erectingasteelbuilding information

Are you considering the purchase and erection of a steel building?

However, there is still a lot of work, planning and resources involved in erecting a steel building of any type. If you are considering buying and erecting a prefabricated building yourself, but are not sure if you really can do the job- read on! This website should give you all the information you need pertaining to the procedures and equipment involved, so you can determine if this is a project you can or should undertake.

SAFETY FIRST!

Safe working conditions and accident prevention practices must be the main priority on the job site.

Local, state and federal health and safety standards should be followed at all times, to insure worker safety.

Complete “erection manuals” come with every building. Each plan is prepared specially for that individual building and should be followed exactly as written.

Familiarize yourself and crew with these drawings and instructions prior to start-up.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: Make sure emergency telephone numbers, location of first aid stations and emergency procedures are readily available and known to all.

Do not work during inclement weather, i.e., high wind, lightning, hail, heavy rain or snow, etc.

Use hard hats, and rubber sole shoes for a good grip if working on the roof. Use all appropriate safety gear, including nets if necessary.

THINGS TO HAVE PREPARED, BEFORE DELIVERY…

FOUNDATION
Most metal building manufacturers recommend that the foundation be designed by an experienced foundation engineer. This will insure proper design, make the actual erection of the building go a lot smoother and reduce costs. Proven construction techniques and adherence to OSHA and other local codes are highly recommended.

• The importance of accurate foundation construction and anchor bold settings cannot be overemphasized! The anchor bolts must be in the exact locations as specified in the Anchor Bolt drawing provided by your steel building manufacturer. There is an extremely small tolerance for the placing of the anchor bolts, only +-1/16" to +-1/18".
• The foundation must meet local design/load conditions.
• Foundation errors and improper location of anchor bolts are the most frequent and troublesome errors made in metal building construction. Errors can wind up costing you a lot of money!

NOTE: DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT start the erection process on “green” or uncured concrete. Anchor bolts may pull loose, concrete spall (chip out along edges) may occur and equipment may crash or crack the slab! Normal “Portland” cement should cure in at least seven days and high-early-strength concrete in at least three days. Special circumstances may require even longer curing periods.

ACCESS TO THE SITE Obviously, the vehicle transporting your building must be able to access the site from the adjacent highway or road. This access must be prepared in advance of the truck arriving!

Any overhead obstructions or anything in the way needs to be removed, including trees, boulders, debris. A landscaping contractor might need to be hired for this purpose.

Put down gravel or lay planks on the access route if the soil cannot sustain the heavy wheel loads.

Check the planned building site to make sure there is enough space to physically perform the tasks required to erect the building. The proximity of adjacent buildings and other obstructions can severely hinder the construction process.

NECESSARY UTILITIES The availability of any required utilities (such as electricity for the site) must also be considered in advance. Take note of any overhead power lines, and notify your utility company if necessary.

ONCE THE TRUCK ARRIVES…

UNLOADING THE BUILDING

• Unloading, checking and storing the materials are important parts of erecting your steel building. Detailed planning for unloading and storing of materials is necessary to minimize the costly, time wasting, double handling of materials.

• Unload material near its usage points to minimize lifting, hauling and re-handling during assembly of the building.

• Have the necessary ramp for the truck prepared and ready to use.

• A crane, and or forklift are usually required to unload the steel building off the truck, as well as for the erection itself.

• To minimize costs, as soon as the truck is unloaded, the lifting equipment should start erecting the columns and raising the assembled rafters into position.

INSPECTION OF CONTENTS

• All items received should be listed on a packing list, and as they are unloaded they should be checked off that list. This refers to all boxes, crates, bundles, and any other large components.

• If damages or shortages of items are found, a report should be filed immediately with the driver of the carrier, and written notice sent to the manufacturer.

• If damages are evident from the exterior of containers, they should be opened and inspected thoroughly at the time of receipt.

• When the boxes, crates, etc are opened following delivery, a check must be performed to determine the quantity of items received and their condition.

• Galvanized or galvalume panel crates should always be opened and inspected for white or black rust. These materials are susceptible to damage from prolonged periods of contact with moisture while stacked together.

• If there is evidence of moisture while unloading, panels need to be dried and stored out of the weather to prevent permanent discoloration. If water is allowed to remain for extended periods in bundles of primed parts the pigment will fade and the paint will gradually soften, reducing the bond to the steel.

• Upon receipt of the materials, all primed parts should be stored at an angle to allow any trapped water to drain and permit air circulation for drying. Puddles of water should not be allowed to collect and remain on columns or rafters for the same reason.

• Use wood blocking to elevate and slope panels in a manner that will allow moisture to drain.

• Cover the stacked bundles with a tarp or plastic leaving enough opening at the bottom for air to circulate.

DO NOT INSTALL ANY MATERIAL IF THE QUALITY IS IN QUESTION!

A lot of time and trouble can be saved if your building site is unloaded and organized with a pre-arranged plan. Placing the components in or around the site closest to where they will be installed is referred to as “shaking out.”

“SHAKING OUT”

(Placing the building components in or around the building site closest to where they will be installed.) Some tips for easiest and fastest assembly….

• Columns and rafters are usually unloaded near their respective final positions, for speedy erection.

• Endwalls are laid out at each end of the concrete slab with the columns near their respective anchor bolts.

• Girts, purlins, and braces should be divided and laid out according to the amounts needed for each bay.

• Hardware packages should be located centrally, usually along one sidewall near the center of the building, to minimize walking distances to other parts of the slab.

• Sheet packages are usually stored along one or both sidewalls off the ground and sloping to one end, to encourage drainage in case of rain.

• Accessories are unloaded and stored on a corner of the slab or off the slab near one end of the building, to keep them out of the way.

• Important- An access area through the center of the building must be left for erection equipment!!!

Tips for Safety, Cost Effectiveness and Ease in Erecting the Building…

• All workers are properly trained and instructed in advance as to what they are to do and the safe way to do it. This eliminates time wasted waiting around to be told what to do next.

• As many parts as can safely be raised in a single lift should be bolted together in sub-assemblies on the ground, where the assembly work is faster and safer.

• Start erecting the steel framework at one end and continue bay by bay to the other end of the building.

• Tools and equipment must be industrial rated, professional quality, and available in sufficient quantity. Unprofessional quality tools, although cheaper, will not hold up satisfactorily and in the long run will cost more, not only in repairs but in lost time.

Tools Needed for Erection:

Electric power source
Electric impact wrench
Level - 4'''' long
Vise grips or clamps
Drift pins or punches
Gin pole or hoisting equipment
Come-along
Tag lines, chain or cables with chokers
Ladders
Scaffolding
Metal shims
Washers
Electric drill and bits
Acetylene torch set
Rope or cable (for temporary bracing)
Box wrench, open end wrench, and sockets
Screw gun with 2,500 RPM adjustable torque
Screw gun socket drivers size 5/16" and 3/8"
Concrete drill with masonry bits
Steel buildings measuring tapes 25'''' long and 100'''' long

NOTE: Improper tool usage results in injury! All tools should be OSHA approved for commercial construction use.

THE ERECTION BEGINS!

Click here for illustrations of building assembly.

BASIC ERECTION PROCEDURES, STEP BY STEP:

Assembling Parts:
Attach all clips and plates; join structural members together where specified by the steel building erection procedure.

1. Erecting Main Frames:
   • Set main columns over anchor bolts
   • Lift main rafters in line with columns
   • Attach wall girts
   • Attach roof purlins
   • Attach flange braces to girts and purlins
   • Attach cable bracing
2. Erect Endwall Frames:
   • Set endwall columns
   • Lift endwall rafter in line with columns
   • Attach endwall girts
   • Attach cable bracing
3. Plumb the first bay:
   • When this bay is properly and accurately plumbed, aligned and braced, the remaining members, to a large degree, will automatically plumb and align when installed.
   • Only a final check of the building plumb remains, and few adjustments, if any should be necessary.
4. Frame doors and window openings
5. Exterior sheeting procedure:
   • Attach sidewall sheeting
   • Attach endwall sheeting
   • Eave trim
   • Attach roof sheeting
6. Gable and corner trim
7. Install accessories (windows, doors, gutters, vents) and trim.

ABOUT INSULATION:

Reflective insulation is ideal for steel buildings, which tend to get very warm and humid in the summer and cold in the winter. Radiant barrier insulation offers a permanent way to solve these problems and reduce energy costs as well. The main advantage to radiant barrier insulation systems is that they work by reflecting radiant heat energy instead of trying to absorb it.

A pure aluminum radiant barrier reflective insulation is unaffected by humidity and will continue to perform at a consistent level no matter how humid it may be. A radiant barrier insulation system is a layer of foil facing airspace and is installed in the envelope of a building. It is easy to install, does not promote nesting of rodents or birds, and it looks great! Click here for more insulation info.

ABOUT BUILDING CODES:

Building codes are mandated by law, governing new construction in most areas of the country. These building codes provide the minimum requirements for safety, structural integrity, etc.

Before signing the contract to purchase your metal building, you must contact your local building department to verify that the building’s specifications meet or exceed your local standards (important: it is better to choose a design above your code requirements instead of below).

Reputable manufacturers will not ship you a metal building that doesn’t meet codes for your area!

ARE YOU READY?

By now, you should have a pretty clear idea of what’s involved in the construction of a steel building. If you decide building construction is not for you, remember- find a qualified professional to do the building assembly as soon as possible after your purchase of the building. Experienced erectors are sometimes booked weeks or even months in advance, during their busiest seasons.

If you want to erect a steel building yourself, let your building manufacturer know, so they can recommend the type of building that will make your job the easiest.

Don’t let the terminology of the steel building industry throw you!
Here are some definitions of common terms used in Steel Building Construction:

Anchor Bolts - The large bolts that go into the concrete foundation to hold down your building, usually provided by the concrete company. In order for your building to be properly warranted, they must be certified at the specific strength required by the manufacturer for your building.

Bay - Each space or interval between the main frames of a steel building.

Bracket - A structural support projecting from a column which fastens to another metal buildings structural member.

Clip- A plate used for fastening several metal building members together. (look for pre-welded clips)

Cold forming - The process of using press brakes, rolls, or other methods to shape steel into desired cross sections at room temperature.

Column- A load (weight)-carrying vertical member; part of the primary skeletal framing system. Columns do not include posts.

Eave – Line formed where the roof and side wall join together.

Framed Opening - Jambs, headers and trim around an opening in the wall of a metal building. (usually for any sort of door)

Gable - The triangular portion of the metal buildings end-wall that slopes from the top corner of the eave line to the peak.

Girt - A horizontal structural member that is attached to sidewall or end-wall columns and supports the waif sheeting.

Header - A horizontal framing component located at the top of a steel building’s framed opening.

Hoisting equipment- Commercial lifting equipment, including cranes, derricks, tower cranes, barge-mounted derricks or cranes, gin poles, and gantry-hoist systems. Usually required to erect the building.

Hot Rolled - Made by extruding molten steel through a mold.

Jamb - The vertical framing components located at the sides of a steel building’s framed opening.

Main Frame -The steel backbone of the building, made up of two or more columns spaced at intervals between the two end-walls. The main frame, or primary frame, columns bear most of the load of the building and support the rafters that run laterally from one side of the building to the other.

Project structural engineer of record - The registered, licensed professional responsible for the design of structural steel framing and whose seal appears on the structural contract documents.

Purlin - A horizontal structural component attached to the primary frame; supports the building’s roof sheeting.

Rafter - Main beam supporting the roof system.

Secondary framing - The wall girts, roof purlins, and eave struts. These components carry little of the overall load of the building, but do support the wall and roof panels, and help stabilize the building.

Single Slope - A metal building wherein the roof slopes in one direction only, from sidewall to sidewall.

Soffit - The underside covering of any exterior portion of a metal building, such as an overhang.

Systems-engineered metal building – A field-assembled building system consisting of framing, roof, and wall coverings, fabricated in a manufacturing facility and shipped to the job site for assembly into the final structure. The engineering design of the system is the responsibility of the metal building manufacturer.

References:

U.S. Department of Labor http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/steelerection/definitions.html

Premier Steel http://premiersteel.org/BuildingCodes.htm

Rigid Building Systems, http://www.rigidbuilding.com/productguide/

Steel Building.com, http://www.steelbuilding.com/buildings/frame_overview.htm