SidePlate Frequently Asked Questions

• How SidePlate™ saves building owners time and money.
  
  

  Up to 25% Reduction in Lateral Frame Tonnage

  
  • Beams using SidePlate are always 20-40% lighter than other connection types due to use of full-depth side plates
  • Use of Deep columns with SidePlate prequalification under ICBO and COLA can be as much as 60% lighter than other connection types which are limited to shallow W12 or W14 columns
  Lower Foundation Costs
  • Use of deep columns with SidePlate and pinned boundary conditions typically result in simple pad footings, compared to other connection types which are limited to shallow W14 columns which many times must resort to fixed boundary conditions to satisfy drift, resulting in deep grade beams and/or mat foundations
  Up to 50%-65% Reduction in
      Field Welding Man-Hours
  
  • Since lighter beams and lighter deep columns have thinner flanges and webs, the volume of welding at their field splices is significantly reduced
  • Eliminating the costly and troublesome removal of bottom beam flange backing bar, including back gouging and providing reinforcing fillet welds saves about 1 hour per beam end.
  • Since SidePlate™ Column Trees reduces erection time, by as much as two times faster than RBS ('dogbone') and other 'traditional' connection types, the building owner can open for business sooner and save on interest paid on construction loans.
  "I was in a very difficult situation when we couldn't get the heavier steel columns required by a dogbone design in time for start of construction. SidePlate Systems helped us out of this jam by allowing our team to use a 50% lighter column with their patented SidePlate steel frame connection design. We ended up saving a significant amount of time and money and we were able to stay right on schedule."
  --Michael McManus, Vice President, Caruso Affiliated Holdings

   

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