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Posts Tagged ‘Prefabricated Steel Buildings’

A Steel Home: What a Steal!

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

So you’ve been living in your house since you got married. One look around inside and each nook and cranny of the house brings back a lot of memories from the first days as a newlywed couple and your children’s growing-up years. However, the family is getting bigger and nowadays, space seems to be the perennial problem of your family. Obviously, you need a bigger house.

A lot of people draw inspiration from magazines and trade fairs when envisioning their dream homes. Today, there is another medium to do this – by visiting websites. However, you should consider your financial capacity as well as your priorities when embarking in any construction project.

But why rent or buy a finished one or a house previously used by another family when you can build your dream home at a reasonable price? This is where prefabricated steel buildings come into the picture. Among many other benefits, steel buildings offer durability, flexibility, long lifecycle, and affordability.

Prefabricated steel buildings are structures, which are built “on-site” – meaning, the components are manufactured at the factories and pieced together at the construction site. They can be designed as per your exact specifications and all other factors considered including conditions of the site, existing structures, purpose and most important of all, loadings.

And since steel buildings are prefabricated, construction is much quicker, easier and almost 50% less expensive than traditional buildings. Shorter construction time means less labor costs and early occupancy. In the first place, you save a lot in material costs, because you only pay for what you really need, nothing more nothing less.

Other savings come in the form of reduced insurance premiums because prefabricated steel buildings are more enduring and fire-resistant than their counterparts. Besides, other forms of savings realized in the course of your steel home’s lifespan include minimal upkeep and reduced energy consumption. Steel is easy to clean, does not warp, break or crack. It is resistant to pests and contrary to popular belief, today’s steel is rust-proof. Insulation keeps interior temperatures of steel buildings comfortable in any kind of weather, reducing the need for heating and cooling equipments.

There are still a number of people who have a wrong impression about prefabricated steel buildings. They still have this notion of steel buildings as unsightly and gray square boxes that stick out like a sore thumb. Thanks to numerous advancements and improvements in engineering and design technology, modern prefabricated steel buildings have become a viable option in most building applications.

Besides, your steel home can have whatever look you want it to. Modern prefabricated steel buildings are compatible with popular architectural finishes such as bricks, masonry, stone, stucco and a lot more.

So why settle for traditional construction when you can reap the benefits and savings that prefabricated steel buildings offer.

Silencing the Critics of Prefabricated Steel Buildings

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

With the enormous popularity and pervasiveness of prefab steel buildings in the construction arena today, it cannot be avoided that plenty of critics are trying their best to find fault in these structures and start discouraging people to put their trust into these modernized buildings.

Prefabricated steel buildings are not perfect. It is but natural that some may not have lived up to people’s expectations. It is but likely that there have been manufacturers and suppliers who have not provided the best of materials and therefore caused problems in the long run. However, many would still agree that these steel buildings are wonderful inventions that we should continue to utilize for our different building needs.

There are critics all over the place, but the supporters of prefabricated steel buildings have come up with answers to these faultfinders.

Critique 1: Structures that are pre-fabricated cannot cope well with additional building requirements once the building is already up.

Answer to Critique 1: The matter of increasing the loading of prefabricated steel buildings should pose no problem for these pre-engineered structures because these are actually without doubt expandable. It is, however, advisable for building owners to anticipate beforehand if they are planning to have extensions in the future. They must assess not only their present usage necessities, but should also try to inform their suppliers and builders of possible future expansion projects. Such advanced visions can save them a lot of money.

Critique 2: There are substantial inconsistencies among companies of prefabricated steel buildings when it comes to the quality of the materials.

Answer to Critique 2: In any industry, it cannot be eluded that there are existing manufacturers, suppliers, and brokers that would give clients substandard grade materials and trick them into believing that they are getting their money’s worth. Naturally, the responsibility of a potential customer is to research about the companies that he is considering. Well-respected and esteemed ones are certain to provide high grade steel and other materials, and can also be trusted to continue keeping up-to-date with the latest technology.

These two negative appraisals are just examples of what critics are saying about prefabricated steel buildings. Before you become too affected or discouraged, find out the facts first. Consult specialists and voice out your concerns. If ever there are actually problems that may arise with the construction of prefabricated steel buildings, there are also several solutions for them. You will not run out of options. The best gauge is to simply weigh the pros and cons, then decide from there.

Just remember the fact that critics of prefabricated steel buildings exist because they feel threatened by the unmatched benefits provided by such structures.

Designing Your Steel Building Online (continuation)

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

The online design and pricing facility found in most websites of prefabricated steel buildings, can give any consumer the opportunity to design the steel building of his dreams – based on his own specifications and preferences.

To be able to function, this user-friendly feature requires some information like the zip code where the steel building is to be located, your choice of suggested building code and design loads to be applied (based on the zip code entered), and some engineering requirements.

As a reminder for consumers who are seriously considering prefabricated steel buildings for their construction needs, you need to have a picture of how your steel building looks like, down to its dimensions, before using this design and pricing facility. This way, the resulting price would be more or less equal to the amount of investment you need to prepare.

Once you have entered the zip code, choice of building code and design loads, and engineering requirements, you will be asked to select the following: building type, frame type, building profile, building width, building length, building height, roof pitch and base condition.

The building type could be either fully sheeted or roof only. Structural frame is a choice between clear span and modular. The high strength-to-weight ratio of steel allows prefabricated steel buildings to have clear span construction with column-free interiors of up to 300 feet.

By now, your building is taking shape. With the information you have entered, the system creates a building based on your specifications. It will tell you now the amount of bay spacing for the structure.

Next you need to select the type of endwall which is a choice among standard, inset, or open endwall. Then select the framed opening option and choose their location where you want it/they to be placed. Just about any prefabricated steel building has at least one framed opening.

Now, you have the option to add some accessories for your steel building. With prefabricated steel buildings, you will have a wide range of options for accessories to enhance their appearance and increase their functionality.

The last option is for the building colors and you are done. The resulting quote will be provided. However, you will still have the chance to change any of the previously selected options to match your budget.

Designing Your Steel Buildings Online

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Most reputable suppliers of prefabricated steel building have their own websites where they showcase their capabilities and past projects. These websites also include a utility where you can design and price your own steel building for free, at no obligation on your part. This is very attractive especially for first-time buyers. On real-time, they get to see how the structure is built exactly how they want it and how much it is going to cost.

Prefabricated steel buildings are highly customizable. They can be designed for just about any purpose. Designing your steel building online allows you to enter your desired the dimensions, the loadings, the type of framing, the accessories, etc. until you come up with the building that fits your exact specifications. Of course, you have the chance to change your selections along the way.

The first important step in the online design and pricing of prefabricated steel buildings is the zip code entry. This will give the supplier the location of the jobsite where the steel building will be built. This knowledge will give them an idea of the freight cost.

After entering the zip code, suggested building codes and design loads will appear on the screen. For those who want a stronger steel building, they may opt to adjust the loads accordingly. Prefabricated steel buildings are engineered to meet or even exceed applicable design loads. For additional knowledge on building codes and design loads in your area, get in touch with your local building department.

Next, you get to choose engineering requirements for your steel building. Depending on the future location of the structure, you may need to acquire permits or specific engineering requirements. Your local building department may require stamped drawings with design calculations before they issue a building permit. Stamped drawings and calculations require an additional charge which will be a part of the total package price.

(to be continued)

Standing Seam Metal Roof for Prefabricated Steel Buildings

Friday, March 18th, 2011

There are many options with regards to roofing systems for prefabricated steel buildings. So far, standing seam metal roofing systems may be the best choice because they have demonstrated their toughness and durability during unfavorable weather conditions such as high winds, torrential rains, hail fire, and even hurricanes.

Although the initial investment during installation may be high for some people, a standing seam roof for prefabricated steel buildings is the least costly in the long run since they are virtually maintenance free and can last up to 50 years or more.

A standing seam roof can be an excellent choice not only for prefabricated steel buildings located in hurricane-prone areas, but also for those in places where there are occasional drastic changes in weather and temperatures.

Some roofing systems for prefabricated steel buildings may be damaged by the scorching heat of the sun or the extreme cold brought by snow during their lifetime, but not a standing seam roof. This is made possible by unique sliding clips that support the overall roof structure, allowing the roof to expand and contract according to ambient temperatures without damaging it.

Aside from attributes such as durability, toughness, long life, and maintenance free, one important characteristic of standing seam roofing systems is fire resistance. Compared to asphalt roofs, they can be easily formed to fit the roof of prefabricated steel buildings. In addition, installation of standing seam roofing systems have become much easier over the years.

For the “green-minded” owners of prefabricated steel buildings who are looking for roofing materials that are environment-friendly, a standing seam roof is the ultimate choice. First, as mentioned earlier, a standing seam roof has a life expectancy of at least 50 years. Second, it is made up of approximately 50 percent recycled material.

(to be continued)

American Steel Buildings Offer More Benefits Than Other Construction Methods

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

Compared with traditional construction methods, prefabricated steel buildings are more attractive to American consumers because they are affordable, aside from their many other benefits. American steel buildings are strong, durable, and are resistant to fire, rust, termites, vermin, rot, mold, and mildew. In fact, they are virtually maintenance free.

All these benefits are mainly due to the main material used in American steel buildings, high-grade steel. Building with steel is environment-friendly because this material is highly recyclable. The following list enumerates the many other benefits of steel construction provided by American steel buildings.

· Steel is resistant to corrosion and decay more than any other construction material.
· American steel buildings are resistant to fires, floods, hurricanes, high winds, and heavy snow.
· The structural framing of American steel buildings will not warp or settle like its wooden counterpart. Steel framed American steel buildings are structurally sound, remain stay straight and true throughout their entire lifetime.
· American steel buildings are more economical in the long run, when compared with other conventional construction methods.
· Though steel framing is lightweight, it is extremely strong. In fact, the strength-to-weight ratio of steel is the highest among all construction materials.
· American steel buildings are designed to meet customers’ specifications and applicable building codes.
· Another highly desirable physical property of steel is its elasticity. Steel comes back to its original shape when the deforming forces are removed, making them resistant to seismic events.
· Steel fabrication strictly follows national standards, so wherever it is produced, it has the same quality.
· Construction of American steel buildings provides no surprises. Since they are prefabricated, assembly is fast, efficient, with firm timetables. In fact, compared to any other construction method, it takes 1/3 less time to erect a steel framed building.

Understanding Earthquake Loads of Prefabricated Metal Buildings

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Earthquakes are natural phenomena that cause the ground to shake violently, triggering landslides, tsunamis, floods and widespread destruction to lives and properties. Geology is the science which deals with the study of why, how, and where earthquakes occur. On the other hand, earthquake engineering is the filed of study dealing with the characteristics of the earthquake ground motion and its effects on engineered structures.

Aside from rain, snow, wind, and gravity loads, the design of prefabricated metal buildings are also affected by seismic or earthquake loads. Earthquakes can cause serious damage if not total collapse of man-made structures. Applicable building codes are constantly updated as more knowledge is gained about seismic action and its effect on the structural integrity of prefabricated metal buildings.

There are specific areas that are highly seismic or earthquake prone. Prefabricated metal structures located in these regions must be designed to deflect and resist the effects of earthquakes.

From the designer’s point of view, earthquake load differs from other loads in many respects since there are many uncertainties involved with its amplitude, duration, and frequency content. Earthquake ground motion can be vertical, horizontal or a combination of both. Since all prefabricated metal buildings are designed to withstand gravity loads, the lateral loads arising from a horizontal ground motion should be considered to prevent severe damage to the structures.

Sometimes, earthquake ground motions are cyclic and induces the reversal of stresses. Because of this, the axially load members of prefabricated metal buildings will have to be designed to resist both tension and compression while beam cross-sections will have to resist not only positive but also negative bending moments.

One important factor that affects the intensity of the seismic action on prefabricated metal buildings is the type of soil where the structure is located. Some particular ground characteristics magnify seismic shock effects.

Source: http://www.steel-insdag.org/new/pdfs/chapter45.pdf

The Marriage of Steel and Prefabricated Construction (continuation)

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Contemporary prefabricated steel buildings with structural steel frame systems can be designed with longer spans. This is one of the reasons why they are popularly used in agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Column-free interiors means greater flexibility and freedom to design floor layouts.

Using a steel frame constructing prefabricated steel buildings allows for quick, easy, and efficient construction. Hiring of specialists needed in traditional construction is eliminated. In fact, some consumers even opt to build the structures themselves. But for medium to large prefabricated steel buildings, there is an abundance of contractors familiar with this type of construction that can be hired to do the job.

Another sustainable aspect to prefabricated steel buildings is the fact that material waste is kept to a minimum since the building components are pre-engineered at the factory to exact measurements. Besides, these metal building structures are also very easy to diassemble and the steel recycled or reassembled elsewhere, leaving minimal impact on the environment.

Steel is not only used in the structural components of prefabricated steel buildings. Durable roof and exterior wall panels are also manufactured with steel. Problems associated with wood based products such as mold, mildew, and termites are elimited with steel based materials. Other steel based products include insulated steel panels that can be used on walls and roof to achieve energy efficiency and fire resistance and light gauge steel floor systems.

Through the years, proven design techniques combined with new technologies that have been developed and adopted by engineers and architects, have produced prefabricated steel buildings that are cost-effective, versatile, durable and easy to construct. This could not have been possible, were it not for steel.

The Marriage of Steel and the Prefabrication Industry

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

The sustainable benefits of steel have made it the construction material of choice for those who are concerned in preserving earth’s remaining natural resources. This is one of the reasons why manufacturers of prefabricated steel buildings are enjoying good business, nowadays. By combining the benefits of steel and prefabricated construction, architects and engineers have transformed prefabricated steel buildings into viable and attractive soutions for a wide variety of construction needs.

When steel prefabrication was still not around, on-site construction of steel buildings took a long time and workers had to travel to the site on a daily basis. On-site construction work included cutting and welding to meet the structural specifications in the drawings.

All these changed when steel was introduced to the prefabrication industry. Modern prefabricated steel buildings are manufactured at the factories and delivered on site. Prefabricated construction is cost-effective because all the building components have been pre-cut, pre-drilled, pre-punched, and pre-welded at the factories, dramatically reducing work at the job site. This translates to lesser labor and materials costs.

Experienced and competent manufacturers of prefabricated steel buildings use computerized design software that enables them to keep a set of working drawings of all their plans. As a result, design costs are kept at a minimum. However, some customers take advantage of the fact that prefabricated steel buildings are highly customizable. Owners even conceptualize their own designs based on their own preferences and specifications.

Modern designs of prefabricated steel buildings utilize steel as a structural system. Pre-cut and pre-drilled I-beams are bolted together to form a rigid frame that is highly durable and structurally sound. The high strength-to-weight ratio of steel allows for prefabricated steel buildings to have longer spans. Commercial structures and residential homes can have up to 5,000 square feet of column-free interiors.

(to be continued)

Steel, A Sustainable Material for Prefabricated Metal Buildings

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

The start of the twentieth century saw the emergence of steel as a structural building material of choice. Combined with new technologies in engineering and manufacturing, steel has been introduced to the prefabricated building industry to create metal buildings with astonishing architectural designs that were deemed only possible using traditional construction materials.

The steel industry has invested a lot of money to make it a more sustainable industry and that is one of the reasons why prefabricated steel buildings have become attractive to the American consumers, who have become more vigilant in protecting and preserving the earth’s natural resources.

In the first place, since the metal is highly recyclable, the steel used in prefabricated metal buildings has about 90% recycled content. Steel can be recycled over and over again without losing its properties, and has been attested by AISC to have a reclaimed rate of 98%. Besides, most of the world’s steel is produced in mills that do not generate CO2 emissions. How’s that for sustainability?

The beauty of prefabricated metal buildings is that it harnesses the benefits of designing with steel and prefabricated construction, eliminating the hassles associated with traditional construction methods. What does this mean?

Construction of prefabricated metal buildings is cost-effective. They can be erected in almost half the time it takes to build structures of the same size, but using conventional methods of construction. In fact, savings in construction cost of up to 15% can be realized because prefabricated metal buildings are built in factories and assembled on site. With easy construction comes short and fixed schedules and therefore, reduced labor costs. This is good news for developers of residential buildings because it means more profits for them.