BP Meadhurst Club - Roof Loadbearing Structural
- Issues identified:
- Unreinforced apertures cut in the gable wall for services
- In-plane and out-of-plane movement in the roof truss system
- Deflection observed in purlins and binders where support was inadequate
- Objective: Restore reliable load paths, limit deflection, and provide durable detailing around new service penetrations
- Deliverables: Assessment report, marked-up GA, remedial details (lintels, posts, connections), method & QA notes
- Unsupported roof apertures
- Openings formed through the supporting gable wall reduced local capacity and disrupted lateral restraint to the roof.
- Roof truss movement (in-plane & out-of-plane)
- Indicative of insufficient bracing/restraint, potentially aggravated by the loss of wall stiffness from the new openings.
- Deflection in purlins and binders
- Local spans and bearing conditions were not adequate in places, increasing serviceability risks (deflection, vibration, fixings fatigue).
1) Timber post connection system
- Install treated timber posts 150 × 150 mm to connect purlins to the binder, using galvanised steel column caps/cleats to provide positive load paths and reduce mid-span deflection.
- Posts fixed to verified bearing points (wall/beam/formed pad as applicable) with stainless/galvanised fixings and moisture isolation where required.
2) Reinforcement of roof structure
- Provide supplementary timbers at critical locations to shorten effective spans of purlins and binders and to improve load distribution.
- Reinstate/augment bracing (chevron/diagonal) within roof planes and node restraint ties to limit both in-plane and out-of-plane truss movement.
- Check and upgrade wallplate straps and lateral restraint straps to the gable in accordance with current practice.
3) Masonry supports and lintels to service openings
- Install steel lintels over each pipe penetration (or paired steel angles where appropriate) with minimum end bearing and packing to achieve full contact.
- Provide cavity trays/DPF and weep vents to manage moisture around new openings; re-make air-tightness and fire-stopping to services.
4) Method, temporary works & QA
- Temporary propping of affected truss bays during installation; sequence works to avoid overloading any single bay.
- Hold-points for fixings inspection and bearing checks; update red-line as-built drawings and O&M notes on completion.
- Set access controls in the work zone and re-inspect after first significant wind event post-works.
- Load paths restored: posts, lintels and supplementary members re-establish reliable support to purlins/binders and the gable.
- Movement controlled: improved bracing and restraint reduce in-plane/out-of-plane truss movement.
- Serviceability improved: noticeable reduction in deflection at critical bays; better long-term performance and maintainability.
Structural inspection & calculations · Remedial detailing (posts, lintels, bracing) · Temporary works/method inputs · QA/hold-points & sign-off · O&M updates and re-inspection plan
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