CONSTRUCTION REPORT

Building report – Everything is different

This builder can tell you all about the adventure of building a house. Here you’ll find countless tips and information about building a house in Florida.

READ MY STORY

Ring beam: shuttering and casting of the tie beam

Q: What is the function of a ring anchor?

A ring beam connects the outer walls of a house to form a stable unit and distributes the loads evenly. It prevents walls from shifting or being pushed apart - for example by roof loads, wind pressure or earthquakes. Particularly in storm-prone regions such as Florida, the ring anchor is crucial for the stability and safety of the entire building shell.

Q: What material for ring anchors?

A ring beam usually consists of reinforced concrete - i.e. concrete with internal steel reinforcement . The reinforcement usually consists of several longitudinal bars (e.g. Ø 12 mm) and stirrups that absorb the tensile forces. The concrete provides compressive strength. This combination makes the ring beam stable, resilient and resistant - ideal for static and dynamic loads.

Q: Can a ring anchor be retrofitted?

Yes, a ring beam can be retrofitted - but only with considerable effort . To do this, wall crowns must be exposed, steel reinforcement laid and formwork created. The concrete is then poured in sections. A structural engineer and planning permission are usually required. Retrofitting is particularly worthwhile for upgrading older buildings or to comply with new building regulations.

Construction report casting ring beam — The casting of the ring anchor is very time-consuming.

Creating the tie beam (ring anchor) is a much more time-consuming process than a layman might imagine. When we asked our builder how long the casting of the tie beam alone would take, he replied “4 hours”. We thought that was far too long. But this estimate was not even enough.

First of all, the formwork was installed, which is also very time-consuming. Due to the fact that we will have a 24 foot (7.3 meter) wide sliding door front consisting of eight individual doors and that these doors each weigh 300 American pounds (136 kg), you can imagine that a lot of structural engineering is required here.

We also didn’t want to have a column across this entire front that would interfere with the view of the negative edge of the pool and, as an extension, the canal. This gives the structure above the sliding doors a long tie beam front that has to support itself. How do you make it stable? With lots of iron and concrete. After acceptance by the inspector, the reinforcement holes are closed.

4 ½ trucks of concrete in 5 ½ hours

The workers have a really tough job when pouring the tie beam: in addition to the heat and, in our case, during a heavy downpour, they have to cope with a lot physically. Up and down again and again, keeping their balance, hoisting the heavy concrete hose, holding it, communicating with the Betonguy “on-off-on-off” are the constantly repetitive tasks over no less than 5 ½ hours. 4 ½ trucks of concrete were finally placed in the masonry by dusk. Who would have thought it?

In Florida, tie beams are an essential part of the building code, especially in regions with high hurricane risk such as Cape Coral. They serve to maintain the structural integrity of the building by tying the exterior walls together, evenly distributing the loads of the roof . This is crucial to withstand the high wind loads during a hurricane.

Materials and construction

Typically, ring beams in Florida are made of reinforced concrete with robust steel reinforcement. The reinforcement is carefully placed in the formwork before the concrete is poured. This design ensures high tensile and compressive strength, which is necessary to meet structural requirements.

The ring beam is installed after the outer walls have been erected and before the roof truss is put in place. It forms a continuous connection along the top edge of the walls and ensures that the loads of the roof are effectively transferred to the walls. This is particularly important in areas with high wind loads to ensure the structural stability of the building.

Differences to other components

It is important not to confuse ring beams with other structural elements such as lintels . While lintels are placed over door and window openings to support the loads above, ring beams run continuously along the top edge of the walls, structurally connecting them together.

Ring beams are an essential part of home construction in Florida, especially in hurricane-prone areas. They contribute significantly to the structural integrity and safety of the building by connecting the exterior walls and evenly distributing the loads of the roof. Careful planning and execution of this building element is therefore essential for safe and long-lasting home construction in Florida.

Casting the tie beam

Construction report from Cape Coral: Casting of the ring anchor (tie beam)

Construction Report – Everything is Different

This builder can tell you all about the adventure of building a house. Here you’ll find countless tips and information about building a house in Florida.

READ MY STORY

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every house have a ring beam?

No, not every house has a ring beam – but it is usually required in solid construction. A ring beam is a continuous, reinforced concrete beam that connects the walls structurally and absorbs loads. In regions with a high risk of wind or earthquakes – such as Florida – it is required by building regulations. For timber buildings or small outbuildings, it can be omitted or replaced by other constructions.

What is the function of a ring anchor?

A ring beam connects the outer walls of a house to form a stable unit and distributes the loads evenly. It prevents walls from shifting or being pushed apart – for example by roof loads, wind pressure or earthquakes. Particularly in storm-prone regions such as Florida, the ring anchor is crucial for the stability and safety of the entire building shell.

When is a ring anchor required?

A ring beam is required if a building is made of masonry and is subject to high static or dynamic loads – such as wind, roof loads or earthquakes. In regions such as Florida, it is required by law to ensure stability in the event of hurricanes. In Germany, it is also necessary for multi-storey buildings, flat roofs or missing ceilings of a bracing nature.

What material for ring anchors?

A ring beam usually consists of reinforced concrete – i.e. concrete with internal steel reinforcement. The reinforcement usually consists of several longitudinal bars (e.g. Ø 12 mm) and stirrups that absorb the tensile forces. The concrete provides compressive strength. This combination makes the ring beam stable, resilient and resistant – ideal for static and dynamic loads.

Can a ring anchor be retrofitted?

Yes, a ring beam can be retrofitted – but only with considerable effort. To do this, wall crowns must be exposed, steel reinforcement laid and formwork created. The concrete is then poured in sections. A structural engineer and planning permission are usually required. Retrofitting is particularly worthwhile for upgrading older buildings or to comply with new building regulations.