The Benefits of Metal Building Systems From a Whole Building Perspective
Benefits to the Architect
An architectural design professional reaps many benefits from working with a metal building system. First and foremost is the tremendous time savings metal building systems represent when compared to conventional construction methods. The metal building system process provides a consistent design experience for a project team because the building design and delivery are systematic. Highly experienced metal building designers oversee the engineering and structural fabrication, then materials are shipped from a single-source supplier to the jobsite. The building framework is installed by experienced metal building assemblers, which allows for other trades to begin their work faster and in a more consistent manner. Conventional methods require the designers, detailers, and contractors to reinvent the process for each new project, which wastes time. A study published in the Journal of Construction Engineering and Management revealed that up to 50 percent of time on the jobsite is devoted to wasteful activities. These include late deliveries, poor coordination of materials and trades, and correcting field mistakes.
The metal building company takes responsibility for the engineering and fabrication of the components it supplies, and works with the Engineer of Record for the project on the design of any other elements of the building shell. It is important for the design professional to ensure that the design criteria, particularly lateral drift and deflection of the primary frame and secondary supports, are compatible with the chosen wall materials and other project requirements. Manufacturers can provide a “letter of certification” with each building that assures the metal building system has been designed in accordance with specified state and local codes or other specific project design requirements. A variety of warranties are also offered for metal building systems. These address various building elements, such as finish warranties on roof and wall systems and weathertight warranties on roof systems.
Metal Building System Elements
Metal building systems offer a completely integrated set of interdependent elements and assemblies which, taken together, form the total building. Included are primary and secondary framing elements, covering components, and accessories. Primary framing members are usually “tapered” to allow for the placement of steel where it is critical for maximum strength and can be very cost-effective compared to conventional steel design where members must be of a constant depth. These integral parts come in many different configurations, as illustrated below.
Framing Systems
Rigid frame clear span: Twenty feet to 160 feet and wider. Provides a column-free interior space. Recommended applications include auditoriums, churches, gymnasiums, ice arenas, warehouses, and aircraft hangars. Specific column and rafter depths are available for desired clearances.
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Ridge frame multi-span (solid web rafter) and modular open web (open web rafter): Fifty feet to 500 feet and wider. Used where interior columns do not impair the function of the building. Interior columns shorten the spans of the rafter beam, thereby often reducing the frame cost. Recommended applications include manufacturing facilities and warehouses.
Image courtesy of MBMA
Solid Web Rafter
Image courtesy of MBMA
Open Web Rafter
Flush wall clear span: Twenty feet to 70 feet and wider. Offers column-free interior floor space and uniform depth columns. The secondary wall structural systems (girts) are flush with the interior flanges of the columns. This allows interior sidewalls to be finished without the frame columns protruding into the interior wall line. Recommended applications include retail stores, banks, car dealerships, and hockey rinks.
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Flush wall multi-span: Fifty feet to 250 feet and wider. Available with solid or open web rafters. Uniform depth exterior columns with girts are flush with the inside column flange. Interior columns reduce span lengths, thereby reducing costs. Recommended applications are buildings where interior sidewalls will be finished for office areas or for warehouses and distribution centers where close-to-wall palletizing is required.
Image courtesy of MBMA
Solid Web Rafter
Image courtesy of MBMA
Open Web Rafter
Tapered beam straight columns: Fifteen feet to 70 feet and wider. Clear span with uniform depth columns. Greater vertical and horizontal clearance at column/rafter connection than rigid frame clear span. This system is economical for narrow widths. Recommended applications include offices, retail stores, fire stations, and buildings with bridge crane systems.
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Single slope clear span: Twenty feet to 160 feet and wider. Available with solid or open web rafters. This system provides single direction roof slope for rainwater runoff control. It is often used for shopping centers and office complexes where rainwater must be directed away from parking areas.
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Single slope multi-span: Fifty feet to 200 feet and wider. Available with solid or open web rafters. The single-slope design diverts rainwater runoff. This system is used in facilities where interior columns do not impair building function. Recommended applications include manufacturing, warehousing, distribution centers, retail shopping centers, and office complexes.
Image courtesy of MBMA
Lean-to: Ten feet to 60 feet wide. Used primarily for wing units and additions to existing facilities. A lean-to can be used with any of the above framing types.
Image courtesy of MBMA
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