Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

SS015a-EN-EU

Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams

in multi-storey buildings
Outlines the types of openings in beams in multi-storey buildings that are necessary to
accommodate service within the depth of the beam. Gives guidance on practical geometric
limits.

Created on Thursday, February 18, 2010

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

Contents
1.

Form of Construction

2.

Geometric Limits on Opening Size

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Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

SS015a-EN-EU

1.

Form of Construction

Web openings may be used in cases where the beam is over-designed in bending, or where
shear forces are relatively low. Three generic types cases of beams with web openings exist:
Cellular beams with multiple circular openings.
Castellated beams with multiple hexagonal openings.
Fabricated or hot rolled steel beam with isolated openings.
For cellular or castellated beams, it is generally the conditions of high shear close to the
supports that control design, whereas for fabricated beams, both the cross-section and opening
size can be tailor made for the application.

Created on Thursday, February 18, 2010

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Cellular beams are increasingly used because their openings are efficient for circular service
ducts. Elongated openings, for rectangular ducts, can be created by removing the web-post
locally in regions of low shear.

2.

Geometric Limits on Opening Size

Limits on the size of the openings for concept design of beams with large web openings are
summarised in Table 2.1 and in Figure 2.1. Rectangular openings may be required at major
service routes.
Particular care is required in cases of heavy point loads, or openings close to the supports. At
secondary beam locations, vertical stiffeners may be required.

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Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

SS015a-EN-EU

Table 2.1

Geometric limits for large web openings

Dimensional limit
Circular Opening

Rectangular Opening

Diameter / depth

0.8 D

0.7 D

Spacing

0.4 do

Ro and do

End distance

0.5 do

Distance from point loads

0.5 do

Created on Thursday, February 18, 2010

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depth of section

do =

opening diameter or depth

Ro

length of opening

0.25 R0

d 0 0.7 D

R0

> R0

d 0 0.8 D

>0.5d

Figure 1.1

>0.4d

Limits on sizes and spacing of circular and rectangular web openings

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Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

SS015a-EN-EU

An example of a series of rectangular openings in a primary beam is shown in Figure 2.2.

Created on Thursday, February 18, 2010

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An example of an elongated opening in a cellular beam is shown in Figure 2.3.

Figure 2.2

Series of rectangular openings in a primary beam

Figure 2.3

Elongated openings in cellular beams

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Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multi-storey buildings

SS015a-EN-EU

Quality Record
RESOURCE TITLE

Scheme Development: Web openings for services in beams in multistorey buildings

Reference(s)
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT
Name

Company

Date

Created by

R.M. Lawson

SCI

Jan 05

Technical content checked by

G.W. Owens

SCI

May 05

Editorial content checked by

D.C. Iles

SCI

May 05

1. UK

G.W. Owens

SCI

26/5/05

2. France

A. Bureau

CTICM

26/5/05

3. Sweden

A. Olsson

SBI

26/5/05

4. Germany

C. Mueller

RWTH

11/5/05

5. Spain

J. Chica

Labein

20/5/05

6. Luxembourg

M. Haller

PARE

26/5/05

G.W. Owens

SCI

26/4/06

Created on Thursday, February 18, 2010

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

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