Steel Frame Buildings: A Guide
Few things in life are more stressful than overseeing a construction project. There are so many things that can go wrong: problems with suppliers, planning regulations, materials and even the weather can cause delays and budget overruns. It’s little wonder that the success of so many property programmes on television derives from the pleasure we take watching others suffer from such problems. ‘Better them than us’, we think.
Luckily, non-residential buildings usually don’t suffer from quite as many problems as Grand Design style homes, but nevertheless we want to make the process of constructing a new functional building as simple as possible. By cutting down on costs of design, labour and materials and by being quick and relatively straightforward to erect, pre-fabricated steel frame buildings remove a lot of the usual hassle.
Steel frame buildings can be adapted to almost any use by suitable choice of design, materials and finishes. By selecting appropriate cladding you can even avoid the anticipated dull grey box and get a building that not only comes in under budget and on time, but looks good too.
Steel Frame Buildings Overview
There are steel frame building suppliers spanning the length and breadth of the country. Buildings are usually manufactured component-wise to the required specifications at a factory before being transported to the site. Here the building is assembled after the necessary groundwork has been completed.
Most steel frame building companies offer a complete service that takes the project from initial design, through the planning process to construction and finishing. Self-erect buildings are also available if you prefer to manage the construction process yourself.
Steel Frame Building Types
These are the most common styles of steel frame buildings:
- Clearspan Portal Frame Building
These have a cross-section determined by columns and joining beams or rafters supporting a pitched or barrel roof with a central spine and gabled ends. Such a building can support any length as the roof is supported by the side columns. As no internal supports or trusses are required, all the internal space is usable.
- Propped Portal Frame Building
Similar to the clearspan but with internal supports to hold up heavier roofs. The extra supports mean the internal space is less flexible but wider buildings are possible with this kind of design.
- Single Slope Building
A low rear wall with a sloping roof joining it to a taller front wall. Useful when one large opening is required at the front of the building or when an extension is required for an existing building.
- Multi-span Buildings
The above can be combined in various ways to create large buildings with multiple sections performing different functions while maintaining structural integrity and design simplicity.
Steel Frame Building Applications
Due to their simple, versatile designs steel frame buildings are put to a wide variety of uses in commercial, industrial, public and agricultural sectors:
- Commercial
Steel frame buildings are often used for retail units, especially for out of town warehouse style outlets and superstores. Office buildings with several floors are available, school buildings, leisure centres, grandstands and aircraft hangers. A range of doors, windows and skylights can be added. Glass facades and brick cladding can add extra sophistication to the look of the building and avoid accusations of drabness.
- Industrial
Manufacturing and processing units, warehouses and depots, refineries and treatment works can all be built with a pre-fabricated steel frame. Mezzanines, concrete, metal or timber floors, suspended ceilings and stairs can be fitted to provide internal office space. The range of styles, finishes and claddings help steel frame buildings to blend in with any environment.
- Agricultural
Steel frame buildings are often used for barns, cow sheds, grain stores, mills, storage buildings and garden centres. The cost effectiveness and speed of erection makes replacing older buildings a quick and straightforward operation.
Purchasing Steel Frame Buildings
Steel buildings are usually so simple in design that obtaining and erecting one requires surprisingly little work on the purchaser’s part. In addition, steel building suppliers normally provide a full service that takes you from design and planning through to finished building in straightforward steps.
Knowing the dimensions and the condition of your plot of land is essential to gathering quotes as is the style and shape of building you require. Suppliers can produce designs to given specifications or give you a choice of ready-made designs that may meet your needs. Planning regulations vary regionally and plans need to be submitted to obtain permission but help is available in this area as with arranging building inspections if required.
Gather quotes from several suppliers – most cover a large geographical area so there should be many companies who can submit quotes for your project. Check that they adhere to professional building and design standards, that the workmen they use are qualified and whether they guarantee the building for a number of years.
In summary, you won’t find an easier way to construct a new building than using a supplier of pre-fabricated steel buildings. As long as you’re prepared to shop around a bit, you’ll have a brand new, bespoke, cost-effective and sturdy building in place before you can say ‘bricks and mortar’.
