Shelf angle
Encyclopedia
In masonry veneer
building
construction, a shelf angle is a steel
angle
which supports the weight of brick
or stone
veneer
and transfers that weight onto the main structure of the building.
buildings had thick load bearing walls
that supported the weight of the building. Openings in these load bearing walls for elements such as door
s and window
s were typically small and spanned by lintels or arches
.
. In most such buildings, brick, stone, or other masonry cladding is often a single wythe
of material also called a veneer
. The only way to support the weight of this veneer across a wide opening is by providing a shelf angle on which the masonry bears. The shelf angle, in turn, is attached to major elements of the building structure such as floor beams
or structural columns. Shelf angles are also called relief angles. In the United States, common sizes for steel shelf angles include L 3" x 3" x 1/4" and L 4" x 4" x 1/4".
In addition to supporting the weight of masonry, shelf angles create logical locations for movement joints.
Masonry Veneer
Masonry veneer walls consist of a single non-structural external layer of masonry work, typically brick, backed by an air space. The innermost element is usually structural, and may consist of wood or metal framing or masonry...
building
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
construction, a shelf angle is a steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
angle
Angle
In geometry, an angle is the figure formed by two rays sharing a common endpoint, called the vertex of the angle.Angles are usually presumed to be in a Euclidean plane with the circle taken for standard with regard to direction. In fact, an angle is frequently viewed as a measure of an circular arc...
which supports the weight of brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
or stone
STONe
is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Sin-Ichi Hiromoto. Kodansha released the two bound volumes of the manga on April 23, 2002 and August 23, 2002, respectively.The manga is licensed for an English-languague released in North America be Tokyopop...
veneer
Veneer
A veneer is a thin covering over another surface. More specifically, it may refer to:* Wood veneer, a term used in architecture and woodworking...
and transfers that weight onto the main structure of the building.
Background
Traditional masonryMasonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
buildings had thick load bearing walls
Walls
- Other uses :*Wall's , a company that makes ice cream*Wall's sausages, a British sausage brand*Walls, an episode of Power Rangers S.P.D.- Music :*Walls EP, a 2005 album by The Red Paintings*Walls , 2007...
that supported the weight of the building. Openings in these load bearing walls for elements such as door
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
s and window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
s were typically small and spanned by lintels or arches
Arches
-Places:* Arches National Park in the U.S. state of Utah* Arches, Cantal, a commune of the Cantal département, in France* Arches, Vosges, a commune of the Vosges département, in France-Other:* Arches of the foot...
.
Modern buildings
The invention of skeleton frame buildings made it possible to have wide openings such as ribbon windows extending across most or all of the building facadeFacade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
. In most such buildings, brick, stone, or other masonry cladding is often a single wythe
Wythe
A wythe is a continuous vertical section of masonry one unit in thickness. A wythe may be independent of, or interlocked with, the adjoining wythe...
of material also called a veneer
Veneer
A veneer is a thin covering over another surface. More specifically, it may refer to:* Wood veneer, a term used in architecture and woodworking...
. The only way to support the weight of this veneer across a wide opening is by providing a shelf angle on which the masonry bears. The shelf angle, in turn, is attached to major elements of the building structure such as floor beams
Beams
Beams is a Japanese clothing brand, established in 1976, whose chief executive officer is Yo Shitara. Besides stores in many places in Japan, they have branch offices in New York, Milan, London, and Paris....
or structural columns. Shelf angles are also called relief angles. In the United States, common sizes for steel shelf angles include L 3" x 3" x 1/4" and L 4" x 4" x 1/4".
In addition to supporting the weight of masonry, shelf angles create logical locations for movement joints.