Steel buildings run the gamut...
From the basic rectangular box to just about any style you can imagine - steel buildings have crept into every area of new
construction. Homes, churches or strip malls, there are different types of steel building structures designed to meet every
building need.
To decide which is best for the project you have in mind, you need to know all the different aspects of the building’s end use. Do you need
column-free interior space? If so, this is called “clear span” construction. This type of construction can be expensive if your building requires
a huge interior width, such as an ice arena.
If you don’t mind the inclusion of interior support columns, then you can opt for a construction called multi-span, or beam and column,
which tends to be a less expensive construction style.
These questions must be considered before trying to get price quotes. Once you are clear about what you need, you will be better able to
compare all bids and offers. If you are still unclear about types of steel building construction and which is best for your purposes, an
experienced manufacturer or supplier can be a big help.
Ask as many questions as you need, and don’t be pushed into putting down a deposit until you are certain of your specific requirements,
and have shopped around!
Types of steel building construction...
While steel buildings are of varied sizes, shapes, and types, the basic elements of the metal building system are always the same- rigid
frames, wall girts and roof purlins, cladding and bracing.
Click here for features of a high quality steel building.
These are some of the main types of steel building structures that are available:
| Beam & Column (BC) |
| The beam-and-Column system is ideal in situations when a vast area of floor space is necessary. The flexibility of the Beam and
Column design allows it to be utilized for any industrial or warehouse purpose. |
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| Straight Column (SC) |
| Straight Column systems are utilized when a clear interior space up to seventy feet wide is needed. The column-free interior allows the
total amount of floor space to be put to use. This design is often in small offices or other commercial applications. |
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| Rigid Frame (RF) |
| The clear, unobstructed working space that the Rigid Frame system provides makes it ideal for many commercial and recreational
applications. The wide, column-free environment permits the complete utilization of the interior floor space. Recreational rooms, aircraft
hangers, and warehouse are often designed as rigid frame systems due to the interference or inconvenience of interior columns. |
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| Lean-To (LT) |
| Selecting a Lean-To system is a quick and economical way to expand to a building. More space can be added to the building without
interrupting the internal operations. This easy method of expansion makes the Lean-To system ideal for additional storage and office
buildings. |
 |
Steel building for every industry...
COMMERCIAL: The economic advantages of utilizing pre-engineered building systems have revolutionized the commercial
building industry. Commercial buildings now made of steel include auto dealerships, strip malls, fast food franchises, coffee kiosks, and
many more.
INSTITUTIONAL: Architects are now turning towards pre-engineered building systems as an economical way to supply
institutional projects for city, state and federal purposes. These include churches, schools, hospitals, fire stations, and recreational facilities
of all kinds.
AGRICULTURAL:
This is the traditional area where steel buildings have been used for many decades. Horse barns, storage
barns, grain silos, sheds: these are some of the uses for steel buildings in agriculture.
If you pass through an agricultural area, you will probably notice the difference between the modern steel buildings and the older wooden
or concrete buildings, or even the old metal buildings built before the era of pre-engineering.
The modern steel buildings show no wear, the colors don’t fade or look shabby, they do not sag or look like the next gust of wind will blow
them over. And, their roofs remain intact! It’s easy to see why steel has become the construction material of choice for the agricultural
sector.
- RIDING ARENAS: clear span designs have no interior columns; options such as wall light panels and ridge vents are
available to add to your comfort while riding indoors in all kinds of weather
- HORSE BARNS: wash racks, hay storage or tack rooms are easily incorporated into your design
- LIVESTOCK/STORAGE: freestall barns, transfer alleys, milking parlors, hay storage and livestock shelters are economical
with steel construction
INDUSTRIAL: The flexibility of pre-engineered design is ideal for industrial facilities.
- WAREHOUSES: Beam and column type construction provides the most economical solution when large open areas of floor
space are required. This type of building is ideally suited for warehouses or other industrial applications.
- MANUFACTURING FACILITIES: Steel buildings can be custom engineered to utilize top-running cranes, underhung cranes,
monorails, jib cranes, gantry cranes, etc. These types of facilities must always be custom designed, so they can be created exactly to the
specifications of your industry.
Customize your steel building interior...
Clear span construction allows you to design any floor plan you want. The interior walls of a pre-engineered building are not load bearing-
you can even move these walls if you decide at some point to remodel or expand.
The inside framing of a steel home or commercial building can be covered with sheet rock and then painted. Steel framing is compatible
with all other building products. You can incorporate such features as wooden windows, doors and moldings and use any exterior finish.
Acoustic panel or dry-wall ceilings may be installed by simply wrapping the ceiling suspension wires around the secondary roof framing
members (purlins).
Steel homes are gaining in popularity all around the country, and they can look exactly like a wood framed home, both inside and out!
Your place of business can be designed to be no less comfortable, functional or attractive than your home. Entry-ways, lighting, location of
restrooms- all the details can be exactly as you need. These things are equally important whether in store, an office building or a home.
One of the main advantages of a pre-engineered steel building is the flexibility of design! From the simplest box building to an elaborate,
eye catching three story modern structure, steel can do it all, and at a cost which can be substantially less than traditional construction.
How is this possible? It’s in the nature of a pre-engineered building itself. Pre-engineered steel buildings have revolutionized the
construction industry.
What is a Pre-Engineered Metal Building?
The term, “pre-engineered or prefabricated metal buildings system” refers to the
current design, engineering and manufacturing process of today’s metal buildings. The process of designing
and engineering a metal building has been greatly improved over the years, due to the implementation of
sophisticated computer aided design and drafting (CADD) of the building. A pre-engineered building
purchased today is highly technologically advanced.
The use of the word “system” refers to the fact that all the differing components of the building are
engineered to the required specifications and load codes, and shipped together to the job site. Nothing needs
to be out sourced from other vendors. Windows, doors, roofing, trim- all are custom fit to each building.
This pre-designed system is therefore extremely efficient, and easy to assemble, as each part is a perfect fit
to each other part.
For all these reasons, metal building systems have significant cost advantages
over many other more traditional types of construction.
Commercial pre-engineered building systems are designed with flexibility in mind,
allowing your facility to easily expand. They are fully customizable to any and all of your specific building
requirements. Because of the strength of steel and the high tech engineering involved, any commercial
building can be designed to meet and exceed all local building code requirements for snow, wind and seismic
conditions. Steel buildings have a proven track record for surviving earthquakes and hurricanes with the
structure intact!
More interior options...
The addition of the proper accessories is one of the main ways to customize both interior and exterior of your building and get exactly the
features you need for convenient, versatile and energy efficient use of your investment.
Although the nature of steel buildings allows for plenty of flexibility if you need to make changes in the future, such as expanding
the building, it’s always easier and more cost effective to plan for what you need up front.
When ordered as part of the initial steel building purchase, accessories are guaranteed to fit the building exactly. This will save the
customer hours of time in trying to outsource accessories from other companies which might not be a perfect fit, leaving the building open
to leakage and other problems.
Don`t cheat yourself and purchase aftermarket lumber yard products that will cause time consuming headaches and unattractive
appearances because of struggles in retrofitting.
Each of the accessories below performs a specific function that will enhance and improve the capabilities and cost effectiveness of
your new steel building.
WINDOWS
can be insulated or un-insulated, double pane or single, in a range of sizes and styles. Make sure the windows are self “flashing” (they do
not require other components to make a watertight seal) and come with all necessary hardware such as screens and locks, as well as the
parts for the framed opening.
WALK DOORS
are regular sized doors for people to go in and out of the building. They are available insulated or not. They can be purchases “pre-hung”
with framed opening components and all necessary hardware, thresholds and weather stripping.
Make sure your doors are designed to “flash” with your sheeting, a good reason not to outsource them a different supplier after the building
has been purchased. Glass window insets are available options.
OVERHEAD DOORS
(roll-up) are for moving large equipment or vehicles in and out of a building. Commercial rollup doors designed specifically for your metal
building come in a variety of sizes and colors. Make sure they are engineered to “flash” with your sheeting. They are available with chain
hoists or electric operated motors for ease of opening. Sliding doors are another option for a large opening.
INSULATION
can be an important choice for a steel building, depending on its purpose. The proper insulation can create substantial savings on heating
and/or cooling costs, as well as help with any condensation problems. There are many types on the market; one of the most efficient is
Radiant Barrier Insulation.
Click here for more info about insulating a steel building.
 
ENERGY EFFICIENCY- IT`S ENGINEERED RIGHT IN…
Because steel buildings are designed and constructed to be energy efficient, the temperature stays more constant and the building actually
feels more comfortable. The savings in energy costs for heating and cooling a properly engineered and outfitted steel home are
considerable.
Both efficient and innovative, radiant barrier insulation installed to the roof and walls acts as a thermal break and stops 97% of radiant heat
penetration in the summer and radiant heat loss in the winter. Regular insulation doesn`t stop radiant heat. (the kind of heat which makes
car interiors so hot while sitting in the sun.)
click here for more info about radiant insulation
One distinct advantage of a pre-fabricated steel building is it can have a “cool roof” colored roof system. This is a heat reflective coating on
the steel for energy efficiency. These types of roof panels have reflective properties capable of lowering the temperature of the roof up to
100 degrees!
Your steel building can also be designed with a ventilated attic, (if there is an attic.) using vented soffit and ridge caps. This inexpensive
design feature provides continuous air flow through your attic. You can put as much conventional insulation in your attic as you like.
Another exciting difference in a steel framed structure is that the exterior wall studs can be as wide as 6”-8”, as opposed to wood framing
which is done with a 4” stud. Of course, modern 2 x 4’s are only 3-5/8 inches wide, which means your wall will not even hold enough
insulation for an R-13 (using fiberglass bat).
The wider steel stud allows you to use much more wall insulation, if you live in a climate where that is called for. You can fill the cavity with
enough insulation (fiberglass, cellulose, etc.) for an R-19. If you add foil insulation, your wall could have an effective R-value of 30 or
better. This results in tremendous energy savings as well as a much quieter building. These wider studs are particularly important in steel
homes.
These advantages can help reduce heating and cooling costs by 50% or more.
AN INNOVATIVE NEW PRODUCT - STEEL LINER PANELS...
Liner panels are interior walls of steel paneling. Similar to exterior walls, they consist of standard 3-foot wide panels that are screwed to the
framing.
Liner panels enhance appearance, giving the interior a more finished look. They also protect the insulation. A steel liner that has been
designed for your building will perform far better than plywood and usually cost much less than sheetrock walls, which will require their
own framing.
They are an extremely low maintenance product, and will keep your interior looking great for many years to come. They are a fantastic
product for any commercial, industrial or institutional project.
Ask your manufacturer for other ideas about interior finishing, as the steel building industry is highly competitive and most major
manufacturers are continually developing new products to make your steel building ever more cost efficient, attractive, and easier to erect!
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References
http://www.metalbuildingauthority.com/?p=16
http://www.steelbuildingadvice.com/colored-roofs-for-steel-buildings/
Rigid Building Systems, http://www.rigidbuilding.com/agricultural.htm
http://www.steelbuildingadviser.com/steel-roof-advantages/
http://www.enhancinginteriors.com/commercialofficepage.htm
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