End plates, fin plates and simple beam connections
- Standard shear connections using end plates or fin plates into columns, walls or beams.
- Bolts, welds and plate thicknesses sized for the beam reactions from your main design.
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Beams and frames • Steel connection design
Steel connection design for beams, columns, frames and base plates
Steelwork only works if the connections work. We design end plates, fin plates, moment connections, splices and base plates so your frame goes together on site and Building Control has the calculations they need.
Our steel connection design service covers single beams, goal post frames, loft and extension steelwork and small commercial frames, all checked to current UK design codes.
- Moment, shear and bracing connections designed and checked to Eurocodes or BS 5950 where needed.
- Clear drawings with plate sizes, bolt grades, weld sizes and simple notes that fabricators can follow.
- Steel connection design that ties in with beam layouts, padstones, foundations and bracing.
We support domestic and light commercial projects across the UK, working with your structural engineer, architect or steel fabricator to finalise the steel connections.
Steel connection design – what we design for your project
These are the most common steel connections we design for wall removals, lofts, basements and small commercial frames.
Moment connections and rigid frames
- Moment end plates, haunched joints and welded connections where the frame must resist sway.
- Used for goal post frames, portal frames and large openings in extensions and lofts.
Base plates and holding down bolts
- Base plates for steel columns bearing on pads, ground beams or basement slabs.
- Anchor bolt layout and checks for uplift, shear and bearing on concrete or masonry.
Splice connections and beam extensions
- Bolted splices where beams are delivered in shorter lengths for access.
- Simple or moment splices depending on how the frame needs to act in the analysis.
Balcony, stair and secondary steel connections
- Fixings for balconies, stair stringers, landings and canopies tying back to the main frame.
- Allowance for edge distances, tolerance and practical welding on site.
Steel to concrete, steel to timber and strengthening
- Plates, anchors and connectors where steel supports on concrete, masonry or timber members.
- Strengthening plates and stiffeners for existing frames where loads or openings change.
When you must involve a steel connection designer
Some work is too important for guesswork or catalogue sketches. These are the situations where proper steel connection design is needed.
Large openings and goal post frames
- Frames around wide glazed doors or open plan spaces where beams and columns act together.
- Connections must resist moments as well as shear to keep the frame stiff and limit movement.
Frames carrying more than one floor
- Columns or beams taking loads from several levels or from roof and floor together.
- Connections are checked for combined forces and future change of use.
Irregular layouts and transfer structures
- Transfer beams, offsets and changes in grid that create high local forces.
- Connection design avoids weak spots, odd stiffness changes and hard to build details.
Existing frames and alterations
- Adding new steel, cutting openings or strengthening old connections in existing frames.
- We review the existing frame and design plates or stiffeners that can be fitted in stages.
Practical points for steel connection design
A few of the buildability checks we make so your connections work in the workshop and on site.
Standard bolts and welds
We base designs on common UK bolt sizes, grades and weld types so your fabricator can use normal stock.
Only where loads are high do we need special items.
Tolerances and on site fit
We allow for erection tolerances and packers. Slots, shims and adjusters are used where the frame needs
fine setting out, such as stair or balcony connections.
Coordination with fabricator
Where a fabricator is already appointed we can work to their preferred connection types and workshop limits,
so drawings, cutting lists and design all line up.
Video lessons – steel connection design explained
These short videos walk through the main ideas behind steel connections, from simple end plates to splices, double angles and base plates.
How to work out a steel beam splice connection
Step by step method for sizing plates and bolts in a typical beam splice.
How to design a simple end plate connection
How shear end plate connections work and how to size the bolts and plate.
Rigid and pinned connections in analysis
When a connection behaves as pinned or rigid and what that means for your frame model.
Bolt size and bolt resistance in shear and tension
How to pick a bolt diameter and check shear and tension resistance for brackets and bracing.
Double angle and cleat connections
Design of double angle cleats and how they transfer shear between beam and column.
Weld size, weld resistance and length
How to calculate design weld resistance and the weld length you need at a connection.
Bolted bracing and single or double shear
Capacity of bolts in single and double shear and how it affects bracing connections.
Resistance of bolted bracing connections
Worked example of a bracing gusset with bolts in tension and shear.
Base plate size and uplift bolts
How to check base plate size and the anchor bolts needed to resist uplift forces.
Bolt diameter for uplift in brackets
Example of sizing bolts where a bracket is in bending with uplift at the support.
Information we need to design your steel connections
Good starting information means fewer revisions and smoother fabrication. This is what we normally ask for.
Frame layout and member sizes
- General arrangement drawings with all steel sizes, spans and levels marked.
- Sections and elevations showing openings, roof pitches and any critical dimensions.
Loads or reactions from your main design
- Reactions from the main structural design, or permission for us to analyse the frame.
- Any special loads such as balconies, plant or point loads on transfer beams.
Foundation and support details
- Padstone, wall and foundation details so base plates and fixings can be sized correctly.
- Information on existing structure where steel connects into concrete, masonry or timber.
Fabricator preferences and site limits
- Maximum plate sizes, transport limits and any welding restrictions on site.
- Preferred bolt grades, finish and any predrilled holes required by suppliers.
Steel connection design – frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions we hear most often about steel connections on domestic and light commercial projects.
Do I always need a structural engineer for steel connections?
Small, standard connections can sometimes be taken from manufacturer tables. Once loads are higher, layouts are irregular or frames are moment resisting, you should have a structural engineer design and check the steel connections.
Can you design connections if another engineer designed the frame?
Yes. We often receive steel sizes and reactions from another engineer and carry out only the steel connection design. We coordinate with them if any changes to member sizes are needed.
Do you design to Eurocodes or BS 5950?
Our default is Eurocode design for steel connections, but we can work to BS 5950 where a project was started under that code or the existing design uses it.
Will Building Control accept your steel connection design?
Yes. We provide full calculations and sketches for each connection so Building Control can see how loads pass through the frame and into the supports.
How much does steel connection design cost?
Fees depend on the number and complexity of connections. A single frame with a few standard details costs far less than a whole building full of bespoke joints. Once we see your drawings we confirm a fixed fee before any work starts.
Clients who used us for steel connection design
A few short comments from people who asked us to design their steel connections on recent projects.
Steel fabricator • North West
Goal post frames and balconies
“Connection drawings were clear and matched our workshop methods. Bolts and plates were sensible sizes and everything fitted on site without rework.”
Architect • London
Loft and rear extension frame
“SECalcs picked up awkward joints early and suggested neater connection details that kept the ceilings flat and the steel hidden.”
Homeowner • Manchester
Wall removal with goal post
“They designed the beams, column and all the steel connections so the builder had one clear set of drawings to follow and Building Control signed it off first time.”
Request a steel connection design quote
Use this form to outline your frame or beam layout. Your enquiry goes straight to an engineer, not a call centre.
Tell us about your steel connections
Share a few details so we can review the drawings and loads and confirm a fixed fee for your steel connection design and calculations.
This form connects to our central SECalcs email. You will usually hear back from a structural engineer within one working day.
Ready to finalise your steel connections?
If you need end plates, splices, base plates or frame connections designed with clear calculations and drawings, send us a few details and we will confirm the next steps and a fixed fee.
- Head Office: Corwell Lane, Uxbridge, England, UB8 3DE.
- 07359 267907
- info@structuralengineercalcs.com
- Company No: 12653163