WIND BEAMS
A Wind Beam is a beam that is used to support horizontal wind loads. Generally they are fully supported and do not support vertical gravity loads but can also be designed to take these loads if required. Wind beams stop the walls being pushed in at critical locations like joints.
When designing wall and floor systems it is important to be aware of when wind beams are required. A design must never place an external wall on another wall or joist or ladder floor truss if there is a void behind it without checking the wind beam size.
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