Tips for Planning the Design of Steel Buildings

Steel buildings are built to order, so you’ll get to put your own stamp on the building design. While that’s a neat feature and ensures that your building will meet your needs, it can be a bit daunting if you’ve never designed your own space before. Brokers and manufacturers of steel buildings often work with engineers, so they may not be the most intuitive or helpful in guiding you to make the best decision in the design of your metal building. These tips can help you make decisions about your steel building design so you’re sure to get a building that meets your needs.

Know How You Plan to Use the Building

Imagine how you’ll use the building – what will be stored in it? What do you need to do inside it? How will you get in and out of it? The more clearly you can visualize your use of your building, the easier it will be to communicate your plans to the steel building designer. For example, if you know that you’re building a two-car garage, the steel building manufacturer knows the minimum size for garages meant to house various numbers of cars. Those figures will include the space you need between cars and for getting in and out of the car. If you also plan to use the building as a workshop, you’ll need to factor in space for workbenches and equipment, and possibly locations for power outlets and plumbing.

Likewise, most steel building manufacturers can help you with the minimum size specifications for barns, depending on the type of animals you plan to house in the barn and the type of layout you intend to use. For kennels, barns and other animal housing, be sure to figure in areas to store food and equipment if necessary. Again, the better your idea of how you’ll use the building, the easier it will be to design your steel building.

Consider the Size of Your Building Site

Measure your building site, but don’t use that as a final rule on how much room you have for your steel building. Many towns have strict siting requirements for steel buildings that include frontage requirements and requirements for the distance between the building’s perimeter and the street or abutting properties. In addition, overhead power lines and other infringements on the space may further restrict the size you have available on which to build your metal building.

Get the Building and Code Requirements from Your Local Building Permission Office

One of the primary considerations the engineer and design department will need are the codes and standards that steel buildings in your area must meet. Your local zoning and code compliance office can provide you with the information you need.

Those are all basic decisions you’ll need to make when ordering steel buildings. The more you know about what you want, the better your new metal building will meet your needs when it’s finished.