Volex Labs / Calculations / Steel portal frame design to Eurocode 3.

Steel portal frame design to Eurocode 3.

Enter the span, eaves height and roof pitch, and Volex Anvil sets out the frame geometry — rafter sloped length, ridge height and haunch — then finds the elastic member forces under the gravity and wind combinations for the rafter and column design checks.

The approach follows SCI P397, 'Elastic Design of Single-Span Steel Portal Frame Buildings': member forces from an elastic analysis, cross-section and buckling resistance to EC3 §6, and the serviceability deflection at the eaves and apex.

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What Volex Anvil checks

Validated against the published example

Pitched-roof portal frame geometry — SCI P397 SCI P397 'Elastic Design of Single-Span Steel Portal Frame Buildings' §3.1
QuantityPublishedVolex AnvilError
Rafter sloped length15.083 m15.083 m0.00%
Ridge height7.577 m7.577 m0.00%
This case is one of 359 published checks the platform passes — the full table, with every source and every error, is public at volexlabs.com/verification.

Frequently asked

Does it include the haunch?
Yes — the eaves haunch length and depth are set out with the geometry, and the rafter is checked at the sharp end of the haunch where the elastic moment peaks.
Elastic or plastic design?
The module uses elastic analysis per SCI P397 — appropriate for the majority of single-span frames and for cases where plastic redistribution is not relied on.
What is the geometry checked against?
The frame geometry is validated against SCI P397 §3.1 worked geometry — rafter length and ridge height within 0.00%.
Is there a free tier?
Yes — 10 free calculations a month with clause references; Pro (£29/month) unlocks unlimited runs and PDF calc sheets.

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