Building Analysis - Where's the Beef?

Pre-engineered metal buildings are popular with owners and developers since they provide a low cost economical solution for low rise steel framed construction. The PEMB supplier custom engineers the building to meet the code and owner specified minimum design load requirements. Using welded three plate columns and rafters with thicknesses varying in 1/16” increments and unlimited configurations for material utilization, the supplier has the ability to optimize the design to a great degree of precision. The PEMB supplier minimizes the cost to the owner but limits the flexibility to do future upgrades.  This has owners asking "Where's the beef?"

What does the owner do to plan for expansion, install a new roof or install new equipment? These scenarios, as well as many others, create additional loads on the building or changes how the building performs. Many of these modifications, renovations and expansions occur years after the building was designed and put in to service. The building codes are continually changing, the owner may not have a set of the existing building drawings, or the site visit may reveal undocumented changes to the building. These are just a few challenges faced when deciding if the existing structure can adequately support the new loads being applied to the building.

Needham DBS has staff with years of experience in the metal building industry. Pre-engineered metal buildings have details very specific to the industry. Any deviations from these details could have substantial effects to the performance of the structure. During the site visit, the staff at Needham DBS will identify these details and note if deviations have occurred. Nearly all building suppliers use proprietary software to perform their designs. Using knowledge gained working for numerous suppliers over many decades, the Needham DBS staff knows how to accurately perform a structural analysis using commercially available software to obtain results consistent with metal building supplier’s proprietary software. Needham DBS not only evaluates the existing conditions and but offers solutions in a detailed report so that the owner can make a decision to move forward with modifications. Needham DBS will work with the owner to achieve the best approach to add the beef.

Contact Needham DBS if you want to upgrade your pre-engineered metal building.