It’s hurricane season – and for anyone who has experienced what that can mean for a building, there is reason to take notice. The time to pay attention is during design and construction to create a building that can resist the effects of high winds, torrential rain and other storm effects. In particular, engineered metal buildings have been shown to be particularly resilient in this regard. Steel structures, metal roofing and metal siding are all routinely designed, tested and rated to withstand different levels of severe weather, with most achieving excellent results. Beyond laboratory testing, the 2017 hurricane season provided some real world, dramatic examples demonstrating the strength and resiliency of metal buildings.

Harvey Threatens Ingleside ISD’s New Metal Building Facilities

On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 storm, hit the coast of Texas near Corpus Christi with 130 mph winds and left 250,000 people without power. According to the National Hurricane Center, it ultimately caused $125 billion in damage – more than any other natural disaster in U.S. history except Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hurricane Harvey affected 13 million people from Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky with at least 88 people losing their life as a result of the storm.

Just 12 days before Harvey hit, on August 14, 2017, a metal building project was completed, which was unknowingly in the direct path where the hurricane came ashore the following week. The Ingleside Independent School District (ISD), on the northern side of Corpus Christi Bay, chose to use Ceco Builder Weaver & Jacobs Constructors, Inc. to provide metal buildings for their new High School Sports Complex and Maintenance Building. The project included a 40,000 square foot indoor football practice facility, a 15,000 square foot maintenance facility, and a 20,000 square foot bus barn all comprised of the SuperLok® standing seam roof system and PBR wall panels.

Fortunately for most Texas building owners on the Gulf Coast, the Texas Department of Insurance has some appropriate requirements for wind resistance in buildings in order to be eligible for property insurance at favorable rates. In the case of the Ingleside ISD, the design criteria was for a T-1 designation able to withstand 140 mile per hour winds. When Hurricane Harvey tore through the area, the engineering, design, fabrication, and construction were all put to the ultimate test with sustained winds approaching that design limit.

How did the project do? The school district personnel and the contractor went and assessed the property after the storm. To their great relief and delight, all of the buildings were fully intact. No fasteners came out, no roof or siding panels were damaged, and no breaches to the building enclosure were found. The only damage determined was to a single downspout on one of the buildings which was quite easily repairable. The outcome of this project is a testament to the truly durable nature of metal buildings.

To find out more about the best practices and ways to protect your metal building, especially during hurricanes, contact your local Ceco representative.

Recent news reports about tariffs on imported steel and aluminum have resonated throughout the economy and caused a good bit of uncertainty for many businesses – especially in the construction industry. That’s because tariffs, essentially taxes added to imported products, get passed on to individuals and companies who buy those products, thus raising prices. What can those of us involved with metal buildings do? First, understand where this is coming from and then take appropriate action to protect against pricing volatility.

History

In 2017 the U.S. Commerce Department began an inquiry into imported steel and aluminum, invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. §1862). Under this law, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to conduct comprehensive investigations to determine the effects of imports of any product based on protecting the national security of the United States. In February of 2018, the Department of Commerce issued its report to the president of the United States, finding that the quantities and circumstances of steel and aluminum imports “threaten to impair the national security,” as defined by Section 232. The suggested concern seems to be that cheaper imported steel and aluminum are threatening the survival of U.S. steel mills, thus reducing the number of U.S. suppliers that can service the Department of Defense for tanks, equipment, etc. The report went on to include a range of recommendations to limit the quantity of steel and aluminum imported into the United States and to impose specific tariffs ranging from 24 percent to 53 percent of the price of imported steel, and 7 percent to 24 percent for imported aluminum – all depending on the country of origin where the metals come from.

Using this report as a basis, the president announced in March a 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent on all aluminum coming into the United States. Subsequently, certain countries were identified as eligible to be exempt from these additional charges based on a variety of criteria. Accordingly, the Department of Commerce announced a “Steel and Aluminum Tariff Exclusion Process” with regulations and procedures for overseas companies to follow in requesting relief from the the U.S. tariffs being imposed on their goods. Which countries and which products are ultimately exempt is still to be seen, but strong trading partners such as Canada and Mexico seem assured of an exemption while others, such as China, are uncertain at best.

What the construction industry can’t control – the market.

The construction industry in general, and specific trades in particular such as metal building manufacturers and installers, are certainly impacted by changes or swings in the price of steel and aluminum. The mills that provide the raw and finished products for structural members, sheet goods, plate, etc. set their prices based on market conditions in order to remain profitable and viable. When cheaper imported options are available, the U.S. mills have felt the pressure to lower their prices just to remain competitive. With tariffs in place, they are free to raise their prices and still be competitive since, presumably, everyone is on a level playing field. However, the range of product types, the pending exemption of certain countries and not others, and the ensuing price volatility that is fully anticipated as a certainty, are all general market forces out of the control of any single construction company.

What the construction industry can control – project time schedules and price locks.

Metal building manufacturers have ongoing relationships with steel and aluminum mills, and base the pricing of their products and packages on the prices they can negotiate with those mills. The pricing for a specific building package occurs when either a fabrication quotation or an approval quotation is requested. For a fabrication quotation, the manufacturer can typically hold a price quote for two weeks until it is accepted and confirmed by the customer. Then they will work through the fabrication and delivery process over the following 12 weeks. For an approval quotation, the quote is still good for two weeks, but the customer is allowed an additional two weeks for review and return of drawings within the 12 week fabrication and delivery time-frame. Given the current market volatility, it is very difficult for metal building manufacturers to lock in pricing for any more than this typical 14 weeks process for either type of order. Recognizing this and working to expedite the review and approval process can help assure that prices are locked in and controlled. For long-term projects and public projects that go beyond 14 weeks, some special attention, phasing, or other considerations will be needed to maintain a budget.

Potential Pricing Implications

Every project is different, of course, and can have a different mix of metal building parts and components, but it is fair to say that the impact of metal price increases will directly affect total building package costs, which manufacturers must pass along to purchasers. However, since the raw products from a mill don’t account for the other value-added aspects that a manufacturer brings to the process, a 25 percent increase in raw steel products might mean a 10, 15, or 20 percent increase in the total finished package depending on the mix of products specified and included. Still, a $1 million dollar metal building package could jump to $1.1 million to $1.2 million or possibly more, all without a lot of warning.

Conclusion

Overall, the best way for metal building installers and building owners to stay on top of the price volatility is to communicate and work together with metal building manufacturers. By setting realistic expectations of the timeframe and turn around times needed for a project, installers, owners, and manufacturers can all be better protected from pricing changes. By getting the fabrication drawings approved as quickly as possible and sticking to agreed-upon timeframes, pricing is more likely to be assured and not subject to changes due to other market fluctuations.

To find out how to better work with metal building manufacturers so they can better work with you during this volatile period, contact your local Ceco representative.

Content for this article was provided by Steve Dascher, Strategic Pricing Manager for Ceco.

Winter brings snow to many places, and sometimes a lot of it. While skiers and school children may rejoice, those tasked with maintaining metal-roofed buildings may wonder what is the best action to take. Fortunately, the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) offers some advice in the Metal Building Systems Manual.

How much is too much?

When a metal roof undergoes a structural engineering design, it necessarily takes into account the code-required levels of snow accumulation for the building location. At the low end, that might be on the order of 10-20 pounds per square foot (psf). However, on the high end it could be over 40 pounds per square foot. How does that translate into inches of snow? This does not translate easily as snow can vary wildly in density from being light and fluffy to wet and heavy. The MBMA suggests that something less than 5 pounds per square foot per inch of depth for very wet or heavy snow is a conservative estimate. Of course, that means if the roof is designed for a snow load of 20 psf, then any buildup over 4-5 inches might start to be a structural concern. Consultation with a structural engineer on the carrying capacity of the building and a reasonable range of snow density and weight can provide insights for a specific building.

High Slope versus Low Slope

Roof pitch makes a notable difference in all aspects of snow buildup on a roof. A high slope roof (i.e., more than 4:12) can experience conditions where some or all of the snow slides off of the roof. This can happen particularly when the sun is out or if heat loss from the building creates a water layer under the snow. By contrast, a low slope roof (i.e., less than 4:12) will not typically see the same sort of snow sliding, meaning it is more likely to build up and accumulate over time, typically getting icier and denser as it does so. This is a concern across the surface of the general roofing area, but it is a particular concern anywhere there is a change in height or where a vertical surface is encountered, such as a parapet wall, chimney, equipment, etc. In these locations, windblown snowdrifts can become trapped, so instead of blowing off of the roof, they accumulate in these areas, creating concentrations of heavier than planned dead weight. The accumulated snow can also find its way above flashings, and its thawing and freezing can eventually cause water leaks into the building.

Clearing Snow while Avoiding Roof Damage

The MBMA makes it clear that if excessive snow builds up on a metal roof, the best thing to do is remove some of the snow in order to ensure the loads are at safer levels. Also to ensure product quality, the MBMA stresses that removing snow carelessly or with any form of metal or sharp tools is not the recommended approach. Such an approach may cause serious roof damage to occur. Instead, they recommend a systematic approach that focuses on removing the excess snow only, leaving an acceptable, thinner layer on the roof to melt and disperse on its own. They also emphasize the importance of removing it uniformly from the entire surface of the roof, starting in the areas of accumulated snowdrifts, and then moving evenly across the roof from there. The MBMA also makes a point to note that piling snow from one place on the roof to another, even in small areas, is clearly counterproductive and can cause structural problems.

Keeping People Safe

Anyone going up onto a roof even in the best conditions needs to follow proper safety procedures, and this is certainly magnified when the roof is covered with snow and/or ice. Safe access from inside or outside the building needs to be assured, along with the use of a safety harness or similar precautions. Certain areas of the roof deserve obvious attention, such as the roof edges and near any snow-covered skylights or hatches. All of this is easier to accomplish when the snow is fresh and likely more easily handled. This makes timing of the removal important to worker safety as well, since it can mean the difference between smooth removal and extra exertion.

To find out more about the best practices and ways to protect your metal building, especially in winter, get some more insights by contacting your local Ceco representative.

The components of a metal building are known for their durability and longevity, but like any building material, improper handling can lead to problems. This is especially true in winter months when metal building components can be exposed to unusually harsh conditions.

Manufacturers routinely provide most or all of their metal building components with a protective shop coat covering all sides and surfaces of the metal. However, this shop coat is only intended as a temporary coating designed to protect the steel during shipping and building erection. As such, it typically performs when guarding against normal atmospheric conditions until a finish coat can be applied as the building is completed. However, these shop coats are never intended or warranted to protect against unusual or harsh conditions that may be encountered throughout winter months. For that, other measures are needed.

The Problem: Roadway Chemicals

Metal buildings are shipped by flatbed truck over highways and byways to the intended location. During winter, those roads are often treated with salt or chemical deicers to make them safe for travel. These chemicals don’t stay on the road, though, as anyone can attest who has driven on them and headed to a nearby car wash soon after. The concern is not just appearance, but the corrosive nature of the chemicals on the metal parts of a car or truck. The same is true for metal building components that are shipped on an open flatbed truck – deicing chemicals and salts can end up coating the metal, penetrating the shop coat, and causing corrosive damage.

The Solution: Protective Tarping

The easiest and least costly way to avoid corrosion and rust damage to metal building components during shipping is to request that they be protected with a tarp over the trucked shipment. Most manufacturers use third-party shippers who will readily provide effective tarping for a modest charge, making it a very inexpensive safeguard. For anyone choosing to pick up materials with their own trucks, it is important that the tarp is made of appropriate weatherproof material, that any D-rings or grommets are sound, and that the tarp is tightly and securely fastened without the possibility of holes developing during transit. Such holes could allow water, snow, or ice to penetrate and pool on the metal components, causing damage from freeze-thaw conditions or by carrying corrosive chemicals along with it.

Onsite Protection

Once metal building shipments arrive at the jobsite, the concern for protection continues, especially in winter. Ideally, the steel can remain on the bed of the truck and be directly offloaded into place as part of the erection process. However, if any of the metal parts are being offloaded and need to be stored on the ground, then they should rest on something to protect the metal from ground moisture or other conditions. A ground tarp could achieve that; so could a finished concrete slab. In addition, the metal should be covered over the top to help assure that any precipitation or moisture doesn’t have a chance to build up on the metal and compromise the primer or the metal. Of course, the storage location needs to be high enough that water flowing on the site doesn’t penetrate under the covering and pool around or on the metal.

All metal building manufacturers are well versed in the ways that do and don’t work to protect metal and the primers applied to them – they have probably seen it all. Therefore, to find out more about the best practices and ways to protect your next metal building project, especially in winter, get some more insights by contacting your local Ceco representative.

After reading our prior blog post on severe weather and resilience of metal buildings, some may consider manufacturer warranty coverage, particularly for metal roofing. When it comes time to repair damage from a storm or even from normal-use conditions, it’s always good to be clear on what’s covered under a warranty and what isn’t. (Note that warranties exist independently of any building or property insurance, although an insurer may seek that warranty coverage be invoked first before stepping in for a covered loss or damage.)

A warranty is basically a contract between the building owner and the manufacturer of the metal roofing system agreeing that any deficiencies found will be repaired within the limits of the warranty language. Thus, most warranties focus not just on the metal roofing itself, but on the entire metal roofing system. This is true whether part of new-building construction or a retrofit application on a pre-existing building. Further, for some warranties to be valid, that system must be put in place by installers certified by the manufacturer, with system inspections required during construction.

Anyone engaged in specifying warranty coverage on a metal roofing system needs to understand that the common phrase “manufacturer’s standard warranty” is not specific enough, since there are at least six choices of common warranties. Each comes with a different cost to the owner (warranties are not free, but the cost can be included in the total roofing system price) and each has different levels of coverage and requirements. The six most common are summarized below:

Standard Warranties:

This category of basic warranties comes in three levels, but all are based on the roof system first completing a 24-month leak-free period following installation. In essence, it’s the installer who needs to address any issues during this period. After that, the manufacturer warrants the roofing system for weathertightness for five to 25 years based on the warranty period selected, with corresponding costs. Using the popular 20-year warranty coverage as the basis, the three levels can be described as follows:

Standard Level 1: This most basic level of warranty coverage does not require a certified installer. A 20-year warranty will commonly cost on the order of nine cents per square foot and provide dollar coverage for repairs of about 20 cents per square foot of installed roofing. So, for example, a 10,000-square-foot roof would cost $900 (some have a $1,000 minimum) for this warranty and pay out up to $2,000 in repairs. The numbers for larger roofs would increase directly based on square footage.

Standard Level 2: One step up in coverage, a “standard 2” warranty also does not require a certified installer. It is similar to a standard 1 warranty but at an initial cost on the order of 16 cents per square foot with dollar coverage of $3.50 or so per square foot of installed roofing over the 20 years. In our 10,000-square-foot roof example, this 20-year warranty would cost $2,000 (also may be the minimum cost) and pay out up to $35,000 in repairs (numbers for larger roofs similarly increase based on square footage).

Standard Level 3: This is the highest level of the “standard” warranties but in this case, a certified installer is required. Just as in the above two cases, the warranty will pay for repairs after the 24-month period but with no dollar limit on the payment amount over the life of the warranty. This higher level of protection comes with a higher cost—on the order of 30 cents per square foot for a 20-year warranty. Our 10,000-square-foot roof then would cost $3,000 (may also be the minimum cost) for this warranty without any dollar limit on repairs (cost for larger roofs increases based on square footage – still no dollar limit on repairs).

Single-Source Warranties:

Manufacturers also offer another category of warranties that do not require the 24-month leak-free period following installation. Instead, the warranty coverage begins from the first day of completion of the roof system, hence making the manufacturer the “single source” of coverage.

For this warranty type to be offered, at any level, the construction of the roofing system must be performed by a certified installer/erector with inspections occurring at least three times (beginning, mid-point, end). The costs for the inspections are included in the warranty charges.

These warranties are also available in three levels (Single Source 1, 2, and 3), similarly offering choices in lengths of coverage (five – 25 years), different corresponding costs (approximately 25, 32, or 41 cents per square foot respectively for a 20-year warranty), and different levels of dollar coverage ($7, $14, or no limit respectively for a 20-year warranty). Warranty details should be reviewed with the manufacturer or a certified installer/erector to help make the best selection for a particular project.

If you are interested in finding out more about warranted metal roofing systems, contact your local Ceco representative at https://www.cecobuildings.com/contact .

Content for this article was provided by Todd Mercer, Ceco Construction Services Manager.

News stories of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters have become common, but so have efforts to improve buildings to resist them. Building code requirements, for example, address the minimum level of protection needed to allow people enough time to exit a building and survive a severe event. The code typically relies on independent standards such as those developed by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

In particular, the 2016 edition of “ASCE Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures” was released in June 2017, and is expected to be a referenced standard in the 2018 International Building Code used by many jurisdictions across the United States. Section ASCE 7-16 includes many significant changes for the metal construction industry, in that it incorporates findings from the latest research on wind-related events across the country. In many cases, particularly along coastal areas, it increases the structural requirements for all buildings, including metal buildings, to withstand more-severe wind in the interest of protecting people.

While codes and standards are important for establishing a baseline of minimum protection, many people are looking beyond that to create buildings that are truly resilient. The term resiliency has come to represent not only the ability to protect people, but also the ability of a building and its contents to survive a weather event. This means that the building will sustain minimal damage so that it can become operational again without significant lost time. Better engineering design and construction techniques for building components will be key in accomplishing this. But how can anyone tell ahead of time how a particular design and construction will perform? The short answer is by testing it.

The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) has spent considerable time and effort creating standards for metal buildings, but has also supported testing and research to make metal buildings more resilient. For example, they have partnered with the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISC), The University of California, San Diego, and the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulations (NEES) to conduct controlled tests to verify the performance of metal buildings during seismic events. Using full-size structures on platforms that simulate an earthquake, they have found that the lighter-weight, tapered columns of pre-engineered metal buildings do not experience the same “plastic joint” failures that can occur in buildings framed with conventional structural steel members.

Another organization, the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), does similar, real-world testing in wind tunnels to determine wind resistance during high-wind conditions. Ceco and its parent company, NCI Building Systems, worked together with  IBHS to conduct tests to help determine the different levels of achievable wind ratings based on the construction details and materials used in a metal building. This information is available and invaluable for anyone in design or construction who wants to understand how to make their buildings more resilient.

Certain geographic areas have their own testing and performance criteria that exceed code standards but are minimum requirements due to the higher likelihood of hurricanes or other severe weather. Miami-Dade County in Florida and the coastal counties of Texas are among such places. In order to obtain building permits in these locations, vulnerable building components must show that they have been independently tested to adequately resist high winds, heavy rainfall, and impacts from airborne debris. This applies to doors, windows, and skylights, but also to walls and roofs.

Overall, the key to a truly resilient building is a complete system design approach. It is not just the ability of any single component to perform, but the combination of engineering, fastening, testing, reinforcing, and other factors that need to all work together to create a successful building. That means it needs to start with the people involved, who can make all the difference. These include the architects, engineers, and contractors for sure, but it also needs to include the engineers on the staff of metal building companies. These specialists work with building owners, designers, and constructors every day to assess the resiliency needs for specific projects, and then work collaboratively to find the best solutions.

To learn more about the demonstrated resiliency of different types of metal buildings, contact your local Ceco representative.

In our last blog post, we clarified the different ways to show compliance with energy codes—namely, prescriptive envelope trade-offs with COMcheck, or full computer modeling. For purposes of this post, let’s assume that we are going to use the envelope trade-off method to create an energy-compliant metal building while seeking to control construction costs.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Determine Governing Code: Different jurisdictions (cities, counties, states) typically adopt different versions of national codes, such as the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or ASHRAE 90.1. Check with the local authority to determine which code(s) and which publication year(s) apply to your building. You can also see a listing on websites like www.energycodes.gov or http://bcapcodes.org/code-status/state/. Note that many places will allow the choice of an adopted version of the IECC OR ASHRAE 90.1 to show compliance; however, they cannot be interchanged. Only one or the other can be selected for the entire building to show compliance.

2. Determine Climate Zone: Both the IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 use the same definition of eight basic climate zones (listed by counties across the United States) to define prescriptive building requirements for components such as insulation. Hence, you need to identify the climate zone corresponding to your building location in order to find the proper information in the rest of the energy code.

3. Identify Prescriptive Envelope Requirements: Look up the prescribed requirements for walls, roofs, and floors specifically for metal buildings in the selected energy code based on the appropriate climate zone. This will provide a starting point for determining how easy or challenging it might be to achieve those levels for your building.

4. Make Construction Method Choices: Consider other alternatives in construction methodology. For example, would standard batt insulation in the walls be easier to install than adding what the code refers to as continuous insulation (ci)? This requirement for ci is usually met with rigid foam insulation installed outside of the metal structural components and under metal roofing or siding. Consider a few scenarios that make sense from a construction and cost-efficiency standpoint.

5. Run COMcheck: Take each identified construction scenario and put the relevant information into COMcheck, the free computer software commonly used to show energy code compliance. It is simpleto use once basic wall, roof, window, door, and floor areas are identified, along with the corresponding R-values or U-factors for each. Once the first one is completed, it can be saved and a copy made to compare it with a different scenario of insulation levels or other details. Going forward in this way, multiple options can be assessed pretty quickly and easily to see which ones meet or exceed code—and which ones don’t.

6. Compare Costs: Once the different options are identified that meet the energy code, you can compare the known material and labor costs of the different options to determine which makes the most sense. See the example below.

Example Metal Building Project:
Size: 60x100x20 with 1-1/2:12 pitched roof
Climate Zone: 2

Scenario 1 (based on prescriptive code requirements):
Roof: R-30 Liner System
Walls: R-13 faced insulation PLUS R-6.5 continuous insulation
In this scenario, the roofing liner system is fairly straightforward to install, but the requirement for continuous insulation in the wall requires more material and labor cost.
Total estimated insulation cost: $16,902

Scenario 2 (proposed design alternative run in COMcheck)
Roof: R-36 Liner System
Walls: R-19 faced insulation
In this scenario, the amount of insulation in the roof is increased and the wall insulation is consolidated into one installation.
Total estimated insulation cost: $10,045

Result: Both scenarios are shown to be compliant with the energy code, but scenario 2 reduces the installed insulation cost by $6,857, or 40 percent. (Note that this is an example only for the specific conditions noted. Actual results will vary, of course, with different buildings, different materials, and different locations.)

To learn more about different ways to insulate metal buildings effectively, see http://www.mbma.com or https://www.cecobuildings.com.

Content for this article was provided by Kyle Smige, District Manager at Therm-All. Therm-All is a pre-engineered metal building insulation laminator that provides an assortment of product lines and accessories, exceptional customer service, and energy code compliance consultation.

Thermal insulation is used in metal buildings to reduce heat flow between the inside and outside of walls and roofs, thus helping to keep the building warmer during heating season and cooler during air conditioning season. For building owners, that means lower energy use and the resulting lower cost of purchasing energy. The question often becomes: How much insulation to use—and where? Energy codes give us a starting point by identifying minimum acceptable levels of insulation in buildings.

The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is the primary energy code used around the country, although different versions exist since it is updated every three years. This code—and many jurisdictions—also recognizes ASHRAE 90.1 as an equivalent (not identical) energy performance standard that is acceptable to show energy code compliance for commercial buildings. Both of these documents include choices in how energy performance can be accomplished by offering three fundamental but different compliance paths:

Prescriptive:

This compliance method literally prescribes specific requirements for insulation, doors, windows, etc. If a building is designed and constructed in accordance using the prescriptive values found in tables and text in the IECC or ASHRAE 90.1, then it meets code in the most direct manner. Note that under the prescriptive method, R-values of insulation are prescribed based on assumptions made about the rest of the wall or roof construction. A prescriptive alternative is allowed that uses the U-Factor of the total wall or roof assembly to be calculated, but these are more conservative and usually end up requiring slightly higher R-values for the insulation to show compliance.

Envelope Performance Trade-Off:

The code recognizes that there is more than one way to meet energy efficiency goals, so it allows building designers the flexibility to create differing wall, roof, and floor conditions, provided the total building energy performance can be shown to match the total prescriptive level of performance. That means that trade-offs can be made between, say, the roof and wall insulation, where one might be less than the prescriptive code level but the other is more, so the trade-off balances out overall. The method used over 90 percent of the time to determine if trade-offs are code compliant is to use the U.S. Department of Energy’s COMcheck software, available for free download at https://www.energycodes.gov/comcheck. By entering some basic information about wall area, roof area, windows, insulation levels, etc., the software does the calculation and determines what percentage the proposed design is better than, or worse than, the prescriptive code level.

Computer Model:

Both the IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 allow for a full-blown computer simulation to be performed on a building to show overall code compliance. Under this approach, all building systems that affect energy use, including building envelope, HVAC, electrical, and process water equipment, need to be modeled with trade-offs acceptable between all. The computer simulation of the proposed design must be shown to perform better than an equal design that is based on the prescriptive code requirements as a baseline comparison. This method is usually reserved for larger, complex buildings or those where special conditions require it, such as large glass areas or non-typical construction.

Understanding these basic choices in energy code compliance is the first step in pursuing alternative ways to meeting energy requirements while staying within a construction budget. In many cases, particularly with metal buildings, simply striving to meet the prescriptive levels of insulation, for example, can imply additional costly construction either because of impacts on the building materials, additional labor costs, or both.

In our next blog post we will review additional steps for determining a code-compliant, cost-effective metal building design. In the meantime, you can learn more at http://www.mbma.com or https://www.cecobuildings.com.

Content for this article was provided by Kyle Smigel, District Manager at Therm-All. Therm-All is a pre-engineered metal building insulation laminator that provides an assortment of product lines and accessories, exceptional customer service, and energy code compliance consultation.

In our prior post we looked at the advantages that pre-engineered metal buildings have compared to wood-framed buildings. Since building owners, architects, developers, engineers, and others routinely seek the best value for the investment made in design and construction, it benefits us to look at a similar comparison between metal buildings and common building construction that uses concrete and masonry.

Metal Building Advantages over Concrete and Masonry Buildings:

Speed of Construction: Concrete work requires a number of time-consuming steps, including creating and placing formwork, mixing and pouring concrete, waiting for the curing process to take place, and form removal. Masonry similarly requires mixing of mortar and grout, the placement of the masonry units, and then the curing of the mortar. Metal buildings do not require the time for any of those steps, except for concrete foundations, where used. Instead, the metal components can be installed quickly, efficiently, and with no waiting.

Less Building Weight: Concrete and masonry are inherently heavy materials and that extra weight, or dead load, needs to be taken into account in the structural engineering of the building. That usually translates into larger structural members such as beams, columns, and footings. When the building is constructed instead out of steel, those elements can all be less heavy, comparatively smaller, and usually less expensive.

Site Crews: Pre-engineered metal buildings use the controlled factory conditions to perform critical fabrication functions. That means the onsite crew doesn’t need to have special skills, such as having a certified welder, to construct and assemble the building. That saves time and money compared to construction crews for conventional structural steel, concrete, and masonry work.

Recycling: It is common for a significant portion of the steel used in pre-engineered metal buildings to come from recycled materials, helping to conserve natural resources. At the end of the service life of the building, those materials can again be recycled and used for a new building or new purposes. Concrete and masonry do not typically contain recycled content and at more difficult to recycle at the end of their service life.

Resilience: Concrete and masonry structures need to be designed with extra measures in order to survive extreme conditions such as an earthquake. Steel buildings can readily be design to address the dynamic loading conditions imposed by seismic activity and have proven themselves repeatedly in this regard.

Weather Tolerance: Concrete and masonry construction is usually very dependent on favorable weather conditions. That doesn’t just mean a lack of wind or rain; it means appropriate temperatures of between about 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Poor weather conditions not only impact the quality of the workmanship, they can compromise the strength and the quality of concrete, mortar, grout, and similar products. Steel construction overcomes those limitations since the structure is sized and prepared in the factory without needing to rely on field conditions to be constructed accurately. Further, metal building components can tolerate temperatures that are both hotter and colder than those tolerated by masonry and concrete construction. That means the metal building construction can continue without being limited by most weather conditions, helping to keep projects on their time schedules.

With the number of ways that pre-engineered metal buildings provide advantages over concrete and masonry construction, it is easy to see why they remain such a popular choice for low-rise buildings of many different types. Learn more at http://www.mbma.com or https://www.cecobuildings.com.

The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) tells us that over the past 80 years more than 14 million metal building systems have been constructed in a wide range of building types and sizes. They have grown in popularity to the point that MBMA estimates that 48% of the low-rise buildings built in the United States utilize metal building systems. Why do pre-engineered metal buildings enjoy such popularity? It becomes readily apparent when compared to the alternative forms of construction available.

In this post, we will identify some of the advantages that metal buildings have over conventional wood-framed construction, which is sometimes seen as a common, inexpensive way to construct not only residential buildings, but light commercial buildings as well. In a future post, we will make a similar comparison between metal buildings and construction using concrete and masonry.

Metal Building Advantages over Wood Buildings:

Design Flexibility: Wood structural members have some notable limitations on their capabilities, such as clear spans of floors and roofs. That means that structural wood walls or columns and beams need to be located close together, which may or may not be conducive to a particular building design scheme. The steel in metal buildings allows for longer spans and greater design flexibility. The stronger material also means that the depth of the steel members does not need to be as deep as wood members, saving on the space required and helping to economize the overall construction.

Energy Efficiency: The insulating properties of insulated metal panels (IMPs) offer significant R-values, which can readily meet or exceed current energy codes and contribute toward credits in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. Because of the higher R-value insulation used in IMPs, less space is needed for the insulation compared to typical wood wall assemblies.

Fire-Resistant Construction: Metal building construction provides a non-flammable and non-combustible material for construction. As such it can qualify for different construction types under the building code than wood does. That can help in other ways, such as allowable floor areas and sprinkler requirements.

Low Maintenance: Steel building materials are inherently stronger and more durable than wood, meaning they typically require less maintenance, helping owners save money over the life of the building.

Pre-finished Materials: Most of the visible components of a metal building can be provided pre-finished in the factory. That includes exposed structural members, panels, and even fasteners such as screws and nails. Pre-finishing assures consistent and uniform appearance but also saves construction time compared to field-finishing wood products and systems.

Weather Tolerance: Wood construction can be very dependent on favorable weather conditions. Sudden rainstorms or melting snow can penetrate wood products and cause swelling or other damage that can compromise the structural performance or appearance of wood. Steel construction is not prone to the same type of damage from the weather as wood is. That means the integrity of the metal building systems can remain intact without the need to worry about removing and redoing wood construction work.

With the number of ways that pre-engineered metal buildings provide advantages over wood construction, it is easy to see why they remain such a popular choice for low-rise buildings of many different types. Learn more at http://www.mbma.com or https://www.cecobuildings.com.