Technical Resources & Articles

2022

Understanding Design Loads and Load Paths -Tim Royer, P.E. Aaron Halberg, P.E. Vol. 3 No. 4

Design Considerations For Post Frame Buildings In Hurricane Regions- Dimitry Reznik, P.E Vol. 3 No. 1

Truss, But Verify- Bill Bolduc, PE, SE Vol. 3 No. 3

2021

Total Post Frame Building Design- Aaron Halberg, P.E. Vol. 2 No. 3

Using Soil Properties From Usda Nrcs For Post Frame Design- Jonathan Fleischmann, Ph.D. Vol. 2 No. 1

Most Farmers Don't Know Their Own (Barn's) Strength- Aaron Halberg, P.E Vol. 2 No. 2

Surveying The Nature and Scope of Failures in Farm Buildings- Carl A. Duley Vol. 2 No. 2

2020

Post-Frame Fire Wall Design & Construction - Alan Schambach, PE, SE

2019

Post And Pier Foundation Design Considerations And Installation- David R. Bohnhoff, Ph.D., PE

2018

Advances In Reflective Technology- David W. Yarbrough, Ph.D., PE

Keeping Long Span Roofing Weathertight - Kenneth J. Guffey, PE

Incorporating Air Barriers Into Post Frame Construction - Joseph M. Zulovich, Ph.D. PE

Basic Fire Wall Provisions For Post Frame Construction Ronald L. Sutton, PE

Post Frame Construction And The International Building Code Amanda Stauffer

Civil Engineering Timber Rising - Robert L Reid

2017

Moisture Problems And Solutions In 5 Parts - Joseph M. Zulovich, Ph.D. PE

Lateral Resistance Of Post Frame Shear Walls With Openings - Dustin G. Gatchalian, Khoi D. Mai, and Donald A. Bender

Fall Protection On Post Frame Roofs - Daniel P. Hindman, Ph.D., PE,

Energy Code Compliance For Post Frame Buildings -  Aaron Halberg, PE

Rigid Connections Between Wood Posts And Concrete - David R. Bohnhoff, PhD, PE

2016

The Component Manufacturing Advertiser Woeste Rethinking Ways To Encourage Permanent Truss Bracing - Frank Woeste, P.E.

Don't Get All Shook Up -Wood Construction Can Handle High Wind And Seismic Forces - John “Buddy” Showalter, P.E.

Design Of Post Frame Gyms And Multipurpose Buildings - Timothy Royer, PE, and Amanda Stauffer

Progressive Roof Collapse Due To CLR Shifting - David R. Bohnhoff, Ph.D., PE

Development Of Seismic Design Coefficients For SCWF Shear Walls - Khoi D. Mai, Ph.D., Donald A. Bender, Ph.D., PE, and J. Daniel Dolan, Ph.D., PE

The Use Of Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation - Joseph M. Zulovich, Ph.D., PE

Design Of Slabs On Grade - Terry Feldmann, PE, and Alan Schambach, PE

2015

Incorporating CLT into Post Frame - Daniel P. Hindman, Ph.D., PE

Post Frame Buildings and the IBC - Timothy R. Royer, PE

Built For Efficiency A Rotatable Guarded Hot Box -  Andrew J. Holstein, EIT, and David R. Bohnhoff, Ph.D., PE

Post Frame Building Foundation Options -  John Fullerton

Life Cycle Costing Methods For Post Frame Buildings - Daniel P. Hindman, Ph.D., PE

2014

Total Post Frame Building Design -  Aaron Halberg, P.E

Diaphragm Values Using The Modified Metal Construction Association Procedure -  David Aguilera, EIT, Donald A. Bender, Ph.D., PE, and Gary A. Anderson, PhD

Modeling Soil Behavior With Springs Part 2 Ultimate Lateral Capacity -  David R. Bohnhoff, Ph.D., P.E.

Modeling Soil Behavior With Springs Part 1 Spring Placement And Properties -  David R. Bohnhoff, Ph.D., P.E.

NFBA Attains Certification For 2 And 1 Hour Fire Rated Walls -  Leo Shirek, P.E

2013

The Engineered Ag Building - Sharon Thatcher

Turning Empty Air Space Into Thermal Resistance - David W. Yarbrough, Ph.D., P.E.

Building For Energy Efficiency With Thermal Imaging - John Fullerton

Fall Arrest System Testing Lessons For Post Frame Construction - Daniel P. Hindman PhD., P.E.

Shallow Post And Pier Foundation Design Major Revision Of Standard Completed - David Bohnhoff, Ph.D., P.E.

Helical Screw Piles Alternative Support For Post Frame Buildings - Alan J. Lutenegger Ph.D., P.E.

2012

Simplified Lateral Design Of Post Frame Buildings - Don Bender, Ph.D., P.E. and Drew P. Mill, EIT

Effect Of Variability On Lumber Design Values - Don Bender, Ph.D., P.E & Frank Woeste PhD. P.E.

Better Fall Prevention Testing Of Fall Arrest Anchors Connected To Trusses - Daniel P. Hindman PhD., P.E. & Lori M. Koch M.S., M.F.

Post Frame Success 3 Hour Fire Wall Passes The Test - Leo Shirek

A New Post Frame Fire Wall Benefits Include Faster Assembly Time And Cost Savings - Tim Royer, PE, and Amanda Stauffer

Accidental Analog - Patrick M. Mcguire, P.E., S.E.

2011

Engineering Doesn't Cost It Pays - Ronald Sutton, PE

An Argument For Fully Engineered Post Frame Buildings - David Bohnhoff, PE, Ph.D.

Building Loads Imposed By Mono Adn Bi-Fold Doors - Paul Boor, PE.

Procedure Modification of MCA for Strength and Stiffness Of Diaphragms Used In Post Frame Construction - Gary A. Anderson, Ph.D.

Post Frame Building System Defined NFBA T R Committee Supports Development Of New Standard - David Bohnhoff, Ph.D., PE.

Safety Should Remain Top Concern Technical Requirements For Fall Protection Systems - Daniel Hindman, Ph.D.

A Wood I-Section For Post Frame - David Bohnhoff PE, Ph.D.

2010

The Phase Of Green Building The International Green Construction Cod And What It Means - Daniel Hindman, Ph.D.

Calculating Buckling Capacity Of Built Up Beams And Columns - Donald A. Bender, PE; Robert Kimble, PE; Frank Woeste, PE

Below Grade Insulation Of Post Frame Buildings Part Ii Preventing Heat Transfer - David Bohnhoff, Ph.D., PE.

2009

Strength And Stiffness Of Post Frame Shear Walls With Wood Plastic Composite Skirtboards - Loren Ross, Donald Bender, and David Carradine

Guide Specificaation For Post Frame Building Systems - Harvey Manbeck

Green Building Initiative - Mark Rossolo

Post Connection Engineering - David Bohnhoff, Ph.D., PE.

2008

Safety Trends Affecting The Wood Construction Industry - Daniel Hindman, Ph.D.

Walls Designed To Stand Up To Wind - Zeno Martin, PE; Ed Keith, PE.

12 Structural Applications For Post Frame - David Bohnhoff, PE

Withdrawal Strength Of Bright And Galvanized Annularly Threaded Nails - Douglar Rammer & Alina Mendez

Post Installation Tools - David Bohnhoff, Ph.D., PE

2007

Lateral Buckling of I-Joists During Installation- Daniel Hindman, Ph.D.

Buying Fans Compare The Right Facts - Dr. Doug Overhults & Dr. Eileen Wheeler

How Much Is Too Much Extreme Snow Loads And When To Manually Remove Snow From Buildings - Gary Anderson, Ph.D.

Non Structural Plan Review Of Post Frame Buildings - Patrick McGuire, PE; Frank Woeste, Ph.D. PE

2006

UW And LBS Full Scale Building Research Initiative - David Bohnhoff, Ph.D., PE.

Review Of ASCE 7-05 Unbalanced Snow Load Provisions And Their Effect On Building Design - Leo Shirek PE.

Structural Design Whose Responsibility Is It - Tim Royer PE.

Concrete Piers Making Post Frame Buildings Greener - David Bohnhoff, Ph.D., P.E.

2005

Review Of Test Methods Used To Determine The Corrosion Rate Of Metals In Contact With Treated Wood - Samuel Zelinka & Douglas Rammer

Galvanized Fasteners And Corrosion In Wood Part 2 Fastener Corrosion And Treated Wood - Thomas Kinstler

Galvanized Fasteners And Corrosion In Wood Part 1 The Galvanized Coating Thomas Kinstler

2004

Managing Moisture And Mold - Catherine Kaake, PE.

Snow load design using the 2003 International Building Code - John Henry

Post Frame Construction And The 2003 International Building Code - Paul Coats, PE.

2003

Treated Wood In Transition - Stan Lebow & Jerrold Winandy

Applying Ibc 2000 Wind And Snow Loads To Post Frame Building Posts - Patrick McGuire, PE.; Brent Leatherman, PE.

Post Foundation Design Considerations - David Bohnhoff, Ph.D. PE.

2002

New Quality Criteria For Wood Trusses - Kelly Gutting

Changes In The 2001 NDS For Wood Construction - Philp Line, PE.; Dr. Robert Taylor, P.Eng.; John Showalter, PE; Bradford Douglas PE.

Substituting T Braces For Continuous Lateral Braces On Wood Truss Webs - Cheryl Anderson, Frank Woeste, PE; Donald Bender, PE.

1995

For Post Frame Buildings Continuous Concrete Foundations - Neil Meador & Joe Zulovich

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In collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the National Frame Building Association (NFBA) has published its Non-Diaphragm Post-Frame Building Design Guide in both electronic and print formats.

A diaphragm is an element that distributes structural loads throughout a building. It uses exterior cladding (usually metal in the case of post frame construction) to transfer the load evenly to the structure and into the foundation. With no diaphragm, each element or building frame must transfer the load directly.

Non-diaphragm buildings typically have open sides for easy access to, for instance, large agricultural equipment, or salt used on winter roads. Structures in public parks are another example.

While these structures look simple, the absence of diaphragms can make designing them a bit tricky. This guide can be extremely helpful.

The new guide provides a comprehensive overview of the structural design process for non-diaphragm post frame buildings. It covers the use of posts, knee braces, metal cables and other elements used to support these buildings. The guide can be purchased online, with favorable pricing for NFBA members.

Visit Our Online Store.  Accessible by everyone.

DiapHragm & Frame Interaction (DAFI) Calculator

What is DAFI? Tech Bulletin

The Diaphragm & Frame Interaction (DAFI) Calculator helps you design buildings that meet load requirements. You enter the number of bays and default values for stiffness and load requirements, and the program calculates specific values for eave load, horizontal displacement, diaphragm stiffness, shear displacement, and shear load.

1. Click here to download the DAFI Calculator. *
2. Save the file “DAFI_1_0_0_1.zip” to your computer.
3. Once you locate the file, right click it and extract the zip file.
4. Double click on the "setup.exe” file to install the program on your computer. (You may get a security warning "Publisher cannot be verified. Are you sure you want to install this application?” Click on "Install" to proceed.)
5. When the installation is complete, the program will launch.
6. Enter default values in the first tab and click on the “Submit” button. Click on the other tabs to view specific values and the results of the frame and diaphragm analysis.

* Please note that the DAFI calculator download works best on Internet Explorer and Firefox. If you are using a different browser and experiencing technical difficulty downloading this tool, please try with either Internet Explorer or Firefox.

Download Chapter 1 of the NFBA Post Frame Building Design Manual for Free!

THE POST-FRAME BUILDING DESIGN MANUAL

The second edition of the Post-Frame Building Design Manual is the ultimate resource for post-frame design. Eight chapters, 200+ pages and hundreds of photos, diagrams, illustrations and design tables cover everything you need to know about designing with post-frame.

Chapters Include:

Chapter I - Introduction to Post-Frame Buildings (Read More About Chapter 1 and Download for Free!)

Chapter 2 - Building Regulations 

Chapter 3 - Structural Load and Deflection Criteria

Chapter 4 - Structural Design Overview

Chapter 5 - Post and Pier Foundation Design

Chapter 6 - Diaphragm Design

Chapter 7 - Metal-Clad Wood-Frame Diaphragm Properties

Chapter 8 - Post Design

The Post-Frame Building Design Manual is a must-have for anyone who works with, or is considering working with, post-frame construction.

Download your copy now.

Cost: $95 for NFBA Members I $175 for non-members

Prefer a printed copy? Order your copy now.

Cost: $130 for NFBA Members I $205 for non-members

Post & Pier Foundation Design Aid (January 2018)

Shallow Post & Pier Foundation Design Workbook (January 2022)

How Does the International Building Code (IBC) Impact Post Frame?

Visit here (https://codes.iccsafe.org ) to find building codes related to post frame construction.

For general questions about the IBC, one should contact the International Code Council www.iccsafe.org 

For more detailed answers to questions about the IBC and how to design and engineer post-frame buildings, you may submit your inquiry in the Contact Us section of this website. The NFBA Team will help you obtain the right information from the right source. Building professionals may also attend the annual Frame Building Expo, a convention and trade show hosted by the National Frame Building Association. The Expo holds hours and hours of education designed with builders and designers in mind. Classes and workshops include diaphragm design, life-cycle analysis for post frame, construction safety, and building code basics.