Engineered Steel Buildings

The industry terminology “pre-engineered buildings “can be very mis-leading or inaccurate.  In fact, a building isn’t “pre-engineered”.  A more accurate terminology is “engineered steel building”.  Every steel building we have erected is site specific, designed and project specific.  Be wary of the companies that have “overstock” buildings, or want to drop a building and run.  Terms such as “enclosed vs partially enclosed” or “snow shadow vs snow drift” make a difference in the engineering of a building.

Behlen’s quality, diversity and weight of building stand above most of the industry competition and set the bar high for competition to compete with their design. Behlen is proud to offer a rigid frame system that allows a wide-open interior space, with up to 330’ clear span and height capabilities over 100’.

The building envelope is getting more complex with the introduction of SB10 requirements with higher R-values required for energy efficient buildings, see the different roof and wall systems for energy savings (thermal guard, vapour guard, cavity fill energy saver)

• With property values always increasing, customers are trying to utilize every sq/ft of property which is making spatial separation a more important topic at the concept and quoting stage.  Fire walls are being integrated into the building design for our buildings more and more and with 1- or 2-hour designs to meet code available (W605 and W606)\
• Definitions and options to consider:
  • Framing (primary, secondary, clear span, multi-span, gable, mono slope)
  • Mezzanines and crane designs
  • Parapets, canopy overhangs
  • Roof systems (SSR and screw down AWR)
  • Wall finishes (colours, profiles, hidden/ exposed fasteners
  • Flange bracing, cable/rod brace bays, girts, purlins

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Every customer is looking for a different style to suit their particular requirements. Three common designs available are; The Gable Style provides a traditional center ridged-roof slope available in a variety of pitches. The Single-Slope Style has similar characteristics of the Gable Style but in a single-slope configuration. The Lean-To Style resembles the Single-Slope but provides an economical means of making a building wider by extending its roof line or it can be attached to a lower level on the building to provide additional office or storage space.

A Gable Roof System provides a roof with two sloping sides and a ridge, with optional tapered columns. This style of building is a cost-effective solution for office, warehouse, industrial, and commercial applications. The available straight column option provides a good system for palletized storage or display racks and is also ideal for shopping centers and other commercial buildings. The girt system can be located in either a bypass or inset position and the roof slope can be as low as 1/4:12 or as steep as 6:12. The Gable Roof System is available with clear span frames or with interior columns, which provide economical solutions for wider buildings.

A Single Slope System provides a building with one roof surface, with single-side drainage. These systems are suitable for manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and retail shopping centers. The available tapered columns provide an inexpensive solution for wider buildings, while the available straight columns allow for maximum usage of interior space. The girt system can be located in either a bypass or inset position and the roof slope can be as low as 1/4:12 or as steep as 6:12. Clear span frames are available or interior columns can be added to provide an economical answer for wide buildings.

A Lean-To System provides a cost-efficient means of making a building wider by utilizing a single slope system to extend the roofline of a building or by attaching to a lower level on the building. This is ideal when additional space for office or storage is needed.