No.3 Is Panel Splicing Feasible in Carport Structures?

No.3 Is "Panel Splicing" Feasible in Carport Structures?

In our previous article, we examined the differences between Chinese and European steel material standards, as well as the principles for selecting appropriate material grades based on project requirements. Today, we will focus on the production process and key technical considerations following material procurement.

Material Layout and Cutting

Once materials are ready, the factory proceeds with layout and cutting in accordance with the engineering drawings.

Given that sheet sizes are standardized, some material waste is inevitable during the layout process. For larger offcuts, certain manufacturers adopt a panel splicing approach-welding multiple sheets together to form a single plate for subsequent component fabrication.

Is Panel Splicing Permitted?

Under European Standard EN 1993: Panel splicing is permissible; however, it imposes mandatory requirements for welds, including fatigue detail category calculations and thickness correction considerations.

Under Chinese Standard GB 50205: Panel splicing is also permitted, but it requires equal-strength welding, with clear specifications regarding weld location, offset distances, and other construction details.

It is evident that both standards allow panel splicing, yet both impose strict conditions. Ensuring the structural integrity of spliced panels remains the core technical challenge.

Tammy Renewable's Corporate Standard: A Stricter Approach

At Tammy Renewable, we adopt an even more rigorous quality control strategy for primary load-bearing members.

For columns, beams, and other primary structural components, the use of spliced plates is not permitted during production unless explicitly required by the design drawings.

This approach offers the following process advantages:

Eliminates spliced plate welds, which constitute potential structural weak points;

Prevents material property degradation in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) caused by welding;

Simplifies the weld quality inspection process and reduces quality control risks;

Enhances the overall stiffness and fatigue resistance of structural components.

While structural engineers strictly design each project based on local wind loads, snow loads, and applicable codes, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in recent years calls for additional precaution. As a manufacturing partner, we recognize our responsibility to exceed standard requirements. By implementing a no-spliced-plate policy for primary members, we eliminate potential structural vulnerabilities at the source, ensuring reliable and high-quality project delivery.