In a load-bearing construction, the full weight of the superstructure is transmitted to the walls since the roof and floors are supported directly by the walls. Roofs, floors and its own weight are supported by walls. Through wall footing, walls, in turn, transmit the weight to the earth below. This form of building is practical and affordable for up to two levels.
Load-bearing structure: Meaning
This style of construction is used where hard strata are accessible at shallower depths since the wall footing immediately rests on them. The walls get noticeably thicker as the number of stories rises. This not only decreases the carpet area but also raises the price.
Contrarily, the majority of buildings nowadays consist of frame structures made of light, but sturdy materials that support floor slabs and have extremely thin and light interior and exterior walls instead of load-bearing masonry. The exterior and interior walls of a load-bearing structural system serve as a structural element and an enclosure for protection from the elements, such as rain, sound, heat, and fire.
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Load-bearing structure: Types
Load bearing walls
A load-bearing wall transfers the weight of the slabs above it to the base. Masonry or block materials may be used to construct these barriers. The majority of a building structure’s outside walls are regarded as load-bearing.
Only after offering alternate support for the buildings above-supported may the load-bearing wall be removed as part of remodelling.
Beams
One of the main load-bearing elements of construction is a beam, which can be composed of metal, concrete, or wood. The main structural component used to support the weight of the structure is the beam. The depth and breadth of the beam element determine the strength and ability of a load-bearing structure to resist a load.
As there are many internal and external pressures acting on the beam, it is susceptible to greater shear and compression forces.
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Columns
The transmission of dead and live loads from the building structure to the foundation is one of the critical functions of columns, one of the key structural components of a structure.
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Braces
The load-bearing structural system uses braces as one of its structural components. These load-bearing components significantly stiffen the structure.
Trusses
The load-bearing components known as trusses support the roof components of a building. The trusses receive the weight from the roof in a consistent or even manner.
Both tension and compression forces are applied to the trusses. There are no moments that the trusses are exposed to.
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Benefits of using a load bearing structure
- The performance and stability of the building are ensured by the load-bearing structure or building, which is the structural system where loads of structures, such as the weight of the building itself and the living loads, are carried to the subsurface foundation through walls.
- A load-bearing structure is a part of a building that securely transfers the load to the subsurface foundation. Walls withstand the self-weight of a structure, the load of the roof, and the load of the floor.
- The most beneficial application of load-bearing is evident in this structural system, and it serves a variety of purposes, including sustaining loads, separating the area, insulating the building from heat and sound, etc.
- You cannot break through a load-bearing wall to link two rooms since doing so would endanger the stability of the building.
- The enormous weight of the walls contributes to holding the structure together and stabilising it against outside factors like earthquakes and wind.
Load bearing structure: Disadvantages
There are some drawbacks to load bearing structures that have limited their use in the construction industry. Examples include:
- Buildings with up to three stories are best suited for this load-bearing structure.
- Compared to other construction techniques, load-bearing masonry structures require more man hours and take longer to build.
- Masonry structures don’t offer enough weatherproof thermal insulation.
- The placement of the walls cannot be changed after construction has begun.
- The masonry walls’ combined weight is heavy, which ultimately makes the building heavier overall.
- In comparison to frame structures, non-reinforced units are unable to withstand the high tensile and shear stresses, which results in poor resistance of masonry walls or poor performance against earthquake loads.
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How to identify a load-bearing wall?
The following guidance can assist in identifying load-bearing walls in your home:
- Exterior walls: Exterior walls are typically load-bearing. Even in cases of new construction where some exterior walls appear to be interior walls, they are likely still load-bearing.
- Beams: Identifying beams (such as multi-board wood beams or metal I-beams) in a house, especially in unfurnished areas or readily accessible buildings, can indicate where the house’s weight is supported. Load-bearing walls are likely to be directly above such beams, and walls above these load-bearing walls.
- Alignment with Floor Joists: Load-bearing walls often run perpendicular to the floor joists. If a wall appears to be supporting the convergence of joists at any point, it is likely to be load-bearing.
Can a load bearing wall be removed?
Excluding load-bearing walls from a structure is a task best left to professionals, as attempting it independently can lead to significant structural damage to your home. Key considerations when dealing with load-bearing walls include:
- Professional Assistance: Seeking professional assistance is crucial when dealing with load-bearing walls. DIY removal of load-bearing walls can cause structural damage and pose a risk to the integrity of your home.
- Complexity and Planning: Load-bearing walls are more challenging to demolish than partition walls and require thorough planning. The conceptual importance of load-bearing walls, coupled with the presence of essential elements like pipes and wires, complicates their removal.
- Additional Expertise: Removing a load-bearing wall may necessitate the involvement of an electrician or handyman, in addition to an engineer.
- Structural Changes: If the load-bearing wall is on an upper floor, structural changes may be required below to maintain the load path to the foundation.
- Permissions in Cooperative Societies: In cooperative societies, removing a load-bearing wall may require special permissions from relevant agencies, including the local municipal corporation. Submission of architectural plans, maps, and layouts is typically necessary, and a structural engineer may evaluate the request.
- Temporary Supports: Before tearing down a load-bearing wall, it should be braced with temporary supports, such as beams or support walls, to prevent the home from collapsing when the wall is removed.
Load bearing structure vs frame structure
| S. No. | Load bearing structure | Framed structure |
| 1. | The price is lower. | Cost is more. |
| 2. | Up to two storeys are suitable. | Adaptable to a wide range of storeys. |
| 3. | Less space is used since the walls are thicker and the floor surface is less. | Because walls are lighter than load-bearing systems, there is more usable floor space. |
| 4. | Slow construction | Fast construction |
| 5. | After construction, it is impossible to change the location of the walls. | When required, walls’ positions can be adjusted. |
| 6. | Taken deeper into the soil’s subsurface. | Only the columns are inserted deeply and given a foundation footing. |
| 7. | This building requires additional labour. | Although the framed construction needed different abilities, it is less labour-intensive. |
| 8. | Even if several rules are not rigorously adhered to in this structure, life is not significantly affected. | If suitable technology is not used and standards, or codes, are not rigorously followed, the life of the building is lowered in framed structures. |
| 9. | Restrictions on how many wall holes may be provided, which will impact the amount of light and ventilation in the space. | It’s conceivable for walls to have huge gaps. |
| 10. | Unlike a framed building, load-bearing structures may be built without the need for costly equipment and plants. | Framed buildings must be built with expensive equipment and machinery. |
| 11. | Walls must be constructed first since they support the slab and roof | The RCC framed structure is often built first, followed by the exterior and partition walls, which increases speed. |
| 12. | Large-span areas are not feasible for a load-bearing structure. span restriction, i.e., room dimensions. | Large-span areas are achievable for a framed structure. Room sizes are not restricted, for example. |
FAQs
Are structures that support loads secure?
No, during an earthquake, load-bearing structures will experience brittle failure, whereas framed structures will experience ductile failure. This is because the reinforcement utilised in the structures connects the slab, column, and beam.
The RCC frame construction is what?
Reinforced Cement Concrete is also referred to as RCC. Column, beam, and foundation framework all work together to form the RCC Frame Structure. The weight is securely transferred to the earth from the slab using a beam, then a beam, a column, a foundation footing, and finally, a column again.