Learn About Metal building system

 Time: 2021-12-06 09:45:34    From: 

A metal building system is a custom-engineered steel solution that optimizes and integrates steel framing, roofing and walls. It is the most popular low-rise commercial building solution in the world because:
· Building design, fabrication, delivery and construction are all managed through one single source.
· Each building constructs quickly, saves energy, is long-lasting and is environmentally friendly, with virtually no waste in the manufacturing process -- and materials are fully recyclable.
· Flexible interior and exterior elements allow numerous design alternatives. Exteriors can be clad with steel siding, wood, glass, aluminum, masonry, or concrete.
Find out our typical metal building projects through UNIONSSM's project showcase.

Aesthetic Appeal

Design opportunities for metal building systems are virtually endless. From traditional to contemporary, architects and owners are discovering that metal building systems are an attractive, popular and cost and energy efficient building solution.
Outstanding detail can be achieved at a reasonable cost using conventional wall and fascia materials.
Aesthetic options include: 
· Decorative columns and varied arch forms that influence design
· Clearstory roofs and daylighting elements create rich, open environments
· Variable building panel and roof colors and textures allow unique architectural solutions
· Intriguing options for defining mass, space, proportion and symmetry
· High slopes in building designs offer dramatic roof lines that become signature building elements
· Exteriors can be clad with steel siding, wood, glass, aluminum, masonry or concrete
· Metal walls and insulated panels can have vertical, horizontal, deep or shallow lines that may be embossed, smooth or flat to accommodate architectural aesthetics

Resilient by Design

A metal building system can last for six decades or more -- longer than most buildings constructed with concrete, masonry, wood or some other typical building materials. Metal buildings and metal roofs do not support mold growth, rust and decay, or distort under normal temperature fluctuations. Metal buildings are designed to withstand earthquakes, wind events, and other environmental loads.
Earthquakes: Extensive research confirms that metal buildings withstand significant earthquakes. Watch a test building outlast earthquakes simulated at UC San Diego.
Wind and Hail Events: Metal buildings also stand strong against wind events. MBMA testing shows metal buildings can withstand winds up to 170 mph. Industry studies confirm that metal roofing can withstand winds of 140 mph and large-diameter hail impacts with cosmetic damage. Read research on wind loads and an executive summary on hail research.

Design-Build / Fast Track Construction

Construction of a metal building structure is at least 30% faster than conventional construction. For retail and hospitality owners, that means profits start sooner. For manufacturers, their production lines are up and running faster. For utilities, they serve their constituents more quickly. And for recreation and education, speed of construction means less schedule disruption.

From a contractor's point of view, the construction of a metal building is faster because the parts are precise, reducing omissions and errors like clashes, conflicts and measurement mistakes. These buildings are fabricated in a plant for bolted construction on-site. Because the materials are precisely made and quick to put together, there is greater accuracy in production schedules, making manhours and profits more predictable. Faster cleanup, due to less jobsite waste than traditional construction methods, saves additional labor costs.

Economic Design & Construction

Economical design and construction is achieved because all metal building components are delivered together from one source, the building manufacturer. Single-source purchase of building elements gives the owner control over every aspect of building cost, design and construction. Single source purchase can also provide faster, consistent and more efficient construction with lower life-cycle costs than traditional construction. When it's time to grow a business, expansion is quick, because it can be built into the original design.Removal of just one wall opens the door to many configuration options.

Minimal Maintenance

The exterior of a metal building is essentially maintenance free and long-lasting, thanks to superior, life-extending wall and roof coatings that retain color and resist dirt. Metal walls and sloped metal roofing are both self-cleaning.

Steel does not support mold growth, resists rust and decay better than other building materials

The bottom line is that low maintenance costs lead to low operating costs - a huge benefit over time.

Flexible, Adaptable Metal

Every metal building is unique and custom to the needs of each owner; each can incorporate virtually any dimension, so meeting a company's special needs is not a high-priced add-on. A metal building's structural system provides maximum flexibility to create a variety of floor plan configurations: L's, U's, squares, rectangles and more. Column-free interior space allows complete freedom in the design of showrooms, offices, retail space and more.

In addition, the steel spans of a metal framing system are designed to easily reconfigure building areas, allowing quick accommodation for changes in function, ownership, equipment and regulations. Ease of expansion can be built right into the original design. Mechanical additions and interior electrical layout alternatives are also feasible because of the framing advantages. Metal buildings are highly fire resistant, allowing greater options in building size and layout.

High-Strength Steel

Strength is designed and manufactured into each metal building element by combining lighter cross sections and higher strength steel. The optimized tapered steel building frames and the strength and efficiency of light-weight roof and wall framing also require less material.

The configuration of a metal panel and structural members provide substantial increases in structural strength, such as the longitudinal raised profile of a metal building panel and a stiffener lip added to the flange of cold formed structural members. Hybrid structures blend the advantages of metal building system construction with the strength of conventional steel to meet heavy loading and provide exceptional design opportunities.

The primary advantage of steel is its strength. Steel that is delivered to the manufacturer from the mill has very exacting specifications, enabling engineers to design each structure with a high degree of accuracy. Steel, because of its strength, can withstand a great deal of abuse and wear.

Sustainable/Earth-Friendly

From a product perspective, metal buildings are good for the environment because they are made from recycled steel, are 100% recyclable, and produce a low carbon footprint. Cool metal roof coatings repel heat, reduce the urban heat island effect, increase solar reflectivity (decreasing energy consumption) and are designed to simply clip on optional solar panels. Further, waste steel accumulated during fabrication is recycled.

From a performance perspective, metal building panels promote energy efficiency because they are designed to incorporate fiberglass or rigid board insulation of varying thicknesses, thus enhancing insulation values. The ability to house additional insulation creates an energy-tight environment. And, insulation can also be easily added and increased within the roof cavity without removing the roof. Further, the interlocking edges of metal building panels provide excellent weather-tightness.

From a construction perspective, offsite fabrication reduces construction equipment emissions; and faster cleanup is achieved because metal buildings generate over 50% less jobsite waste than other construction materials.

Metal building lifetime impacts can be analyzed using Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment calculations prior to design.

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