STRUCTURAL TERMS GLOSSARY
Key engineering and construction terms you'll encounter when ordering and building with Toro Steel Buildings.
Anchor Bolts
Steel bolts cast into the concrete foundation that connect the building's base columns to the foundation. Anchor bolt plans are included with every Toro order.
Bay Spacing
The distance between primary frames along the building's length. Typical bay spacings are 20, 25, or 30 ft.
Clear Span
The unobstructed interior width of a building from interior wall face to interior wall face, with no interior columns.
Eave Height
The measurement from the finished floor level to the top of the eave strut (the horizontal member at the top of the wall where the roof begins).
Girt
Horizontal secondary framing members that span between columns on the building's sidewalls and are used to attach wall panels.
Purlin
Horizontal secondary framing members that span between rafters on the building's roof and are used to attach roof panels.
Rafter
The primary framing member that forms the roof slope, connecting the column peak to the eave.
Ridge
The highest point of the building's roof, where rafters from both sides meet.
Endwall
The wall at each end of a building (perpendicular to the ridge). Endwalls contain the building's main access doors in most designs.
Sidewall
The walls along the long sides of the building (parallel to the ridge).
Ground Snow Load (Pg)
The design snow load for your location, expressed in pounds per square foot (psf) or kPa. Used to engineer the building's roof framing.
Design Wind Speed
The design wind speed for your location in miles per hour (mph) or meters per second. Used to engineer the building's lateral framing and connections.