AD 532: Integral bracing and diaphragm action of light steel framed walls

The purpose of this advisory desk note is to highlight that guidance provided in SCI P437 supersedes guidance previously provided in SCI ED002 in relation to the design of light steel framed walls with integral bracing and light steel framed wall panels designed as diaphragms.

ED002 was published in 2003 and primarily presents guidance related to lightweight steel and timber composite solutions. P437 was published in 2024 and provides guidance on the design for stability of light steel framed buildings with vertical stability provided by X-braced wall panels, integral bracing or diaphragm action of sheathing boards.

The following parts of ED002 are superseded by guidance provided in P437:

• Section 4 which provides information on the structural performance of light steel framed walls with integral bracing and wall panels designed as diaphragms.
• Appendix A.1 which provides guidance on recommended structural testing procedures for light steel framed wall panels.
• Appendix G which provides information on the structural performance of various types of light steel framed walls.

This advisory desk note will be of particular interest to designers of light steel framed buildings who may have used information from ED002 in their design procedures. For example, Section 4.2 of ED002 gives a serviceability limit state resistance of 4.5 kN for a wall panel with 1 bay of integral bracing. This value has often been quoted in design procedures. Designers must now calculate the design resistance of wall panels with integral bracing following the guidance given in P437 rather than using the generic value from ED002.

Contact: Andrew Way
Telephone: 01344 636555
Email: advisory@steel-sci.com