Contradictions in Use of Collar Beams
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 2, Issue 1
Abstract
Recommendations for the use of collar beams—horizontal timbers connecting opposing rafter pairs in gable-type wood-frame roofs—are often confusing and contradictory. This is due in large part to their peculiar history: four distinct types of collar beam roofs have evolved, each corresponding to a different structural purpose. Those purposes are to support roof rafters at the ridge, thereby preventing thrusts from developing at the eave; to resist the horizontal thrust of the rafters where conventional tie-beams are omitted; to act as compressive braces, increasing the potential span of the rafters; and, finally, to prevent uplift in high winds, by acting as ridge anchors. A fifth, nonstructural purpose can be seen in the use of collars to frame attic ceilings. In light of the many inconsistencies found in their specification, it is suggested that guidelines be developed for the proper use of collar beams in wood-frame construction.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Allen, E. (1990). Fundamentals of building construction, materials and methods, 2nd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y.
2.
Anderson, L. O., and Heyer, O. C. (1955). “Wood-frame house construction.”Agriculture Handbook No. 73, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
3.
Architectural graphic standards. (1994). 9th Ed., American Institute of Architects, John Wiley & Sons, New York N.Y.
4.
Atkinson, R., and Bagenal, H. (1926). Theory and elements of architecture . Robert M. McBride & Co., New York, N.Y.
5.
Bell, W. (1887). Carpentry made easy. Ferguson Bros. & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
6.
Brandon, R., and Brandon, J. A. (1849). The open timber roofs of the Middle Ages . David Bogue, London, England.
7.
Burbank, N., and Romney, A. (1986). House construction details, 7th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y.
8.
Ching, F. (1991). Building construction illustrated . Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, N.Y.
9.
Canadian wood-frame house construction. (1977). Central Mortgage and Housing Corp., Ottawa, Canada.
10.
Courtenay, L. T. (1993). “Timber roofs and spires.”Architectural technology up to the scientific revolution, R. Mark, ed., MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass., 182–231.
11.
De Cristoforo, R. J. (1977). Housebuilding illustrated . Harper & Row, New York, N.Y.
12.
Dietz, A. G. H. (1946). Dwelling house construction . Van Nostrand Co., Inc., New York, N.Y.
13.
Gwilt, J. (1888). An encyclopedia of architecture . Longmans, Green, and Co., London, England.
14.
Hewett, C. A. (1969). The development of carpentry, 1200–1700: An Essex study, David & Charles, Newton Abbot, England.
15.
High winds and building codes. (1988). H. Liu, ed., Engrg. Conf., Engrg. Extension, University of Missouri, Columbia.
16.
Hodge, A. T. (1960). The woodwork of Greek roofs . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.
17.
Holtman, D. F. (1929). Wood construction: A project of the national committee on wood utilization, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
18.
Hotton, P. (1976). So you want to build a house . Little, Brown and Co., Boston, Mass.
19.
Kidder, F. E. (1898). Building construction and superintendence Part II, William T. Comstock, New York, N.Y.
20.
Mainstone, R. (1975). Developments in structural form . M.I.T. Press, Cambridge, Mass.
21.
Manual for wood frame construction. (1988). National Forest Products Assoc., Washington, D.C.
22.
McBride, S. (1992). “Framing a cathedral ceiling.”Fine homebuilding, No. 77, Oct./Nov., 16–20.
23.
McKay, W. B. (1963). Building construction . Longmans, Green and Co., London, England.
24.
Mehta, K. C., Marshall, R. D., and Perry, D. C. (1991). Guide to the use of the wind load provisions of ASCE 7-88 (formerly ANSI A58.1) . ASCE, New York, N.Y.
25.
Morgan, M. H. (1914). Vitruvius, the ten books on architecture . Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.
26.
Morse-Fortier, L. J.(1995). “Structural implications of increased panel use in wood-frame buildings.”J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 121(6), 995–1003.
27.
Newlands, J. (1869). The carpenter and joiner's assistant . Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Scotland.
28.
Nicholson, P. (1823). Nicholson's new practical builder and workman's companion . Thomas Kelly, London, England.
29.
Ramsey, C. G., and Sleeper, H. R. (1956). Architectural graphic standards, 5th Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y.
30.
Reschke, R. (1981). How to build your own home, 2nd Ed., Ideals Publishing Corp., Milwaukee, Wis.
31.
Span tables for joists and rafters. (1993). American Forest and Paper Association, Washington, D.C.
32.
Sparks, P. R. (1988). “The North Carolina residential building code and its wind load requirements.”High winds and building codes, H. Liu, ed., Engrg. Conf., Engrg. Extension, University of Missouri, Columbia.
33.
Tredgold, T. (1885). Elementary principles of carpentry . Crosby Lockwood and Co., London, England.
34.
Uniform building code. (1994). International Conference of Building Officials, Whittier, Calif.
35.
Vitruvius (1812). The civil architecture of Vitruvius, W. Wilkins, translator, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, London, England.
36.
Voss, W. C., and Henry, R. (1925). Architectural construction. John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y.
37.
Wiegand, T. (1923). Baalbek, Vol. II, Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin, Germany.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 2 • Issue 1 • March 1996
Pages: 20 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Mar 1, 1996
Published in print: Mar 1996
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.