b'YOUR TOOLKIT FOR BUILDING EXCELLENCEwritten document be sealed by a qualified registeredPerhaps NFBA needs to institute a program in which professional engineer (P.E.). If its a post-framefully engineered buildings receive an engineering building, ask that the document be sealed by aand construction (E&C) certification after final structural engineer that specializes in post-frameengineering and construction have been determined building design. Also, it never hurts to demand aby an independent, qualified professional to meet sealed copy of the same structural calculations andminimum industry-established criteria. To make this plans that an engineer would have to provide forsystem pay, insurance companies would be asked to your building if it was not exempt from the buildingrecognize certified buildings with lower ratesrates code.that could be determined by studying failures rates Be extremely leery of builders who erect facilitiesof existing structures. Farmers looking for a fully designed and supplied by the local lumber yard. Asengineered structure would simply request E&C I previously noted, the engineering of many suchcertification. Quality builders, insurance companies, buildings is often quite limited. It is also importantthe NFBA and farmers all win. The losers in this to understand that just because you may receive ascenario are those individuals currently putting lives nice set of drawings (i.e. plans) it does not mean thatneedlessly at risk.the building has been properly engineered. Fully engineered post-frame buildings are awesomeIndustry reputation on the lineInvariably, when the report of another non-Every time a large storm brings down a series ofengineered post-frame building failure surfaces, post-frame buildings, the reputation of the industrysomeone will exclaim they sure dont build barns takes a hit as additional architects, code officials,like they used to. If this is stated to me directly, I insurance companies and consumers begin totypically respond with something like Be thankful, question the integrity of the post-frame buildingbecause pound for pound, agricultural buildings system. Insurance premiums go up (even onof past generations do not come close to the fullyengineered structures) and the effectivenessperformance level of todays fully-engineered post-of the time and money invested in the PFMI (Postframe buildings. Frame Marketing Initiative) is lowered.The sheer size of many of todays buildings, the What should be of major concern to the industrydistances they clearspan and the loads they can is the sheer number and steady increase in largewithstand make them true engineering marvels. The agricultural building failures. That this is occurringlow per square foot cost of post-frame buildings should not surprise anyone. When you doubleis a reflection of efficient material usage. This the size of a structure, you double the numberefficiency, when coupled with their durability makes of components in the structure and this willthe modern, fully engineering post-frame building approximately double the probability that theone of the most, if not the most, environmentally structure will experience a failure.friendly or greenest structures in the world. From a consumer safety perspective, large buildingDavid R. Bohnhoff PhD, PE is a Professor of Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-failures are more of a concern than small buildingMadison where he is heavily involved in post-frame failures because there is generally a greater potentialbuilding research. He is best known for his research on for loss of life in larger facilities. In response, somemechanically-laminated wood assemblies, pier and post individuals have suggested code exemptions forfoundations, and metal-clad wood-frame diaphragms. agricultural buildings be terminated, at least forHe has drafted several post-frame building standards and larger structures. Personally, I have waffled oncurrently teaches courses on engineering principles for this issue. While it would somewhat help solve abiological systems, sustainable residential construction, growing problem, I am not for more governmentstructural design of agricultural facilities and engineering intervention, and quite honestly, buildings are notdesign.failing because of a building code exemption, they are failing because they are not properly engineered and/or constructed.FRAME BUILDER - VOL6 5 / 33'