March 12th, 2008
The Beginnings and Progression of Pre-Fabricated, Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings
The social and technological make-up of the United States underwent many revolutionary changes in the 1960’s. It also saw the beginning of the term “pre-engineered steel building”.
During this era a small number of “cookie-cutter” structures with limited size and shape selection could be known as “pre-engineered” because they relied on ordinary engineering configurations. This certain period was key for the pre-fabricated, pre-engineered building production industry because of certain events. Leading the way, the latest methodology was formulated to stretch the free span (no internal support column) ability of the pre-engineered steel structure. The original metal rigid frame pre-engineered structures were only able to expand 40 feet towards the end of the 1940’s, in order to appreciate the difference. Over the next few years this broadened to 70 feet. 100 foot “clear span” efficiencies were conceivable at the end of the 1950’s. (Present day improvements, it needs to be stated, have permitted clear span capabilities of a football field in width to be achievable).Panels that were colored also evolved around this time together with cold formed Z purlins of high tensile strength steel that would make the industry even more exciting and progressive and are a part of the steel building industry criterion even in today’s construction processes. Further, in the nineteen fifties, ribbed panels were produced that were very attractive when measured up to metal fluted panels previously used. The institution of an UL-approved metal roof in addition to insulated steel panels came about also as the nineteen sixties progressed.
The invention of the initial designed by computer pre-engineered metal buildings kept on going in the nineteen sixties during the boom in technology. An immense supply of shape and size probabilities regarding pre-engineered steel structure ventures was allowed by computerization of all design features.
To characterize their products the steel building manufacturing industry has, broadly, begun to use the terminology of “steel building systems” (to displace the use of “pre-engineered metal buildings”).There is engineering basic to this system that permits all building parts to aid in resistance to the elements and provide a protected interior environment. Certain basic elements included in the steel building system particularly the foundation, bracing, framing, roof, and walls are all assembled together to solidify and secure the pre-engineered steel building. This is most assuredly a working integrated system and positively defines the state of affairs in steel structure technology now.
The term “pre-engineered” has been previously applied to a building which was constrained to certain non-deviating designs. The designation “pre-engineered” became applicable to the processes used for each particular order and not to the prior principle of limited design and size selections due to the introduction of present day tailored metal building forms that fit the individual specifications of the consumer.