What you’ll need:
When building your Arch Building kit, you need to be sure you have these tools*:
• Hard hats and Work Gloves
• 2 Tape Measures (50 ft./100ft.)
• 1/2″ and 9/16″ Wrenches
• Cutting Shears (manual or electric), Handsaw or Hacksaw
• Rope (100 ft. Length)
• 2 “S” Hooks
• Electric Impact Gun
• 1/2″ (6) Point Socket
• Pliers
• Power (circular) saw, Keyhole saw or Saber saw
• Electric Drill. 3/8″ for sheet metal
• Drill bits. 3/8″ for sheet metal
• Extension Ladder
• Scaffolding, Stepladders and Jacks
• Tie-downs (otherwise called L-brackets)
• Anchor Bolts – wedge type anchors
• Arch Braces – Provides support for curved panels
• Extension cord
• Drift pins (drift/aligning punches) – Drift pins are tapered metal rods used to align panel bolt holes.
* You may not need all of the tools listed. However, if your building is specially customized, you may require additional tools.
Foundation Recommendations
There are many different local soil and loading conditions, therefore we can not be responsible for the design. In many situations the customer hires a local contractor in order to assist in erecting the structure, as well as a civil engineer to ensure the structure meets the county’s building codes and loadings. First, the amount of concrete foundation must be determined by finding the sum of this formula:
How much concrete is required for your Arch Footer:
Building Length (ft.) x Arch Footer Width (inches) x Arch Footer Depth (Inches)
(Divided by) 1944
+
How much concrete is required for your Endwall Footer:
Building Width (ft.) x Endwall Footer Width (inches) x Endwall Footer Depth (inches)
(Divided by) 1944
+
How much concrete is required for your Slab:
Building Length (ft.) x Building Width (ft.)
(Divided by) 81
= The combinations of these three amounts will equal the total yards of cement you need to order.
Preparing to Raise the Arches
1. Place arches on the ground ready to stand away from prevailing winds.
2. Set up scaffolding platform in a way that will provide you a raised standing area to easily pull up your arches (scaffolding usually can be rented locally).
Inside Support is Recommended when Erecting Your Building
Supporting the building when raising the arches is recommended for the following reasons.
1. Helps maintain the true peak height
2. Helps prevent sagging caused by downward force.
3. Helps with the lining of the bolt holes.
The number of scaffolding sections depends on building height. The height of the scaffolding should be approximately 18-24″ less than building height. After 1st 2nd and 3rd arches are stood, move your scaffolding forward 1 arch at a a time until building is completed. Anchor arches to foundations as you go. It is essential to place support jacks (some rental stores refer to these as house levelers) upside down into 4 corners of scaffolding to help in supporting and maintaining the proper building height during the construction process. Don’t forget to anchor arches to foundations as you go, and place arch braces on every curved panel when raising arches to ensure arches keep proper shape.
Place S-Hooks approximately 6-8 bolt holes to the right and left of center of arch to attach rope. Support arches to correct height, as shown above and noted on your profile insert. The hole location changes depending on the height of your scaffolding and the number of helpers you have. With the ropes and hooks in place and one or two helpers on each corner to guide the arch into the trough, the first arch is pulled to an upright position.
Assembling the Arches
Tie downs and anchor bolts are not supplied with your building, but are strongly recommended. In the event of high winds during construction they will help to hold your building down and prevent your building from lifting out of the foundation. Tie down brackets and anchor bolts are to be used as temporary support as arches are stood. Tie down brackets are not a substitute for grouting. You must grout your building to reach its full wind and snow load capacity. These L-Brackets and Anchor Bolts can be purchased from your U.S. Buildings sales representative. Again, we highly recommend construction insurance. When constructing the arches after assembling them, lift the arches one by one starting from the back and moving forward. For buildings 40′ wide and larger the half arch method of construction is recommended. The half arch method requires scaffolding in the middle, and erecting one half of the arch at a time while fastening it in the middle. After standing the arches with all bolts finger tight and strapping on, square and plumb your building. At this time tighten all bolts starting with the bottom straight panel working upwards. It is important to keep your drift pins 2 bolt holes ahead while inserting bolts.
Assembling Curved angles
The Curved angles are put on the outside of the 1st and last arch to accept the endwalls. (A Models overlap 1 bolt hole, S and Q Models overlap 2 bolt holes.) the outer curved angle is now installed on top of the arch and inner curved angle, bolts tot he underside of the arch.
Strapping the Arches
Strapping arches is essential in keeping your building the proper length and height. Place strapping centered on the 1st curved panel. You are supplied with 6 to 8 pieces of strapping. You must move it forward during construction to keep building on 2 foot centers. Strapping is supplied with your building and must be used to maintain a 24″ center to center. Three of these straps should be bolted into the arches, one on each side and one at the peak as the construction proceeds. There is an 18″ hole pattern on the strapping for endwall construction and stability. The 24″ hole pattern on strapping is for arch construction and stability. Take arch strapping off building once all the arches are completely assembled, grouted and grout is dry, then move strapping to construct endwalls.
Installing Endwalls
It is recommended that you lay your endwall panels out near your building to assure that they will go into the proper location. Make sure you place the end of the endwalls panel with the hole that is located 1 1/2″ from the edge of the panel at the footer so the holes will line up. This applies to the endwalls above the openings as well. It is important to begin assembling your solid endwall from the center and work toward the outside wall. A mark should be placed on the concrete at your center point and the center bolt of your first panel should be lined up here. Panels should be centered 18″ out to the left and right.
To start your endwall, layout panels in order and trim them to fit building profile. You can hold panels up to the building (with bottom end down – see insert) and draw profile from outside building and cut 1″ in. so panel will fit between inner & outer curved angle. Strapping is punched on 18″ centers to accommodate the bolts in the endwalls. It is essential to use this strapping so the endwall lines up and the corener flat panels fit properly.
Endwalls with Openings
To assemble the endwalls with an opening, install the two tallest panels on each side. After the panels are in place, plumb the panels. Next, place brackets on stiffeners with self tapping sheet metal screw. The location of the bracket on the regular foundation is opening height plus three and a half inches. The location of the bracket on channel and industrial foundations is the opening height. Put stiffeners in place, plumb and measure diagonals to make sure they are equal. Next install the over head door connector & screw to bracket. Assemble rest of the panels in place from tallest to shortest.
Grouting Your Building
When grouting your building make sure to use an adequate slope to allow water to run away from the building. The steel panels are protected by a oat of special oil. This oil may affect the bond between the steel and the grout, so you must clean the panels by wiping with a suitable solvent such as varsol. Steel is also sensitive to the chemical reaction of concrete during the curing period: therefore, the steel mill will not cover their warranty unless a thin coating of lacquer or varnish is applied to the panels (only varnish the panel area to be grouted) before grouting. Grout both inside and outside of arches and endwalls. This will properly secure your building to its foundation. Also, you should place a clear silicon caulk seam where grout meets steel to produce a water resistant seam. Important: Grout mixture must not contain any pea gravel or corrosive substances, such as calcium chloride. This will result in steel corrosion. It is extremely important to have the correct mixture. Recommended mix for the grouting is 5000 PSI cement (Portland nonacidic), sand and fly ash (to reduce permeability of grout to rainwater) NO pea gravel is to be used in the mix. Grouting of the building should be inside as well as outside. For number of yards of grout needed to purchase from concrete company. Your building and endwalls MUST be grouted immediately after your arches are raised and tightened. Failure to do so WILL cause the building to collapse.
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