What I’ve Learned About Metal Building Systems

by Marcy Marro | January 4, 2021 12:00 am

We host an annual competition recognizing outstanding metal buildings, and I’m always amazed to see the innovation behind these solutions across a wide variety of design styles and at the highest levels of complexity.

But over my 45-year career, I’ve learned that the secret to success with any metal building systems project isn’t just your technical acumen, your architectural understanding, your keen eye for design, your specifying skills or your engineering know-how; it’s your willingness to collaborate with others across the project life cycle—from planning to building and beyond.

Collaboration is the Key

Since each metal building systems project must be custom-engineered to meet the needs of the building owner as well as the architectural design, the site conditions and local regulations, it is imperative that there is a keen understanding—from everyone involved of the entire scope of the project, including the process, benefits and potential challenges.

Collaborate Early and Often

At the outset, I recommend scheduling a meeting with the entire team to achieve a common understanding of what’s expected.

All basic parameters of the project need to be described in detail before it can be specified to ensure material performance. These parameters include the building dimensions, height clearances, wind loads, seismic conditions, building attachments, site restrictions, etc. You should also discuss the size and number of openings in the walls and roof, the type of metal building component products desired (i.e., wall and roof panel profiles and gauge), and any special considerations for those components (i.e., purlin and girt restrictions, accessory preferences, etc.).

Once the parameters of the project have been set, explore all basic specification options that could improve performance because modifications could be being very costly later in the process. We work together as a team with architects, designers and engineers to review drawings and specifications to determine exactly what they need in a building and draw upon each other’s expertise to make any tweaks necessary before it’s presented to the client.

Many of the selections are left up to builders without exploring the options available in the design. Never assume the manufacturer will automatically accept responsibility for the basic selections other than what is submitted. All parties concerned should participate in reviewing the design options and products available.

Understand the Pitfalls

Metal building systems manufacturers supply buildings on demand. That means once we know the dimensions and what panel line is desired, we’ll put the building system together and ship it out, but since we aren’t aware of local codes, it’s your responsibility to know if what we’re shipping is compliant.

If we collaborate throughout, however, we can help ensure the building will perform the way you expect it to and advise on potential challenges. But if you’d rather be in the driver’s seat, understand that it also makes you more responsible for the building working once it gets to the job site.

Plan for the Unexpected

Be sure to build extra days into the schedule for more complex designs, hangars, large recreational facilities and special-function buildings. With time-sensitive completion schedules, all parties involved should expect some natural delays when working at remote site destinations that can be impacted by material availability and high-volume seasons. It’s important to check the submittal or approval drawings in advance for accuracy and audit the material delivery ahead of time to uncover any material discrepancies that could be corrected without impacting the completion schedule.

Collaboration throughout a metal buildings system project will ensure a final product that meets or exceeds the customer’s expectations and is delivered on time and on budget.

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Cary Barger is a senior field service manager for Cornerstone Building Brands, the parent company of Rocky Mount, N.C.-based Ceco Building Systems. Ceco Building Systems collaborates with leading builders and contractors throughout the United States to create state-of-the-art, custom-engineered steel building solutions for the commercial and industrial industries. For more information including specification resources, visit cecobuildings.com[1].

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/what-ive-learned-about-metal-building-systems/

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