Types of Frames for Steel Buildings

 Steel buildings are not all alike. The differences start with the basics such as the type of frame that you choose. A basic understanding of the different types of frames you can choose for your construction will help you make the best choice for your own building.

There are three main types of frames available for steel building construction. The most popular of the three is the clear-span rigid frame structure, which is very strong and durable. The other two styles, modular and single slope frames, each offer advantages for specific uses.

Rigid I-Beam Clear-span Frame

Clear-span frames require no interior support beams, which allows for a huge unobstructed interior suitable for nearly any application. You can build a clear-frame steel building in widths up to 300 feet and any length. Since the interior walls are not load-bearing, you can configure the interior of the building in any way that you want with the use of partition walls. That allows for an unlimited variety of floor plans suitable for retail space, office space, production facilities, and storage for commodities or heavy equipment—even airplane hangars. Even when you factor in the cost of heavier construction for wider buildings, clear-span construction is often the cost-effective option for larger steel buildings.

Modular Frames

Unlike clear-frame construction, modular frames make use of interior load-bearing columns to more evenly distribute the load of the entire building. A modular-framed building is a good choice if your prospective project is wider than 300 feet, and can be more cost-effective if your building will be wider than 80 feet, thanks to the savings you’ll realize in the cost of the building’s foundation. As the building width increases, so do the potential cost savings, which is why most buildings that are wider than 150 feet use interior support columns. A modular support system works very well for factories and other businesses that require extremely large steel buildings.

Single-slope Frames

Single-slope frames allow for a pitched roof, with one side of the building lower than the other. Pitched roofs may be a necessity in areas that get heavy snowfall, because they allow the roof to shed excess snow. When you order a single-slope frame steel building, you’ll specify the desired roof pitch. The most common roof pitch, ½:12, slopes downward ½ foot to every 12 feet of length, and meets the building codes for most cities. You can, however, specify a different pitch if your city’s building codes are different. Single-slope frames are a common choice for office complexes, strip malls and mini-storage facilities as well as many metal buildings for agricultural uses.

A steel buildings manufacturer can help you choose the best frame-type for your intended use.