Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Re: Texaco "Matawan" style building structure

James,
 
        You might try checking it out as a "cold form metal stud" system.  It's also possible, even probable, that the thing is under designed.  I've encountered several pre-engineered buildings (in Canada, of course) that were significantly under designed and which only survived because the building was never exposed to the code required loadings.
 
Regards,
 
H. Daryl Richardson
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 11:08 AM
Subject: Texaco "Matawan" style building structure

Is anyone familiar with the Texaco "Matawan" style gas station building?  It appears to be an all-aluminum structure that consists of nothing more than 40" wide flat wall panels with C-type sections on each edge.  40" wide roof panels are support on 5" double C-type rafters.  A single welded girder (aluminum?) supports the center of the roof.  There is not a single column or frame in the entire building.  It was built in the 1960s.

 

A client needs to just re-roof one of these, but the inspector is concerned about the supporting structure and how some of the damaged composite roof panels can be replaced.  I share those concerns.

 

Jim

 

Sincerely,

James C. Wilson, P.E
Wilson Engineering Associates

Stroudsburg, PA