Key Advantages of Steel Building Systems
The one and two story steel building systems of today have the greatest share of the nonresidential market. The MBMA (Metal Building Manufacturers Association ) has substantiated this. The commercial uses of has comprised over 30% of building sales the all too familiar beige warehousing, but also has expanded into multi-windowed office complexes, gleaming auto dealerships, and modern airplane manufacturing facilities. The private sector is able to appreciate the sensibility of steel building construction over other more traditional forms. The reason for this is seen in the six in the six basic advantages that steel buildings can provide.
Today’s steel buildings have a number of advantages over their more conventionally built counterparts. One advantage is that most steel building systems are purchased through a single source. The can allow for one manufacturer, broker, or contract manufacturer to be retained and be responsible for the entire design and fabrication and delivery process. There is no need for contacting multiple vendors, one for doors, one for the roof, etc. The General Contractor and/or building owner do not have to worry about project delays because of incomplete or tardy shipments of vital components and accessories. Also, by using a single source resource, any problems during the construction or after occupancy are handled through only one company’s service department.
There is also a great amount of cost efficiency involved with the purchase of a steel building. Because the steel building system uses precision-fit pre-engineered components, this can greatly reduce the size of the work force required to erect the building. There is essentially no time devoted to the conventional construction methods of cutting, fitting, drilling, or welding. Material wastage is also minimized because all of the building parts are pre-formed at the factory to precise dimensions. Total cost savings for steel buildings when compared to traditional structures can be 20% at a minimum but certain projects may approach 50% in cost reductions.
Modern steel buildings have wide clear-span capability A steel structure can have clear-span width of up to 300 feet, saving the expense and obstruction of interior load bearing columns.
Another advantage is the quick occupancy time of steel buildings. Experienced erectors are very familiar with pre-engineered components and can construct a steel building and have it ready for business in about two-thirds of the time that stick built structures require.
Future expansion is also possible with steel building systems. Lengthening of the building merely requires removal of an endwall, adding the new framing along with the roof and wall panels, and, normally, reusing the original endwall.
Very low maintenance is required in steel building ownership. The steel surfaces are simple to clean. The finishes that are used today are also very resistant to any fading, discoloration, or corrosion.