Timber Carports
Permit-ready structural design for wood-framed carports: post-and-beam framing, NDS-compliant connections, wind and seismic calcs, foundation design.
View serviceService
Steel Carport Structural Design.
We design steel-framed carports, canopies, and parking covers — from light HSS post-and-beam structures to clear-span moment frames. The deliverable is a permit-ready set sized for your jurisdiction, your soil, and the steel sections your fabricator can actually source.
What's included
Design scope for steel carports
- Member design for HSS columns, W and C beams, and steel decking
- Moment-frame, braced-frame, or cantilever-column lateral systems
- Base-plate, anchor-rod, and weld design per AISC 360 and AISC 341 where applicable
- Connection design: shear tabs, end plates, moment connections, splice plates
- Foundation design coordinated to a geotechnical report or presumptive values
- Seismic detailing for the site's design category and risk category
Deliverables
What you receive
- S-sheets: framing plan, elevations, sections, and connection details
- Complete steel calculations package (gravity + lateral)
- Base-plate and anchor-rod schedule with embedment, projection, and grout requirements
- Connection schedule with weld sizes, bolt grades, and tightening method
- Foundation plan with footing schedule and reinforcement
Applicable codes
We design to
- IBC (current adopted edition) and local amendments
- AISC 360 — Specification for Structural Steel Buildings
- AISC 341 — Seismic Provisions (when SDC requires)
- AWS D1.1 — Structural Welding Code, Steel
- ASCE 7-16 / 7-22 (wind, snow, and seismic)
Permit-readyPermit-readyU.S. jurisdictions
Who it's for
Built for the teams that ship the project
- Architects and design firms specifying open clear-span covers
- Commercial GCs building parking canopies and entry covers
- Solar carport developers needing a permit-ready structural set for permit
- Industrial and self-storage developers adding covered staging or loading areas
FAQ
Steel Carports — questions, answered
Can you design a steel carport sized for rooftop solar?
Yes. Send the panel layout, racking spec, and ballast or attachment scheme — we'll size members and connections for the combined dead, wind uplift, and seismic loads.
Do you specify AISC-certified fabrication?
We can. Whether to require AISC certification, special inspection, or NDT depends on the jurisdiction and risk category; we call it out on the drawings when it's required.
Can you work to a pre-engineered building (PEMB) manufacturer's package?
Yes. We design the site-built components — foundations, connections to the PEMB, and any field modifications — and coordinate with the PEMB manufacturer's reactions.
How do you handle long clear spans without interior columns?
We model the frame as a moment frame or rigid portal, check drift and serviceability against ASCE 7, and detail the connections that make the lateral system work.
Related services
Other structural design services
Attached Structures
Structural Design for patio covers, pergolas, sunrooms, and home additions attached to an existing house: ledger design, load path verification, permit-ready plans.
View serviceFreestanding Structures
Structural design for freestanding pavilions, gazebos, sheds, workshops, and detached garages. Wood or steel, permit-ready drawings, complete calculation package.
View serviceFrom the blog
Recent insights related to this service
Ready to design your steel carports? Let's scope it.
Send your drawings, sketches, or site address — we'll come back with a fixed proposal for the structural scope.