What should be the thickness of partitions and load-bearing walls in a panel house??

Knowing the minimum thickness requirements for load-bearing walls and partitions is essential when building or remodeling a home, particularly for panel houses. Wall thicknesses in panel houses, which are distinguished by their prefabricated design, are influenced by certain factors.

Depending on their intended use, panel house partitions typically have different thicknesses. Non-load-bearing partitions are typically thinner in dimension because they are intended to divide space rather than support structural weight. The purpose of these partitions is to divide spaces and offer seclusion without supporting heavy loads. On the other hand, load-bearing walls need to be thicker and have more structural integrity because they bear the building’s structural weight and transfer it to the foundation.

Prefabricated panels are frequently used in panel houses for both load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls. The standard thicknesses used in these panels are influenced by their off-site manufacturing and on-site assembly. The typical thickness of load-bearing walls in panel houses varies between a few and several inches, contingent upon the structural specifications dictated by engineering standards and building codes.

In panel houses, soundproofing and insulation are taken into account when determining the thickness of load-bearing walls and partitions. More insulation material can be incorporated into thicker walls, improving sound and energy insulation between rooms. This is especially crucial in multi-family housing, where residents place a high value on thermal comfort and noise reduction.

Seeking advice from a licensed architect or structural engineer is crucial when organizing additions or renovations in a panel home. They can evaluate the particular needs of your project and make sure that load-bearing walls and partitions satisfy legal and safety requirements while maximizing performance and space usage.

Partition Walls	Load-Bearing Walls
Usually 70-100 mm thick in panel houses, made of lightweight materials to divide spaces.	Thicker, around 150-200 mm, to support the structure"s weight and distribute loads.

Why is it important to determine the indicator correctly??

Primarily, accurate panel wall thickness calculations are required for any reconstruction, repair, or remodeling of residential buildings.

Determining the type of wall and the load it can support requires accurate calculation. Although you can do it yourself if you really want to, a specialist should measure the thickness of the wall.

Experts perform computations with greater accuracy and professionalism. The indicators that are obtained are crucial not only for rehabilitation but also for wall thermal insulation design, which ensures that the insulating layers fulfill their intended roles.

Your decision regarding future insulation—internal, external, or double-sided—is aided by calculations. When selecting panels for construction, which takes into consideration climatic and landscape features, accurate indicator determination helps to save money.

Additionally, mathematical operations are performed to look at the cost of consumables related to price increases or decreases and help determine the possibility of changes or reductions in the thickness of the indicator wall. One strategy to reduce the amount of money spent on the building’s heating systems during the winter is this one.

As an indicator, thickness is one of the primary parameters whose values need to be ascertained prior to the commencement of construction. It establishes whether three-layered panels can be used in construction and how comfortable the house’s temperature will be (the efficiency is determined).

Regulatory documents

These technical documents, which outline the fundamental requirements, govern the general requirements for panel wall structure thickness:

1. GOST 11024-20-12 – monolithic wall panels.
2. GOST 31310-2015 – reinforced concrete panels with three layers and insulation.
3. GOST 11024-84 – external monolithic panels used for residential multi-apartment buildings.
4. GOST 11118-73 – external walls of public monolithic buildings.
5. GOST 33126-2014 – expanded clay concrete wall blocks.
6. GOST 32603-2012 – sandwich panels.
7. SP 31-105-2002 – private houses with wooden panels.
8. GOST 33929-2016 – polystyrene concrete wall structures.

The highest GOST standards are found in monolithic panels. This is because secondary multi-apartment housing, which was constructed in large quantities across the Soviet Union between the start of the pre-war years and the 1980s, G. In general, the walls’ thickness for all panels can range from 40 to 140 mm (mm), depending on the size of the structural thickness of the products.

Make sure to consider the size of window and door openings when calculating the thickness of a wall structure. Here, GOST standards are applied:

The thickness requirements are stated in the documents, and this directly relates to the wall structure where windows and doors are to be placed.

In a panel house, determining the right thickness for partitions and load-bearing walls is crucial for structural integrity and functionality. The thickness depends on several factors like the building"s design, intended use of the space, and local building codes. Typically, load-bearing walls in panel houses are thicker to support the weight of upper floors and the roof. Partition walls, which divide internal spaces, are generally thinner but still need to provide adequate sound insulation and support for fixtures like cabinets or shelves. Balancing these factors ensures the walls are strong enough to bear loads and efficient enough to optimize interior space. Understanding these considerations helps homeowners and builders make informed decisions about wall thickness in panel houses, ensuring safety, comfort, and longevity of the structure.

Standards for panel structures

Depending on the region, the minimum general standards for wall thickness are as follows: 25 (cm) for the southern regions, 40 (cm) for the central regions, and 60 (cm) for the northern regions. Standards for various types of concrete start at 80 (cm). The ideal thickness is established by considering the insulation’s standard and thickness, which ranges from 5 to 200 (mm).

Typical wall thickness for each type of panel is:

1. Expanded clay concrete – 920 (mm).
2. Monolith – 100-400 (mm).
3. SIP – 125-220 (mm).
4. Sandwich – 50-200 (mm).
5. Arbolit – 370 (mm).
6. Polystyrene concrete – 50-150 (mm).

In general, submitted norms for structural (load-bearing) walls are binding. In actuality, thickness indicators can be significantly larger depending on the manufacturer. The thickness of every layer—plaster, finishing, insulation (by quantity, 1-2), waterproofing, and insulation—is always added to this indicator during computation.

Since internal walls can be constructed without insulation, calculating their thickness is thought to be easier because it only takes into account the panel’s layers.

For example, sheathing, a foil layer, a gap ventilation passage (20 cm), and finishing layers of plaster, brick, or euro lining are all included in the layer arrangement of a garage or bathhouse.

By dividing the number of layers by the thickness of the panel layers, we get:

• single-layer – 300-350 (mm);
• multilayer – 380 (mm);
• internal partitions – 80-100 (mm).

The indicators of the wall’s thickness are unaffected by the type of soil. It only matters for the base of the foundation, which can be pile-screw, strip, or monolithic.

For instance, a monolithic foundation works best for the installation of reinforced concrete panels because it evenly distributes the load-bearing load on the building structure. A strip and pile-screw foundation works well for sandwich, SIP, and other lightweight panel types.

Only when calculating the amount of insulation used do GSOP indicators (degree-climatic) and heat transfer resistance matter when determining the thickness of the wall layer.

It is best to leave the calculations to the professional engineers with expertise in the field. They will use table indicators from GOST standards applied to a specific kind of panel products.

Calculation rules

It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the technical diagram (drawing, plan) of the room before calculating the required wall thickness consistently in accordance with all the rules. First and foremost, calculations must be made with the wall structure’s thermal conductivity in mind.

For instance, the following formula can be used to determine the wall’s dimensions based on the building materials used:

• R – thermal resistance coefficient;
• δ – thickness of consumables used;
• λ – indicator of specific thermal conductivity, calculated in (m 2 x °C/W).

A product that you buy from a reputable manufacturer will always have its thermal conductivity coefficient listed on its passport. The minimum required value for the heat transfer resistance of load-bearing (external) walls is 3.2 λ (W/m x °C), as per the established standard.

In real life, computations using R could resemble this:

1. The cellular concrete panel has an R of 0.12 W/m x °C. The required thickness for the region should be 300mm.
2. Using the formula R=δ/ λ, we get: 0.3/0.12 = 2.5 W/m x °C.

The wall requires insulation because the resultant figure is below the GOST table’s average.

In this case, the same indicators from the basic formula are used, but in the opposite order, to determine the wall thickness that will be equipped with insulation, plaster, and finishing:

The formula for calculating wall thickness is δ = λ x R.

For instance: The thickness of the wall composed of reinforced concrete panels needs to be determined. Assuming that the thermal conductivity coefficient, R, is 2.04 W/m x °C. We obtain, rounded, 2.04 x 3.2 = 6.528 (m) by applying the formula. In this instance, the panel’s wall thickness complies with standards and is 6.5 (m).

Checking the thickness of mineral wool using the above formula for the thermal conductivity coefficient given in GOSTs will result in λ (specific thermal conductivity) = 0.044 W/m x °C x 3.2 = 0, 14 (m) for insulation with a layer thickness of 14 (cm).

The entire layer of insulation on the main wall can be seen by adding the resultant value to the reinforced concrete panel’s thickness. Subsequently, different types of plaster, waterproofing, and finishing are applied in layers of 2-3 cm each, resulting in a wall structure that is ultimately the thickness of the entire wall.

The following are taken into account when making incorrect calculations:

1. Cold and damp in winter.
2. High humidity in summer.
3. Destruction of the structure (when the load-bearing structure is confused with the partition).

An online calculator is another tool you can use for calculations.

On the example of SIP

Temperature indicators are another area of calculation focus. The following formulas can be used to calculate the SIP panel and suggest using polystyrene PSB brand S-25 100 (mm):

As stated:

• Atmospheric temperature from the outside –26 ° C.
• The temperature inside the house is +18 ° C.
• R outside – 23 W/m x ° C.
• R inside – 8.7 W/m x ° C.
• SIP-plate-three-layer, has a common layer thickness.
• OSP 12 (mm).

In terms of W/m x °C, R0 = 1: 8.7+2 x 0.01: 0.18+0.1: 0.041+1: 23 = 0.115+0.111+2.439+0.043 = 2.71

The resultant indicator, 2.71 (W/m x °C), shows that a higher requirement is required because, based on the GOST table comparison of standards, it should be greater than 3. Therefore, the insulation thickness that is currently provided is not appropriate.

When we take 150 mm thick polystyrene foam, we obtain:

In terms of W/m x °C, R0 = 1:8.7+2 x 0.01:0.18 + 0.14:0.041+1:23 = 0.115+0.111+3.415+0.0043 = 3.95

The resultant value of 3.95 (W/m x °C) is perfect for SIP panels since it perfectly satisfies the necessary thickness requirements. That is to say, in this instance, 150 mm of polystyrene foam insulation for the panels is required.

Other indicators

In keeping with SNiP 23-01-99’s specifications, which are related to the area’s climate, consider temperature indicators when performing calculations. The section above contains an example using these values.

Table No. 1 is contained in the specified SNiP. It includes a list of every Russian Federation settlement broken down by region along with the average yearly temperature. The number of days with low temperatures throughout the year is precisely determined by the indicated indicators at the intersection.

An additional calculation is to determine the degree-day for the whole heating season in order to determine the necessary wall thickness and insulation. A formula in SNiP 02/23/2003 aids in identifying the indicator we require.

Here is how thickness S is defined:

The thermal conductivity coefficient (R) of cellular concrete panels, for instance, can reach 0.14 (W/m x °C). The region’s wall structure should have a minimum thickness of 3.2.

The product of the values yields 0.14 x 3.2 = 0.45 (m). That is, the standard states that its thickness should be at least 45 (cm), taking into account the climatic features of the region. During the coldest part of the year, this layer will help keep the room from freezing.

A panel house’s partition and load-bearing wall thickness is determined by a number of factors. Typically, panel houses are made of lightweight materials like concrete, gypsum, or wood, and are composed of prefabricated panels. These components have an impact on the necessary thickness to guarantee functionality and structural integrity.

The thickness of room partitions is determined by their intended purpose. Interior partitions that do not support weight can be thinner; they are usually between 75 and 100 mm (3 and 4 inches). The main functions of these walls are space division and mediocre sound absorption.

Walls bearing loads must be thicker and stronger because they bear the building’s structural weight. These walls are often thicker in panel houses, typically measuring between 150 and 200 mm (6 and 8 inches) or more, depending on the particular building codes and structural specifications. Their thickness guarantees that they can efficiently support the loads from roof structures and floors above.

Wall thickness is also influenced by the kind of panel used in construction. For example, concrete panels are thicker than gypsum or wood panels because they are heavier. Based on the anticipated loads, engineers and architects determine the required thickness to guarantee durability and safety throughout the building’s life.

It is important for homeowners and construction professionals to know the proper thickness for load-bearing walls and partitions in panel houses. It guarantees adherence to building codes, efficient spatial utilization, and the structural soundness required for a secure and useful living or working environment.

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