SHAPING OF ARCHITECTURALLY EXPOSED STEEL STRUCTURES

Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel (AESS) is steel that must be designed to be structurally sufficient to support the primary needs of the structure and – at the same time – remains exposed to view, being a significant part of architectural language of the building [4, 6]. The quality requirements of AESS typically exceeds the requirements of Standard Structural Steel (SSS), what increases the time and costs of the design and execution of AESS. Currently used classification of AESS distinguishes 5 categories of execution quality. This categorization has a hierarchical structure, each higher category of structure execution contains all the properties of lower category. The basis of presented classification is the degree of human visual perception of the structure. It is mainly related to the distance of the potential observer from the structure, which allows in varying degrees to see the details of structure execution. Joints and connections are the main means of architectonic expression in architecturally exposed steel structures. The principles of joints and connections shaping in AESS are the same as for SSS but additionally some requirements to the expected aesthetic are formulated. This additional requirements cause that AESS can be significantly (even a few hundred percent) more expensive than SSS with exactly the same functionality and durability. However, PN-EN 1090-2 [7] gives no provisions about AESS executions, what may impede mutual understanding between architect, structural engineer, contractor and investor.

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[1] ANSI/AISC 303-16, Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges, American Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago, 2016.

[2] Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel – A supplement to Modern Steel Construction - joint publication of the Rocky Mountain Steel Construction Association and the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado, May, 2003.

[3] AS/NZS 5131: 2016, Australian/New Zealand Standard, Structural Steelwork – Fabrication and erection.

[4] Boake T. M., CISC Guide for Specifying Architecturally Exposed Steel, 2nd Edition, Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, 2012.

[5] CISC Code of Standard Practice for Structural Steel – 7th Edition, Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, 2009.

[6] CISC. Guide for Specifying Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel, https://cisc-icca.ca/ciscwp/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/AESSGuide2E.pdf (access: 15.03.2018 r.).

[7] PN-EN 1090-2:2009. Wykonanie konstrukcji stalowych i aluminiowych. Część 2: Wymagania techniczne dotyczące konstrukcji stalowych.

[8] SSPC-SP6/NACE No.3, Joint Surface Preparation Standard – Commercial Blast Cleaning, SSPC The Society for Protective Coatings, September 1, 2000.

[9] Information materials, https://commons.wikimedia.org.

[10] Information materials, https://www.flickr.com.