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Archive for June, 2011

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Possibility of Robbery Lessened with Metal Buildings

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Even with the intense promotion and popularity of metal buildings as being able to withstand tumultuous rains and winds aside from being termite-free and fireproof, there are still many business owners who have not made use of these metal buildings for their establishments. It goes without saying that living in a city makes one prone to crimes, such as robbery. Hence, it is essential for various edifices to not only have burglar alarms and other similar devices but also for the structures themselves to be difficult to infiltrate. Metal buildings are the key.

With the latest news about the jewelry store theft in San Juan Capistrano in California wherein two of the suspects were killed by a store employee, a lot of construction companies are all the more advertising the upper hand of metal buildings in terms of strength and security. The steel used for most of these metal buildings is incomparable in durability, especially with the latest developments in the industry nowadays. Having metal panels for walls can certainly lessen the likeliness of burglars breaking in.

At present, one of the suspects is still at large. Business owners fear that such crimes can happen to their stores and establishments too. Those whose buildings are made of traditional materials are now thinking of replacing these with metal buildings. Those who are just about to put up their own structures are now more inclined towards metal buildings because these are the best option that can provide greater safety. With the mere installation of surveillance cameras, burglar alarms, and the like, they are all set to drive away those thieves!

Nevertheless, construction companies are continuing to explore what they can do in order for the metal buildings to be devised in such a way that it will be much more difficult for robbers to penetrate. The process involves a lot of research and experimentation before it can result to something tangible for the market.

With the incessant innovations in this field, many are expecting that these companies will be successful in coming up with groundbreaking contraptions and other discoveries that can truly shield building inhabitants from harm and safeguard them from crimes better. Then the marketability of metal buildings will go up several notches higher again. Business owners will be racing to utilize metal buildings for their stores and other structures.

At present, investigators are still studying what happened at Monaco Jewelers. They are toiling to discover the identities of the two men who died in the encounter. They are also working hard to trace the whereabouts of the other man who was able to flee.

In the first place, if the jewelry store was made of a metal building installed with “theft-proofing”, perhaps this incident could have been prevented. Or even if it was just a metal building of the present times, the strength and robustness of the structure will have surely delayed any progress of the robbers and the police could have caught them even before they had a chance to steal anything.

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Acoustical Performance of Pre-engineered Metal Buildings’ Insulation: One Reason for their Popularity

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

It is common knowledge that most pre-engineered metal building uses insulation for temperature control. Basically, insulation works to keep the temperature within your pre-engineered metal building at comfortable levels for occupants. A prominent advantage of this thermal efficiency is significant cost savings for energy.

However, one other benefit that is unknown to most is that insulation also influences the acoustics of your pre-engineered metal building. Insulation actually controls the transmission of noise that come in and out of your pre-engineered metal building. It also inhibits sound from from bouncing off walls – that is, echoing – within the structure. This is basically because insulation, specifically designed for pre-engineered metal buildings, is made of porous materials which are excellent sound absorbers within a range of 5 to 6 dB.

Now, regulating the sound that come in and out of your pre-engineered metal building’s walls is important. If the structure serves as an office, for example, then you would want to keep the noise out of your building to keep the environment conducive to working. On the other hand, if your pre-engineered metal building is used as a factory or a plant, then you would want to ensure that the noise is kept within your walls so you won’t have trouble with the neighboring establishments, especially thoroughfares and residential areas.

For better understanding, there are some terms you need to be familiar with, all of which are related to acoustical performance. One is sound absorption coefficient. As the name implies, this coefficient indicates how effectively a material absorbs sound. The standard range of this measurement is from 0.05 to 1.20 – the higher, the better. For example, a 0.75 rating means that 75% of sound is absorbed by the insulation system of your pre-engineered metal building. A sound absorption coefficient within the range of 0.20 to 1.20 is common for pre-engineered metal buildlings.

Another measurement, noise reducation coefficient, rates the ability of the material to absorb sound at multiple frequencies. Similarly, a high rating is desired. For pre-engineered metal buildings, a rating of 0.75 to 0.90 is acceptable.

It has been mentioned that insulation regulates the transmission of sound that pass through your pre-engineered metal building’s walls and roof. Nowadays, there is popularly used measurment for this purpose – the outdoor-indoor transmission class (OITC). The OITC considers the noise from the external environment such as vehicular traffic, trains, factories, aircrafts, among other things and measures how well the walls and the roof can reduce the amount of sound transmitted in and out of the pre-engineered metal building.

Now with all these knowledge, it is no wonder that pre-engineered metal buildings are cornering much of the construction projects in the country today.

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Steel Framed Buildings As Recreational Facilities

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Recreational facilities are designed to have special features, depending on what type of activities are accommodated within the building. This is why recreational facilities are expensive investments and consequently, only a few of these structures are built.

When steel framed buildings were first introduced in this industry, these structures became almost instantly popular because of the many benefits in tow – primarily affordability. Steel framed buildings cost about 50% less than those built with other materials. Plus, these structures can practically serve any purpose. In fact, nowadays, there are steel framed buildings used as school gymnasiums, basketball courts, skating rinks, even horse arenas, just to name a few. Simply said, choosing steel framed buildings means you get the exact specifications you need and stay within your budget at the same time.

Most recreational facilities require wide, open spaces to accommodate different events or activities. Steel framed buildings are popular for being spacious but strong at the same time. They can offer virtually column-free interiors because of the innate strength of the metal frame. This means you get to maximize the available horizontal and vertical space and, at the same time, make the most of the obstruction-free floor space – great for changing layouts as you switch from one event to another.

Steel framed buildings help cut building costs in two more ways. One, apart from being economical in itself, ever steel member – which primarilys make up the building – is prefabricated and comes ready for assembly upon delivery. This causes construction time of steel framed buildings to be 50% faster relative to traditional construction time. Two, steel framed buildings require little maintenance because steel does not deteriorate even when exposed to constant changes in weather conditions. Moreover, recreational facilities are commonly open to the public, making the structures vurnerable to constant wear and tear. Logically, the strength of the material makes steel framed buildings perfect for recreational facilities Also note that recreational facilities are, more often than not, community or government funded – this is precisely why steel framed buildings, being both functional and affordable, are ideal for this application.

Steel framed buildings are fully-customizable in terms of design, from inside and out. Today’s manufacturers actually provide a lot of options that allow you to freely design the building’s exteriors. Nowadays, the finishes are so novel that steel framed buildings can be made to look like brick, timber, or stone – there is virtually no limit to how much aesthetic value your building can acquire.

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Value Benefits of Choosing Steel Framed Buildings

Monday, June 27th, 2011

Steel framed buildings are popular for their strength, durability, flexibility, and sustainability, among other things. For one, steel – the main ingredient – is an alloy of iron and carbon and is considered one of the hardest wearing metals. This is why steel framed buildings have found several applications in different commercial, industrial, and even residential zones.

Most steel framed buildings are actually delivered in kits, with prefabricated steel members ordered and manufactured off site. The speed and ease of constructing these structures is unmatched. Imagine this. Upon receipt, steel framed buildings are just labelled pieces of steel until they are assembled on location. The major benefit of this technology is of course, speedy and efficient construction. From the design and manufacturing phase alone, it actually takes 2 to 3% less time to establish specifications of steel framed buildings compared to that made of reinforced concrete. Besides, since the steel members are pre-engineered, it takes half the time to complete steel framed buildings, compared to those made of other materials. And what that this mean? For the customer, it means that lower capital and less overhead costs are incurred for the construction of steel framed buildings.

Furthermore, since steel framed buildings are made of light but heavy-duty steel, these structures are very flexible and adaptable in terms of space and layout. Most owners find that modifying their building’s layout can be quite a task, when the need arises. But steel framed buildings require only a small number of support columns and hence, facilitate layout adjustments for unforeseen circumstances. Plus, these structures have high strength-to-weight ratio, meaning owners won’t have to worry about structural integrity being compromised even with a minimal number of columns.

And there’s good news for those who care for the environment. Steel framed buildings are 100% recyclable structures. The steel members used for construction can be disassembled and reprocessed without significant losses both in quantity and quality of the material. This means that steel framed buildings contribute to preserving the earth’s resources and do not aggravate the problem on waste management in any way.

In fact, since steel framed buildings do not decay or deteriorate, these structures can be easily recycled, thereby resetting the useful life of the building. Actually, 99% of the steel from demolition of steel framed buildings are collected and used again for other purposes without affecting the integral properties of the material.

All these value benefits make steel framed buildings the economical, time-efficient, safe, and flexible building solutions for every need.

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Own A Simple Storage Building With A Steel Storage Building Kit

Friday, June 24th, 2011

Steel storage buildings are so in style these days. Modern steel buildings are being used as garage, workplace space, commercial space, storage space or even as abode. It is evident that the steel building industry is doing well and that the demand for steel buildings is growing.

steel storage buildings are commonly used in many communities across the country. These structures are not only used to store cars but also recreational vehicles, garden tools, farm commodities and other equipment. Whatever the reason may be, the popularity of steel storage buildings is mainly due to their affordability and durability among other benefits.

Contrary to popular belief, steel buildings are affordable due to a lof of reasons. One, they are built almost a third of the time it takes to build structures made of conventional materials. Two, they are energy efficient. Three, steel storage buildings require minimal maintenance. Steel buildings are prefabricated and delivered to the site on flabed trucks, ready for assembly. Assembly of simple steel storage buildings do not require specialists and heavy equipment. In fact, there are steel building kits available that can be erected even by inexperienced homeowners.

If you are contemplating on building a simple storage building, browse the Internet and you will find many suppliers that offer steel building kits. These companies guarantee that the steel storage buildings are durable, providing you with worry-free performance for several decades. Aside from being easy to assemble, steel storage buildings are made of premium-grade steel.

If no particular kit matches your specifications, do not worry. Steel storage buildings can be customized to meet local and national building codes as well as local ordinances. They can even be designed to match the architecture of existing buildings.

Even if it is your first time to assemble your own garage kit, you need not worry about having to do the job because each kit come with an erection manual that contains simple and easy to follow instructions. Also, all the building components are numbered for easy identification. There’s no need for you to worry because the manufactureres ensure that even novices could easily comprehend the instructions in assembling the structures. And if ever you have any concerns, your supplier is just a phone call away.

Steel storage buildings come in different designs and colors. You will certainly find a design and color combination that you will match your needs. The design will depend on how much space is needed and on all other considerations including building code specifications.

Once your steel storage building kit is delivered, check all components based on the bill of materials. On rare instances that a customer finds a missing or damaged piece with the delivered kit, just notify the manufacturing company right away. Suppliers of steel storage buildings have a certain policy to be followed whenever cases such as these happen.

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Why There Should be More American Steel Buildings (Part 2)

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

In choosing American steel buildings, investors are actually buying twice the strength and durability for half the price. What’s more, since you get the materials from only one supplier, you won’t have to worry about who you should come after in case there are problems during and after the construction. Investors no longer have to make a dozen phone calls to get a problem fixed – it just takes one and you are sure to get an answer.

But even with that said, suppliers often offer a 20-year, some even 30-year, warranties for American steel buildings. Most people would think that this is a ridiculously long time to offer a guarantee. However, suppliers and manufacturers can freely offer as much because of steel’s tested durability. American steel buildings virtually require no maintenance for decades on end and they are guaranteed to have no fluctuations in structural integrity.

Now, if you’re one to think ahead, American steel buildings are actually ideal for owners who plan to expand their businesses in the future. American steel buildings are easily expandable because of the innate strength of the steel building frame. Expanding a steel building does not involve a demolition, as it would if your building was concrete or made of other materials. A steel building expansion project would only involve removing the end walls of the concerned area and adding the desired panels. It actually just involves disassembling some parts and assembling new ones. And again, this only costs a minimal amount of time, money and disruption to your business operations.

Speaking of money, again, this is a fact that you must be aware of. The President of the United States, Barrack Obama, actually signed a stimulus bill on February 17, 2009, that changed the energy efficiency tax credits. This means that choosing a steel building will earn you tax breaks of up to 30%, now, and that maximum credit has been raised up to $1 500, as well.

And while a tax break can really get investors going, some people have other concerns like the effects of American steel buildings on the environment. The good news is, American steel buildings are actually considered as green buildings; primarily because steel buildings are thermally and, therefore, energy efficient. Moreover, steel buildings are 100% recyclable – the basic material can be reprocessed after disassembling the steel frame to fabricate fresh members for new structures. This contribution to the growing movement to save the planet is probably the biggest reason why more American steel buildings should be constructed.

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Why There Should be More American Steel Buildings (Part 1)

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

American steel buildings started to become the structure of choice in the construction industry over the past century. Many have recognized the edge of American steel buildings over alternative construction materials since these structures were first popularized during World War II.

Nowadays, since American steel buildings are no longer a rare sight, people have only become more and more amazed with the features of these formerly unknown structures. However, most of the people who are “in the know” belong to the construction or the engineering industry. The investors, who actually have the power to make or break American steel buildings, hardly ever really know what they are going to get. Most of the time, owners or investors only know a few advantages and rely mostly on the suggestions of experts in the field. But this should no longer be the case because it’s fairly easy to understand what American steel buildings are all about.

This post enumerates some interesting facts about American steel buildings that you might want to know about whether you’re currently venturing into the construction industry or you’re planning to take on the business in the future, or maybe even if you’re just plain curious.

As stated earlier, American steel buildings have actually been around as early as the 1700s but started to really pick up popularity during the World War II when the Quonset hut design was introduced. This style was widely used during the war. At that time, American steel buildings typically served as aircraft hangars, barracks, infirmaries and storage sheds.

As the years passed, improved manufacturing and construction technology ushered in new and improved designs, as well. Over the recent decades, a wider range of applications have sprouted since technology has allowed for more diverse designs and building types. In fact, safe to say, gone are the days when American steel buildings all looked the same. Today, there are steel barns, steel garages, steel offices, even steel houses – just to name a few innovations.

American steel buildings are popular for being speedy space solutions for whatever need, be it commercial, industrial, or nowadays, even residential. The pre-fabrication of the building’s members allows for fast construction, taking up almost 50% less than the traditional building time. This leads to cost savings, not only with respect to the initial purchase but also on financing the construction and managing the overhead. Suppliers of American steel buildings have actually maintained their prices on a lower margin relative to other construction materials, especially timber.

(to be continued)

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Solar Laminate Panels for Metal Buildings

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Construction of metal buildings is known to promote the “green” movement that is now spreading like wildfire across the globe – even the popemobile has rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Metal buildings are popular solutions to almost any imaginable construction need, be it commercial, industrial, agricultural or even residential. Their popularity is not only because they are durable, flexible and long lasting. Metal buildings are also epitomes of sustainable construction. These structures also boast of recyclable components and energy efficiency.

To make metal buildings more environmentally friendly, solar panels and wind turbines can be installed. Let’s focus on solar panels. Solar panels make use of the sun’s energy to produce electricity and thereby provide substantial savings for the building owner. Nowadays, the cost of solar panels or photovoltaic cells, are still beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. What’s more, the aesthetic impact of solar panels makes them unappealing to most people.

Well, guess what? There is another product in the market today that would make you tap into solar power on rooftops of your metal buildings but costs less, looks easier on the eyes and much more more efficient. The product is called solar laminate panel or photovoltaic laminate.

Solar laminate panels are perfect for metal buildings especially for those whose owners want to take advantage of solar power but hate the thought of having big black panels installed on their rooftops. The panels are thinner, flexible and more versatile when compared to the big, heavy and rigid solar panels. Since they are smaller and take up less space on the roofs of metal buildings, they tend not to clash with the appearance of your roofs.

Solar laminate panels for metal buildings do not only have aesthetic appeal, they are also very affordable than traditional solar panels. Besides, since they are made of thin material, less material is needed to produce the same amount of energy. More importantly, solar laminate panels for metal buildings can tolerate higher temperatures without being damaged. On the contrary, the higher the temperature, the greater the output of the panels.

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Vinyl Siding for Pre-engineered Metal Buildings

Monday, June 20th, 2011

Nowadays, there are innumerable kinds of exterior finishes for pre-engineered metal buildings. Vinyl siding is one of the most popular choices, especially for owners who want to achieve a classy look for their pre-engineered metal buidlings. What’s more, vinyl siding offers the same hardwearing quality similar to other exterior finishes in addition to impressive aesthetic value.

Most owners think twice about going for vinyl siding for their pre-engineered metal buildings because of the common notion that this type of finish costs more, relative to others. However, the truth of the matter is, vinyl siding is as economical as synthetic wood, stucco, or other exterior types. Vinyl siding is affordable and needs little maintenance. In fact, vinyl siding lasts longer than an ordinary paint job by decade – it does not chip nor does the color fade. Like pre-engineered metal buidlings, vynil siding is virutally maintenance free.

One of the advantages of vinyl siding over other types is that it offers an insulation layer for pre-engineered metal buidlings. Insulation means that the building’s temperature is regulated, providing maximum comfort for occupants come sunshine or snow. This is a property unique to vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding is also ideal for pre-engineered metal buildings because of its innate flexibility. This exterior type is durable and elastic at the same time – it does not dent from impact, but retains its original form. Pre-engineered metal buildings with this exterior type are intact – completely safe from unwanted moisture, allergens, dust, and others more. Vinyl siding is also relatively less combustible. This is why more owners are choosing vinyl siding for their pre-engineered metal buildings.

There are several types of vinyl siding available in the market. Basically they differ only in style and color. The most common types are Victorian styles, however the contemporary designs easily attract more attention. Texture, added as a final step, usually resembles wood lap siding. But no matter what type, pre-engineered metal buildings with vinyl siding never fail to be pleasing to the eyes.

It is fairly easy to install vinyl siding, or any exterior type for that matter, for pre-engineered metal buildings. First, you must check your windows and doors for flashing, cracks, or any other holes or areas where air or water may enter as these are known to cause costly damages to pre-engineered metal buildings.You must also consider light boxes or other exterior lighting effects; electric outlets; water faucets; or other fixtures for which you might need adjustments during installation.

Generally, installation is quick and hassle-free. But while there is an additional cost for putting exterior finish to pre-engineered metal buildings, this cost is fairly cheap compared to the high aesthetic value – not to mention functionality – that vinyl siding brings. Just be sure to have experts do the job for you.

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STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS OF A PRE-ENGINEERED METAL BUILDING

Friday, June 17th, 2011

Before the construction of your pre-engineered metal building goes on the way, there are a few things you must accomplish beforehand. These steps are crucial in ensuring that you get the best pre engineered metal building for your needs.

First on this list is finding the right pre-engineered metal building supplier – one you can easily work with. Find a metal building supplier who will assign a representative for you. This representative will walk you through the process of designing you pre-engineered metal building specifically for your needs. Now, you must take time to discuss the details of your pre-engineered metal building with your representative as these specifications will practically make or break the success of the project.

The results of your talks with the supplier’s representative will be forwarded to the technical people who will execute the actual design and engineering of your metal building. When these details are settled, your pre-engineered metal building’s members are ready for the next phase – manufacturing.

Note that the first step is the single most important task of the owner, more than the supplier. This is because the preliminary discussion with the supplier will define the outcome of your pre engineered metal building project. It is the responsibility, therefore, of every owner to know the following information in order to outline your pre-engineered metal building project:

First, you must define your building dimensions. Pre-engineered metal buildings are popularly known to be storage solutions. This means that size matters because it defines the space at your disposal. Hence, it is important to note what your pre-engineered metal building is for – is it a warehouse or a workshop? You must define three dimensions – length, width, and height. Now, length and width are familiar concepts. However, height in this case is actually the eave height. Usually the building’s height is the floor-ceiling clearance plus 2 feet.
Second, you must know the roof’s pitch – this determines the steepness of the roof slope. Since it is defined as a slope, it is simply “the rise over the run” – commonly a ratio. For example, a 1:10 roof pitch would mean a rise of 1” for every 10” of horizontal run. Your pre-engineered metal building’s roof pitch depends on the initially defined building dimensions.

Lastly, define the location of your framed openings which are required for doors larger than standard walk doors. Such doors are commonly found in warehouses used to accommodate vehicles and other machinery. Also, it is important to know the dimensions of these framed openings. If you do not define location and measurement in the preliminary discussion with your supplier, you might end up spending more for changes after the design has already been processed. And that defeats the entire purpose of planning and designing before the pre-engineered metal building is fabricated.

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