Although all structures require adequate ventilation regardless of the type of building materials used, ideal ventilation of a steel building is imperative. Pre-engineered and pre-fabricated steel buildings may be particularly imperiled by significant condensation. Make sure that your chosen steel building manufacturer explains all of the options available to acceptably ventilate the structure. Some common ventilation choices include ridge vents, louvers, and circular vents.

The amount of ventilation required by an all-steel building is contingent upon the building dimensions, the location of the project site, and the purpose of the structure. A 10 foot ridge vent can service up to 2400 sq. ft. of inner space. All-steel structures that house human workers, farm animals or certain materials require calculations to determine the correct ventilation specifications. Crosswise ventilation is strongly recommended in all structures; louvers near the bottom of the steel building enable ridge vents installed in the steel roof to function more efficiently.

Ensure that the ridge vents that you select are sufficient for the building size and use. Ten foot vents should be installed with nine inch throats. The ridge vents should be fabricated with sturdy 26 gauge steel. Ridge vents are available in unpainted (mill finish) or white. Check to be sure that each ridge vent includes a bird screen, a rain cap, and adjustable adaptor. Use a connector bar in conjunction with gutter splices for installing several vents with a continuous run. The ridge vent must be suitable for the building’s roof pitch.

Circular vents are also available in mill or painted finish, and are typically 20″³ in diameter. A circular vent should also include a bird screen plus a butterfly damper that stays open until released. Frequently, flat-based vents are altered or field installed to adhere tightly to the specific incline of the roof. Louvers are utilized as the ventilation for smaller pre-engineered steel buildings, and also frequently enhance crosswise ventilation in larger buildings. Louvers are available in 3″²x3″², 3″²x4″², and 4″²x4″² dimensions, and come in mill or painted finishes with a bird screen and 6 gauge frames with 20 gauge fins.

Although a louver can be installed in any unobstructed area of a wall, the planning phase of the project is the optimal time to identify the locations that provide will be most efficient ventilation.

Choose a steel structure builder or supplier who, right from the start, is willing to provide expert recommendations for the suitable ventilation of your steel structure. It is crucial that you identify the proper ventilation specifications to help ensure the successful completion and long term operation of your steel building.

Some business owners consider renting office space in preference to purchasing a simple all-steel structure. But a valid question to ask is, why rent or lease when you can own? Normally, the long term rental or lease of an all-steel structure can cost more than ownership. The decision buy or rent your own home is a good analogy. A pre-fabricated all-steel building normally can be bought and assembled at a cost of one third to one half less than a comparable conventionally constructed building.

Consumers may be familiar with the basic quality and sturdiness of premium quality steel, but they may have no idea how to select a qualified building manufacturer. And especially for fledgling shoppers, selecting the appropriate pre-engineered steel structure design can be an arduous and perplexing step.

The prospective building shopper faces many choices of fabricators as well as contract manufacturers. Be sure to validate the experience level and the customer service offerings before selecting a company. Contact your local Metal Building Manufacturers’ Association (MBMA) to find qualified manufacturers by looking in your local yellow pages or visit www.mbma.com. The steel building company you select should utilize modern hi-tech methods, as well as include at no additional fee a premium service plan in the total building cost.

There are hundreds of styles of pre-engineered steel structures offered on the market, including bargain-basement metal structures. Advertised by brokers as “economy” structures, they are offered in a light 29 gauge metal. Don’t fall for the temptation to save a few bucks ““ you’ll get the best results by choosing a building system that uses heavier gauged 26 gauge commercial quality I-Beam steel construction. This ensures a wide assortment of dimension offerings and durability.

Pole barns and Quonset huts are a couple of conventional styles used for ranch and farm buildings. Both of these have drawbacks. Quonset steel structures are unsightly and can be expensive to insulate. The inner arches of a Quonset hut reduce useable area near the sidewalls and they are usually unpainted structures. Commonly, purchasing a basic pole barn often means the owner must purchase the lumber somewhere else. Pole barns have limited width options and can be costly to erect.

Consider only steel building companies that offer I-Beam construction. The technology is familiar to most contractors and builders. Steel I-Beam plans normally enable fast assembly, are available in a wide variety of paint colors, meet most local building codes and are offered with free-span width options that require no interior columns.

Beware of the firm that demands that you “get the ball rolling” with a building deposit before you know the total estimated costs for the pre-engineered steel building. The manufacturer you choose should provide a total cost estimate, but may ask that you guarantee the sale price for a small deposit in order to begin engineering the design. The cost of the building should include the services of a project manager to guide the entire process. A thorough knowledge of pre-fabricated and pre-engineered steel buildings is vital if you choose to buy, but the decision to purchase rather than lease can be well worth the investment in the long run.

Metal structure projects are detailed ventures that require not only engineering skill, but also an awareness of specific weather conditions. This is especially important in zones that receive lots of rain and snow. In general, a given roof snow load is less than the ground snow load amount as wind and evaporation reduce the amount of snow that collects on the roof. Additionally, you may need to account for the snow drift and snow sliding phenomena. Snow near walls and parapets could possibly develop into a loading problem, which means you must include wall and parapet heights in conjunction with the roof area in your snow load calculation.

Because lower structure roofs may collect a large portion of the snow that drifts down from a nearby higher roof, you must plan for potentially greater snow load. In fact, the snow load requirement for a lower roof may be as much as four times greater than normal if the roof is positioned under a higher roof from which snow slides are likely.

The largest possible snow weight anticipated atop a building roof is known as the “Design Snow Load.” Snow load pertains explicitly to a specific location on the pre-engineered steel building roof, as opposed to the definition of “live load,” which applies to a steel structure plus its inhabitancy. If the exact ground snow number for the locality is known, a definitive design snow load amount can be resolved. However the correct design snow load estimate must also be correlated to other factors, including the roof exposure along with thermal considerations, the ground snow load amount, and the flat roof snow load. Further computations are necessary to compensate for steeper inclines.

For engineering purposes, be aware of the potential consequences of uneven amounts of snow atop both gable and hip steel roofs. The best snow loading for any steel structure design can be attained by applying a specific calculation to the steel structure’s area, roof pitch, along with the flat sloped snow load figures, which should be considered as a group. One additional item to consider while examining snow load involves partial loading. Generally, the design of structural supports including frames and purlins used in multi-span construction (versus clear-span) includes the use of partial loading. Lower snow load amounts may be required in some areas of a particular steel building, while other areas may require maximum snow load applied. Meticulous planning is critical for these variances in snow load.

Rain and rain-on-snow loads must be included in any formulas to achieve the proper roof loading. The rain-on-snow load is especially important in certain regions of our country that often see a snow event quickly change to rainfall. A gentle roof pitch prevents water from draining easily away, and the water will instead be absorbed by the rooftop snow. The greater roof load from rain water and snow can be resolved by inclusion of extra reinforcement and/or a steeper pitch of the roof. Rain load is the burden the building roof must withstand when rainwater ponds as a byproduct of defective rainwater drainage configuration. Rapid water flow from a steel building is one indicator of sound roof design.

Careful planning and design can prevent potential collapse of the roof due to substantial rain or snow loads. Proper engineering of a pre-engineered steel building roof is a complex undertaking and requires an in-depth understanding of precipitation patterns in the region.

There are a lot of businesses that are growing now and with that growth comes expansion—building new locations to operate out of. Are you one of the successful?  Do you have all the information you need to build? Do you have all the plans in place for your new building? I’m sure that you want the best building the industry has to offer at the most affordable price. I’m also sure that you know that building your new building with steel will provide you the best building possible. And, you’re probably aware that not all buildings are created equal and that not every framing system will meet your needs. Therefore, before you decide to use premium grade steel for a particular building project, there are a number of questions to be answered.

How do steel building manufacturers differ from fabricators that use conventional materials? Many steel building firms provide more robust service than a typical brick, masonry or wood vendor; they can guide your building project from initial building design to project completion. A qualified steel company offers a comprehensive, custom building time line for their customers, and always keeps budgetary constraints in mind. Steel building consultants keep you apprised of every aspect of the engineering and production procedures. A competent steel building producer will also aid with the permit approval process and may even recommend a General Contractor or builder. These businesses manage precise pre-engineering products often at a lower cost than what can be locally produced by conventional means.

What style of all steel structure should I build? You might consider premium quality steel Rigid I-Beam engineering. Regardless of the size, these all-steel structures are long-lasting, sturdy, and offer virtually unlimited design options suitable for a variety of functions, ranging from fabrication plants and distribution centers to places of worship, retail centers and many other applications.

Why opt for high quality steel instead of traditional construction materials? The fact is that construction of a steel structure is more economical and durable than that of a conventionally built structure with similar features. Steel structures can weather strong forces of nature like rain, snow or wind, and are designed to withstand the specific conditions in your region. Premium quality steel virtually eliminates the risk of damage from fire, and termites are not a problem. Nonflammable commercial quality steel can significantly lower your property insurance premiums. Rock, stone or brick frontage can be installed to provide aesthetic appeal at a fraction of the cost of installation of the real materials.

But do steel buildings really cost less?For structures with comparable features, steel buildings almost always offer savings over the cost of typical stone, brick, masonry, or wood building materials and methods. Construction costs remain lower despite the fact that steel prices have risen the past couple of years. Pre-engineered steel structure assembly work can be at least one third less expensive than conventional assembly labor expenditures.

Ask your nearest steel building representative for more details, and then ask yourself whether a new pre-engineered steel structure might be the right answer for your next project.

When photos of hurricane and tornado damage are telecast, it is obvious that steel building systems must be as impervious to wind as fabrication will allow. The recent hurricane and tropical storm activity throughout the Gulf Coast states has demonstrated the devastating force that wind forces can have.

The right wind protection for any steel structure building plan calls for precise engineering of particular components. As new causations of the effects of high wind forces are discovered, building regulations are continually updated.

In the U.S. there is a “design wind speed” rating to which all pre-fabricated, pre-engineered buildings must adhere. Echoing weather service guidelines, this finding is computed by measuring a wind gust of three seconds at any given point. The pounds per square foot velocity pressure stipulated for the building is calculated using a formula that modifies the measured wind speed. The applicable design elements needed for a particular building to withstand wind pressure can then be determined by a calculation combining the exposure and elevation of any pre-engineered steel building with the local “ground surface readings.”

Research demonstrates that the destruction of roofs and walls from high wind in a steel building commonly occur at the rooftop overhanging edges and corners of the building. Further research is required to improve engineering and increase strength to enable greater wind tolerance for these specific locations. Investigation is also in progress to improve specific corner techniques for areas calling for severe wind loading.

A structure can be harmed by extreme wind in a variety of ways. One scenario involves sliding of the structure, which is when the steel building actually slides off of its foundation as an entire unit due to a wind event. Component impairment arises during a high wind event when only a segment of the steel structure system fails or gives way, such as in a roof collapse, building doors blown inward, or sectors of the wall shredded. The most catastrophic failure is total defeat of the structure, resulting in a collapsed house of cards effect. Extremely high winds cause the steel structure to totally collapse upon itself, completely ruining the building unit. A building can also capsize because of acute winds. The entire structure overturns as one element due to deficiencies in the foundation anchoring combined with insufficient weight density, making the building vulnerable to strong wind.

For a number of decades it was assumed that wind’s effect on a building was limited to lateral expression. However, all building tolerance calculations now consider non-horizontal wind quantification. Pre-fabricated, pre-engineered building wind protection technology continues to evolve. The use of steel construction can’t change Mother Nature, but it can help mitigate her sometimes devastating effects.

A truly noteworthy organization in promoting and consolidating the current pre-engineered, pre-fabricated metal structure arena is undeniably the MBMA, or Metal Building Manufacturer’s Association. The MBMA started in the United States in 1956 with 13 charter members and remains active today. The objectives of this organization are to ensure industry-wide conformity for protection and insurance regulations, building code applications, and design guidelines.

As of the year 2000, the MBMA had a core membership of almost 30 metal structure manufacturing companies that represent 10,000 builders nationwide. Industry suppliers have recently been granted membership, with the intent to broaden program and information offerings. Almost every pre-engineered metal building complex built in the United States has included some facet of group member work.

This alliance establishes design advancements and protocols for metal building fabricators. Prior to founding of the MBMA, manufacturers set their own design guidelines, which resulted in severe quality and reliability differences throughout the industry. MBMA planning guidelines encourage integrity in today’s metal building production processes.

MBMA initiated a wind tunnel study in the 1970s that instituted guidelines for proper wind load calculations for all-metal structures. Through labs and colleges the MBMA continues wind capacity research. The group’s projects have also promoted and encouraged thermal studies, snow loading, and fire rating assessment. These findings are now employed globally as standard building ordinances for all-metal structure erection.

There are many reports published by the MBMA that define the standards for proper commercial grade metal and steel roofing layout. The MBMA produces an annual industry market review, instructional videos, presentations, and promotional materials that publicize the features, benefits, and advantages of all-metal structures. For nearly 50 years the MBMA has also published a guidebook that is a helpful application for those involved in the field. This compendium is essential in spreading the awareness of proper design, proper structural loads, and other manufacturing methods and applications.

The MBMA has also encouraged licensing programs for metal building manufacturers. One recent program looked not only to effect a quality metal building fabrication process, but also to promote ongoing proper grade and engineering principles after the structure is done. Ratification by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) is a prerequisite for membership in the MBMA.

The Metal Building Manufacturer’s Association is headquartered in Ohio and continues to be the most influential and substantial metal structure organization to this day.

Vocal critics of the pre-engineered steel building industry certainly exist, and they speak from both the conventional building arena and the private sector. In this commentary we’ll discuss some of the negative publicity surrounding the industry, and hopefully dispel those misconceptions.

One common impression is that a non-local steel building manufacturer may not design or pre-fabricate a building to meet specific regional building codes. This demonstrates the lack of understanding of the professional awareness and skill of the majority of today’s quality metal structure manufacturers. As in any industry, incompetent steel building manufactures do exist, but only in isolated cases. Overwhelmingly, most established players in the steel building industry are well aware of national and local ordinances. Further, they employ staff and engineers who are well informed of the special challenges of certain locales. These particular locales may bear extraordinarily excessive snow, seismic, or wind loads or specific limitations dictated by local ordinances.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that it is not the building company’s responsibility to verify local building codes. That responsibility lies squarely with the person that wants to build the structure ““ in other words, it is up to you, the buyer, to research and inform the building fabricator of local ordinances. A qualified manufacturer can then ensure that the building is correctly calibrated.

Thanks to the latest steel building methodology, problems from substandard wind and snow loading are entirely preventable. Fierce weather conditions are a certainly a threat, yet present day metal structure manufacturers make strong buildings that can withstand almost anything. Ineffective and incomplete communications between the customer and the manufacturer can cause design mistakes because the manufacturer does not have all of the pertinent facts.

Another false criticism is that a steel structure system is not able to handle additional loading demands once it is finished. Additional building load can be added to a pre-engineered steel building any time during its serviceable life, although not surprisingly, it is much more expensive once the building is complete. There have been situations where the metal roof loading was incorrect for additional heating and cooling unit installation or a hoist needs to be installed in the ceiling after the building construction project has been finished. The solution to this concern is to ensure that all factors are taken into consideration when the original calibration for the steel building is designed. If at all possible, the original project plan should consider all immediate needs, plus any anticipated expansion planned for the near future. This means a steel structure should be designed to meet all of the foreseeable demands for the practical life of the steel building, not only the first couple of years of inhabitancy.

A final often heard critique questions the fluctuation in construction caliber from fabricator to fabricator. No two producers are identical, but verify with your prospective manufacturer what steps they take to adhere to high grade production standards and ask them which industry groups with which they are affiliated. Discerning steel building owners can easily distinguish high grade metal structure manufacturers from substandard “outlaw” firms ““ generally only in business for a very short time ““ by taking the time to compare and contrast the building methods of competing corporations.

As a prospective steel building customer, you can prevent any of these pitfalls by carefully choosing your building manufacturer and through careful planning. Research your local building codes, understand your short and mid-term building needs, and check resources such as the Better Business Bureau before you choose a manufacturer. The informed buyer that selects a qualified steel building manufacturer can help lower the volume of the critics’ choir.