When you have ordered a new steel building or have plans to construct a building using steel, as with any material, some elements may compromise the integrity of your structure or cause trouble.
To ensure stability and minimize the risks of a steel structure that won’t last, you must follow steel building best practices. You must also use the best quality materials from the best partners available. Here are some best practices for steel building construction.
1. Communicate with Local Building Officials First
Before starting, always contact local building officials regarding zoning and permits. The procedures involved in obtaining the required permits can cause unnecessary delays. It may take weeks instead of days to get your steel structure up.
Have permits and permissions sorted long before you start constructing any commercial steel buildings. Ensure the physical work takes as little time as possible.
2. Choose the Right Kind of Steel
Several types of steel can be used for a steel building, each varying in strength and durability. Inquire about which type of steel you receive for your application.
- Carbon steel is the most common steel used in construction and the least strong.
- Alloy steel is stronger than carbon steel but harder to weld and fabricate.
- Stainless steel is considered the strongest of these three types but is expensive.
3. Choose the Right Beam
The type of steel beam you use will determine the weight of the steel frame supporting the roof and floors.
- I-beams are the most common and suitable for medium-to-heavy loads over the long term.
- H-beams are stronger than I-beams but more expensive.
- Box beams are square or rectangular, typically used for smaller steel projects such as mezzanines or bridges.
4. Have Your Land Inspected
Steel does not require the same foundation work as other building types or materials. However, inspecting your land and running a soil test before making a foundation is best.
The best situation for a steel building is to build on pure soil, but this isn’t always possible. An engineer utilizing a soil test can ensure the land is suitable to support a steel structure. If the land has been filled, you must compact it properly.
5. Avoid Picking up Any Steel on Clearance
Some steel building companies will have steel that’s on sale, on clearance, or offered at excessively low prices to recoup the costs of a prior client that has been canceled because of a manufacturing issue or for several reasons.
Ideally, you don’t want this type of steel, which is often low-quality and may have flaws in its design that prevent you from doing what you want with it. Always create your layout from steel – don’t use incomplete or leftovers.
6. Always Buy Your Steel From a Reputable Steel Building Company
Many first-time buyers chase price rather than reputation, and they discover first-hand why that’s a mistake. For the best steel that doesn’t jeopardize your building plans, look for experts who can counsel you on how to use steel.
They can also help you customize based on your vision. A reputable steel building company will have reviews online and do background research to ensure nothing suspicious is happening.
7. Ensure You Properly Affix Your Steel Structure to the Foundation
The first step to the physical part of building a steel structure is to ensure its stability by affixing it to the foundation. This prevents your structure from moving and can be done in one of two ways – welding the steel into place or using bolts.
Done right, this firmly attaches steel to the foundation so that even in strong winds or an earthquake, your steel structure will not fail, move, or shift. Its stability is maintained.
8. Double-check to Verify Steel Cut and Size Correctly
Only use properly cut and welded steel into the correct shape. If the steel frame does not properly connect, it risks not supporting cladding, roofing, windows, doors, and other features.
If you choose a premium steel building material supplier and double-check their work, you will know with certainty that the steel has been cut into the precise shapes required and that there aren’t any missing pieces or improperly sized pieces that don’t fit.
9. Hire the Right Crew to Install
Erecting a steel building is a specialized task. An inexperienced crew could lead to the downfall of your structure, requiring expensive repairs weeks, months, or years down the line.
Always hire a steel building service where you know the crew is certified, trained, and insured. They should have references and prior experience that you can look to to see, with certainty, that they can perform the work you need.