STEEL BUILDINGS FOR BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS

Pre-fabricated and pre-engineered steel structures can now be manufactured to fit the design of any business or commercial establishment. Nowadays, pre-engineered steel buildings are all around us – offices, churches, schools, gymnasiums, auto repair shops, computer stores, storage buildings, and a lot more applications.

Manufacturers of pre-engineered steel building systems can be commissioned to help plan and fabricate the metal structure based on specific dimensions and configurations.  After fabrication, the steel building system will then be packaged as a kit already pre-punched, pre-drilled, and pre-welded by the manufacturing plant.  The package contains instructions for the owner or erector, on how to assemble the metal structure.

Categories of Commercial Steel Structures

Basically, commercial metal structures can be categorized into three. The first one is called steel-framed system. Only the structural frame is made of fabricated high grade steel. Steel frames are lightweight, easy to erect and gives more value for money. Steel frame solutions offer greater design freedom unlike other materials giving the owner, more options with large open space designs. Contemporary designs make use of a lot of open spaces and steel framing is the best way to achieve this.   Steel frame solutions are compatible with all other building products which are often used for internal and external linings. The external finishing of the building can be made of any one or combinations of the following -    brick, stone, or stucco. Structures made of steel frame are used in building insurance agencies, houses and other smaller structures. In fact, the demand for steel frame construction in residential housing has seen a phenomenal growth in the 21st century. Steel frame systems are very well suited for steep and sloping sites.

The second type of commercial all-steel structure is the pole building system. A steel pole configuration utilizes steel  for the structure's posts and trusses. Affixed to the posts and trusses will be the roofs and the walls made of other materials. Pole building solutions, alternatively known as pole barns, are typically utilized for farming and ranching framework systems.

Another type of all-steel structures is steel arch structure systems. This type of metal structure is generally made of arched steel panes and is the easiest to erect when compared to the previous two styles.  Steel arch building systems are often picked for agricultural and fabrication structures. The whole building is made of steel and is formed in the contour of an arch. The whole arch serves as the structure's roof and wall.

Advantages of Steel Buildings

Steel buildings offer a lot of advantages. Usually, they are constructed much faster as compared to buildings made of other materials. Money-wise, the costs of steel buildings are usually lower when compared to traditional building methods. A steel structure is lightweight and is very easy to maintain. More importantly, steel buildings offer a reduced risk of fire. Since steel is 100% recyclable, it is more cost-effective in the long run and offers a more environmentally sound alternative to any other construction material. Structures made of steel are more sturdy, remain straight and true, and they can withstand unfavourable weather conditions such as hurricanes, high winds, heavy snow and earthquakes. They also have consistent strength and more durable due to their resistance to termites, cracks, splitting and rotting. The steel used in metal structures are coated to ensure protection from rust and corrosion.

Although steel framed buildings are slightly more expensive when compared to traditional wood-based solutions, they are more cost-effective in the long run because they are energy efficient and require lesser maintenance. They offer a more attractive alternative because they can be covered with traditional building materials like bricks, siding and stucco, for a more conventional look. Savings come in the form of reduced insurance cost, lower assembly and labor costs, and decreased construction materials cost due to its prefabricated designing.

Products made from steel are made of recycled steel. Less than 28% of steel frames are made of recycled steel, which can then be recycled again and again. This is good news for the environment because it is estimated that a typical 2000 square foot home made of wood uses timber from around 50 trees. If the same house was build with steel, it only requires about six scrapped automobiles.

These numerous advantages and a greater freedom of choice are more than enough reasons to choose steel buildings over any other construction material. The choice will even make mother earth smile.

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