Metal buildings boast of faster occupancy and low maintenance. More or less, they can be constructed two-thirds the time it takes to complete conventional structures. This is a result of using building components, especially the metal walls and roof, which have been pre-panted at the factory.

Pre-finished metal walls for metal buildings are long lasting and require minimum maintenance and repair.

To further prolong the life of metal panels and prevent damage, there are certain things you need to remember.

During construction of metal buildings, owners must ensure that the wall panels are NOT in contact with sources of moisture, which would accelerate corrosion. For example, ground level should be at least 150 mm below the panels. Vegetation is another source of moisture. You may want to have plants and shrubs to surround your metal building but never let them touch the metal panels to prevent scratches and corrosion.

For those who want to assemble their own metal buildings, never use lead pencils to make markings on metal panels. Lead pencils or those made with graphite help accelerate corrosion of the metal. Use masking tape instead. Besides, masking tape is easier to see than pencil markings.

Do not place any equipment or open water storage tanks near or adjacent to metal panels. They can cause moisture build-up on or near the panels. It is also wise to avoid the following conditions:

· Water run-off from air conditioning units
· Steam outlets
· Acid storage
· Copper pipes fastened to steel panels

Yesterday’s post talked about cleaning the outside walls of metal buildings. What should you do for minor damages?

Minor damage to metal sheets should be repaired immediately to prevent it from worsening. First, lightly abrade the affected area. If the base metal is already exposed, apply one coat of zinc chromate primer. Then touch up with one coat of matching paint.

Before proceeding with reading this post, it would be best if you have already read the previous one, where you will find some fundamental notes on snow removal.  Also, some issues and misconceptions are discussed in Part I, which will help you gain a better understanding of the steps and procedures that follow.

Metal buildings are designed and used for different purposes.  But in general, metal buildings are occupied, if not surrounded, by people regardless of number.  So in order to minimize the risks of injury or worse, the first and most basic step is to communicate what’s going on by posting warning signs to keep people away from the premises, while snow removal is on-going.  You might also want to set-up safety barricades where necessary.  Better yet, if possible, perform snow removal when the building is unoccupied – say, during a holiday or on a weekend.  This is why planning or scheduling this activity is important.

For workers, just like any building project, always comply with safety regulations.  Wearing proper safety equipment is a must.  Some metal buildings are designed to allow snow removal without needing to actually get on the roof.  Now this case is especially convenient.  Draglines are used to remove snow on the roof.  But even so, protective equipment is still necessary.  It is also of the essence that no person is standing on the landing path of the snow as it is dragged down the roof.  If not carefully done, even by experienced personnel, this procedure can actually be dangerous.  As a last note, make sure that ladders are strategically placed where the sliding snow will not knock them over.

Some metal buildings may be higher than your average two-floor building.  And for snow removal, height and risk are directly proportional, especially if draglines cannot be used.  Working along the edges of the roof is particularly hazardous.  This is why some companies provide safety nets for security or in other cases workers are hooked to a safety line.

Cleaning snow-covered metal buildings is not a one man job.  As a standard protocol, there should be at least two people performing snow removal.  While one man can remove the snow from the roof, there always has to be another person to observe the process and surroundings and provide quick assistance when necessary.  Observers actually play a crucial role.  Extreme deflections and unusual noises often indicate wavering structural integrity – these are things that observers have to watch out for.  In the even that either of these conditions are spotted, the procedure must be aborted and the area evacuated immediately.

If you make sure that you follow these fundamental steps before and during snow removal from metal buildings, you can rest assured that the process will be as smooth as ice.

Scheduling preventive maintenance is an integral part of any building administrator’s job, regardless of the structure type.  However, traditional buildings, usually made of concrete or timber, require relatively more maintenance activities than metal buildings.  Maintenance activities for metal buildings are typically done only twice a year.  And one of the most convenient times to schedule this activity is after the winter.

Actually, this first tip is useful not only after the winter, but also during the season.  Snow tends to concentrate on a basic and indispensable part of metal buildings, or any building for that matter – the roof.

Now, this is something that you should take seriously.  Snow and ice accumulation is actually a known hazard for most structures, even metal buildings.  When snow and ice deposits cause overloading, there is a strong tendency for the roof to collapse.  This of course entails not only damage to property but also injuries and worse, deaths.

Vigilance is key.  You have to be aware of your environment.  So before snow gets the better of your roof, you might as well call in experts to remove the excess load on your structure.  Now, you’d think you can do it all on your own.  But the thing is, it’s rather difficult to accurately assess or estimate the maximum amount of snow accumulation.  How would you know if a heap of snow on your roof is already going to cause you problems?  The only way to get around this problem is to know how much snow load was incorporated into the design.  Metal buildings have different values for this parameter, depending on how each was designed.  For this purpose you will need the erection drawings, sometimes also the Letter of Certification for the building, and the person to interpret it for you.

Most people think that this process of estimation can simply be done by determining a certain height and using this as somewhat a point of referrence – once the accumulation reaches this height, then that’s the time you remove the snow.  However, this is one huge and prominent misconception.  Studies have proven that there is no real correlation between depth and density of snow.  This is primarily because there is a big difference in the range of densities of fresh snow and frozen snow.  This is also another good reason why it is best to be in the company of professionals.

(to be continued)