basic as I'm expecting on a building site?

 

Is there something I should be considering? The task isn't technical - the technical bit is all in the design and measure before manufacture; the building control inspector is looking at the build matching the SE-specified design.

 

TIA

Hope this helps.

 

If you are using ordinary bolts then here is a bit of info below: But if using resin anchors you'll often find the torque setting in the manufacturer's data, don't exceed these!

 

The main thing is to apply common sense. Don't let the bolts get dirty or lose the manufacturer's oiled coating or store them badly for example, don't add oil either!

 

 

Now in the table above we can see a typical torque for an ordinary bolt with a spanner 460mm long. For an M16 bolt we are looking at approximately 90 Nm. What does that mean on site?

 

Ok roughly 100 Newtons is about 10 kg. If the spanner was 1.0metre long then we would need to apply 9 kg to the end of the spanner to generate 90 Nm on the head of the 16mm diameter bolt. But say your spanner is 460mm long (0.46 m) or 18 inches roughly. The sum is 10kg / 0.46 = 22 kg applied right to the very end of the spanner. So very roughly imagine you lift a 25 kg bag of cement with one hand... get a feel for that and then try and apply the same force when bolting up.

 

For bolt groups you'll know that we tighten them in sequence, gently going round an tightening them in stages.

 

All the best with the project and post some photos if you feel able.