Structural Engineering for Steel Loft & Vaulted Roof System – Pickering
This project involved the structural design and engineering of a steel-framed storage loft and a vaulted roof system for a detached residential garage.
Parsways was retained to provide OBC Part 4 structural engineering services, delivering a coordinated steel and wood framing solution that accommodated elevated storage loads and complex roof geometry beyond prescriptive residential design limits.
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Completion: 2025
Sector: Residential – Accessory Structure
1. The Challenge
While the garage footprint was typical, the structural demands were not. The design required a steel-framed storage loft and a clear-span vaulted roof system supported by steel beams and HSS posts.
This introduced two primary technical constraints:
Loft Loading:
The intended storage use imposed elevated live loads that exceeded the capacity of conventional residential wood framing.
Vaulted Roof Support:
The roof geometry required a structural ridge solution capable of resisting gravity and lateral loads without relying on prescriptive ridge board framing.
2. The Engineering Solution
We developed an OBC Part 4–compliant structural package tailored to the project’s loading conditions, with a focus on clear load paths and constructability.
a. Steel-Framed Loft System:
A primary steel floor beam supported loft gravity loads and transferred reactions to HSS steel posts, integrating efficiently with surrounding wood framing.
b. Steel Ridge Beam System:
A structural steel ridge beam was designed to support the vaulted roof configuration, ensuring stability under snow, wind, and dead load combinations.
3. The Outcome
The project architect received a fully stamped, permit-ready structural package compliant with OBC Part 4 and CSA S16. The final design delivered a durable and efficient structural system supporting both the storage loft and vaulted roof geometry.