Resources
Design Tools
Post-frame construction creates a highly optimized structure, resistant to extreme lateral loads, when a series of diaphragms like roofs, floors, and shear walls are tied together with the correct size, type, and spacing of fasteners, and all the pieces of the structure work together properly. Diaphragm design makes post-frame construction more economical and competitive with other construction methods. Shear walls provide support for the roof and floor diaphragms, transmitting forces into the foundation, and the post size for a typical post-frame building can be reduced by more than one nominal size if the diaphragm contribution of roof cladding is considered.
DIAPHRAGM DESIGN ASSISTANCE
Click here to access documents that provide detailed engineering instructions and calculations for the structural design of typical post-frame buildings.
DIAPHRAGM AND FRAME INTERACTION (DAFI) CALCULATOR
The Diaphragm and Frame Interaction Calculator helps you design buildings that meet load requirements. You enter the number of bays and default values for stiffness and load requirement, and the program calculates specific values for eave load, horizontal displacement, diaphragm stiffness, shear displacement, and shear load.
Click here to download the DAFI Calculator.
Click here to to download instructions on how to use the DAFI Calculator
LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF POST-FRAME BUILDING SYSTEMS
As engineers and architects strive for reduced environmental and energy impacts, life cycle analysis (LCA) of building methods is increasingly important. Post-frame construction is considered sustainable because building materials are used efficiently and the large spacing of posts reduces thermal bridging and increases energy efficiency.
Click here for a report that identifies how one life cycle analysis program, ATHENA Institute's Impact Estimator for Buildings, can be modified for post-frame building systems. It details the modification procedure and concludes with LCA analyses of several post-frame building projects.
Click here for a spreadsheet that expedites the modifications needed to interface with the LCA program for one sample post-frame building project.
Post-frame design professionals can use the contents of this report to:
- Use the basic principles of LCA procedures to evaluate post-frame building projects.
- Learn how to use one common LCA program to model post-frame building projects.
- Learn how LCA outputs can be used to compare and contrast different structures and building materials for a given project.
- Interpret the LCA results for three sample post-frame building projects.
