---
title: Should sole plates be welded to the girders before or after the dead load has been applied?
description: D.S. Brown can efficiently design, manufacture and test Versiflex™ high-load multi-rotational (Versiflex™ HLMR) pot and disc style, spherical, seismic isolation and elastomeric bearing assemblies for all types of construction.
---
[Skip to content](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/should-sole-plates-be-welded-to-the-girders-before-or-after-the-dead-load-has-been-applied#main-content)
English
Show submenu for translations
![DS-Brown\_logo-icon-lrg.jpg\]](https://learn.dsbrown.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DS-Brown_logo-icon-lrg.jpg?height=40&name=DS-Brown_logo-icon-lrg.jpg)
Open main navigation
Close main navigation
- English
Show submenu for translations
- [Go to D.S. Brown Homepage](https://www.dsbrown.com/)
[Go to D.S. Brown Homepage](https://www.dsbrown.com/)
Search D.S. Brown Knowledge Base Library
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
1. [D.S. Brown Help Center](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge?hsLang=en)
2. [Bridges](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/bridges?hsLang=en)
3. [Structural Bearing Assemblies](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/bridges?hsLang=en#structural-bearing-assemblies)
# Should sole plates be welded to the girders before or after the dead load has been applied?
## D.S. Brown can efficiently design, manufacture and test Versiflex™ high-load multi-rotational (Versiflex™ HLMR) pot and disc style, spherical, seismic isolation and elastomeric bearing assemblies for all types of construction.
**Answer: **Typically, field welding is performed after, but this is a question that should be answered by the bridge design engineer. A good reference is **AASHTO/NSBA G9.1** which addresses this question.**[https://www.aisc.org/globalassets/nsba/aashto-nsba-collab-docs/g-9.1-2022-steel-bridge-bearing-guidelines.pdf](https://www.aisc.org/globalassets/nsba/aashto-nsba-collab-docs/g-9.1-2022-steel-bridge-bearing-guidelines.pdf)**
### **Learn more about D.S. Brown Structural Bearing Assemblies **
D.S. Brown is one of the leading suppliers of [structural bearing assemblies](https://www.dsbrown.com/product-category/bridges/structural-bearing-assemblies-2/).
Since 1963, The D.S. Brown Company has provided bearing assemblies and joint seals for bridges around the globe. Bridges and other large structures are supported on bearing assemblies to transmit forces while accommodating all structural movements.
The selection of an appropriate bearing assembly is based on the magnitude of vertical and horizontal forces transmitted through the bearing assembly, as well as the amount of displacement and rotation of the superstructure elements. In addition, special attention to the bearing assembly design may be necessary when, for example, larger than normal horizontal loading or uplift situations exist.
With extensive experience and utilizing the latest technologies, D.S. Brown can efficiently design, manufacture and test Versiflex™ high-load multi-rotational (Versiflex™ HLMR) pot and disc style, spherical and elastomeric bearing assemblies for all types of construction.
D.S. Brown is available to work closely with bridge owners and engineering design consultants to assist in the design, selection and testing of the proper structural bearing assemblies.
- [Versiflex™ Elastomeric Bearing Assemblies product page](https://www.dsbrown.com/product/versiflex-elastomeric-bearing-assemblies-2/)
- Read the [Structural Bearing Assemblies brochure](https://www.dsbrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bearings-Pot-Elast-Disc-Isolation-Brochure_Aug2018_WbSz-2.pdf)
- [Design Data for Versiflex™ Elastomeric Bearing Assemblies](https://www.dsbrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/B_SBA_Versiflex_ElastoBearAssem_Components_v002.pdf)
- Examples of some of our [Bridge Bearing Projects](https://www.dsbrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/B_ElastoBear_PROJECT_v007.pdf)
- [Bridges](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/bridges?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Expansion Joint Systems](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/bridges?hsLang=en#expansion-joint-systems)
- [Structural Bearing Assemblies](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/bridges?hsLang=en#structural-bearing-assemblies)
- [Modular Joints](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/bridges?hsLang=en#modular-joints)
- [Steelflex Rail](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/bridges?hsLang=en#steelflex-rail)
- [J & JP Series Sealing Systems](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/bridges?hsLang=en#j-jp-series-sealing-systems)
- [Pavements](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/pavements?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Delpatch Elastomeric Concrete](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/pavements?hsLang=en#delpatch-elastomeric-concrete)
- [Delastic](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/pavements?hsLang=en#delastic)
- [Deckguard](https://learn.dsbrown.com/knowledge/pavements?hsLang=en#deckguard)
- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://blog.dsbrown.com/)
[](https://dsbrown.com/)
D.S. Brown Help Center
Copyright © 2026, D.S. Brown