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How to Customize Storage Doors on a Slope

Published June 22, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Norsteel Buildings News , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Customizing your steel building with doors and accessories should be fun and easy, but what if your faced with a bit of a challenge?  What if your steel building is built on a slope? Well, you don’t have to worry because many customers just like you have been faced with this common problem.  One company by the name of DBCI had 10 buildings which were all built on a slope of 4 percent.  Most buildings, however are only about 1 percent.  This is why doors have rubber astragal tube-like material at the bottom.

The solution to this problem was to create a door that had an aluminum bottom bar which would be tapered, welded and bolted on certain locations.  The tape would run from about 4 1/2 inches on one end to 2 1/2 inches on the other.  It would then be made from aluminum and spliced down the middle.  A tig welding technique is used and bolts are placed in specific locations that provided taper.  Aluminium is used as a standard for doors because it would be a non-corrosive material and is more functional as far as wear and tear go.  It also gives the door a nicer look.  If the slopes of your building are varied it may be wise to have an installer make adjustments on-site such as removing nuts and bolts. This will make the bottom bar an expandable ruler on each side to help with the slope and create a tight seal on the floor.   This solution will allow workers some room in adjustment.  So when coming across a situation like this, there are a few options out there that can work for buildings on slopes.  This one solution has been helpful to one company and will be helpful to many others facing this problem.

DBCI – a manufacturer in storage doors is the company who came up with this solution.  They spent a whole month trying to figure out this problem and came up with many prototypes. It was a group of men who worked in the shop and each of them had ideas to contribute.  Everyone was co-operative and was excited to take on a new challenge.  The first few materials were delivered in July and then the rest were delivered in September.  The bottom bar was manufactured in Douglassville, GA and then had been shipped to Arizona where the manufacturing plant is located and this material is being used at the bottom of the doors. This is what most companies have done.  DBCI is very proud to introduce this new product which can be a huge solution to many.

For more information on steel buildings or storage doors and accessories, please visit us at www.norsteel.com and someone will be happy to help you with any questions you may have.

The History of the Modern Steel Industry

Published June 21, 2011 Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment
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Andrew Carnegie circa 1913. Image Source: Wikipedia.

Steel is our business.  Norsteel is your Number One source for pre-engineered, quality steel buildings, with an emphasis on value, versatility and speed.   It’s no surprise that we understand steel inside and out!  Here’s a short history on the North American modern steel industry.

One of the central figures in the modernization of the steel industry was Andrew Carnegie, an entrepreneurial man who pushed for a cheap and efficient means for producing steel.  His innovative approach put a focus on mass production, which helped regulate the price of steel and make it a more readily available and viable building material.

By 1889, the Carnegie Steel Company was responsible for more of the output of steel in the U.S.  Carnegie Steel was the largest manufacturer of pig iron and steel rails in the world and had a capacity to produce about 2,000 tonnes of pig metal per day.

The United States was the largest producer of steel and the lowest cost producer in the world by 1900.  Output and production had tripled since the 1890s – thanks to innovation and technology that encourages faster and more efficient investments into new production plants.  Demand fell somewhat during a recession at the turn of the century, in and around the time that Carnegie began to contemplate retirement.

In 1901, the Carnegie Steel Company was bought out by John Pierpont Morgan, a prominent banker and business strategist.  The buyout was the largest industrial take over in U.S. history.  Morgan formed the United States Steel Corporation (now more commonly known as U.S. steel) which became the first corporation in the world with a market value of over $1 billion.

Today, U.S. Steel is an integrated steel producer with operations in the United States, Canada and Central Europe and is the world’s tenth largest steel producer.  U.S. Steel is currently the largest domestically-owned integrated steel producer in the United States, although it doesn’t produce much more steel per day than it did in back in 1902.

Thanks to Andrew Carnegie’s innovative approach to steel production, we can now produce and ship steel efficiently and at a low cost.  Talk to us to learn about all the great things we can help you create with this versatile building material.

Chinese and Indian Steel Industries Booming

Published June 2, 2011 Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment
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Metal steel surface. Image Source: Public Domain.

A recent press release appearing in the Wall Street Journal suggests that steel production in China and India is expected to hit record demand in 2012.  According to the press release:

“China’s steel industry is among the world’s largest industries and is the fastest growing in the world,” with consumer demand growing each year.  Last year, the country was responsible for 46.7% of global steel production.  It is expected that China will produce a staggering 2 million tons of steel per day in 2012.

According the release India is quickly becoming the third-largest producer of steel in the world.  The country’s steel ministry has set a target of 124 production capacity by 2010 – a 15% overall increase.  India’s growth in the steel sector has been steady, due to increasing government support and consumer demand.  In the early 1990s, a series of economic policies were introduced in the country by the Indian government, paving the way for the development of a variety of industries, steel being among them.

A supplemental report by the Wall Street Journal argues that it’s difficult to tell exactly how much steel China is producing, due to a flawed statistics system making it difficult to determine the exact amount of steel that China produces and consumes.  At any rate, steel is a huge industry in China and around the world.  As demand for automobiles, airplanes and more environmentally-friendly buildings rise, steel production will continue to climb.

Here in Canada the steel industry is responsible for $2 billion in capital investment since 2005, $14 billion in sales last year and $7 billion in exports.  Canadian steel comprised of more than 50% recyclable materials, and it is one of the most recyclable materials in the world, with over 7.7 metric tons of the product being recycled in 2008.   According to the Canadian Steel Association, The average Canadian owns over 2,000 pounds of steel products.

Click here to learn more about the Canadian steel industry.

Innovative Design Using Steel Shipping Containers

Published April 7, 2011 Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment
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Idekit refabricated home. Image Credit: Maison Idekit Home.Steel is an incredibly versatile material, and we’re continually inspired by innovate ways to incorporate it into design.  A great article that recently appeared in the Vancouver Sun profiles builder Bernard Morin, an entrepreneur who creates environmentally-friendly homes by thinking “outside of the box.”

Motivated by his desire to build residential homes in a more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally-conscious manner, Morin and his business partner Jocelyne Labelle create homes out of recycled maritime shipping containers.  Operating under the name Idekit Homes, the Ste-Adele, Quebec company focuses on creating weather-resistant, well-lit homes.

Not only are these homes quick to assemble (Morin compares the building process to putting LEGO blocks together) the homes are also aesthetically pleasing.  Morin says there’s no shortage of building material, either.  According to the article, there are millions of decommissioned shipping containers sitting in dumps around the world.

A 1,200 square foot model home was featured at the Ottawa Home & Garden Show this past weekend.  It was shipped from Ste-Adele by truck and was easily assembled by Morin and an assistant in 10 hours.  All Idekit homes can be easily shipped – which means that these homes can move with you to a new location.

The total cost of the home, which includes delivery and set up (but not the cost of an electrician, plumber or property) checks in at a mere $99,000 CAD.

Idekit has sold 20 homes to date and is looking into developing condos as well.  All structures are waterproof, air-tight and energy efficient, and are eligible for LEED certification.

Creating homes out of recycled materials is a fast-rising trend that is picking up speed around the globe.  In Amsterdam, a youth hostel was constructed out of shipping containers and in Jamaica, families grown partial to the durability of shipping containers since they are able withstand hurricanes better than some traditionally-built homes.

Click here to read more about Idekit homes and click here to read more about the benefits of steel buildings for commercial, industrial and agricultural uses.

Things to Consider When Buying Horse Stables

Published March 29, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Norsteel Buildings News , Pre-Fabricated Building News Leave a Comment
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When thinking about purchasing a steel building for your horse stable, there are many requirements that you need to think of.   Horse stables need to be extremely durable, structurally sound, wind, weather, fire and insect resistant, and capable of housing animals that weigh nearly a ton. You also need to think about climate, whether the stable will house breeding stock or riding horse and other considerations must also be taken into account when selecting the type of building to use.

A steel building barn meets all of the necessary requirements and conditions. They are maintenance free once erected, can be built to specification on a firm footing or pre-existing slab, and provide a warm, safe environment for the housing of horses or other livestock.

The advantages of steel building and barns over more traditional buildings include:  Speed of construction. With pre-engineered barn buildings, a steel horse barn can be manufactured, delivered and erected in a matter of a few months as opposed to the 6-9 month time required for building a structure composed of traditional materials

Durability. Steel horse stables are free from insects that cause damage to wooden structures. They are also less likely to house vermin. In addition, steel will not rot, crack or deteriorate like a wooden barn.

Insurance benefits. Due to the fire resistant nature of steel, property and fire insurance premiums are much cheaper for steel buildings and barns – in contrast to hefty insurance costs for traditional wooden stables.

Safety. Horses are more secure in a steel building or barn. Steel will not splinter if kicked, and there is no exposed wood for horses to bite or chew on, eliminating concerns about ‘cribbing’ or injuries caused by ingesting treated wood fragments.

Cost. Barn construction costs are far lower with a steel barn and are less expensive to maintain over time. They do not require painting or other protection from the elements, and can carry a significant snow load. Whether a rigid frame building or a more traditional pole barn style is selected, steel is cheaper in the long run compared to other building materials, due to the expected life span of the building.

Convenience. Using steel for horse stables means that adding stall features such as dividers, doors, feeders and watering options is as simple as bolting components onto the steel. Partitions can be erected to provide areas for feed and tack or equipment storage. Kits with all the necessary parts for a fully functional horse barn can be customized for the desired number of stalls as well as any additional features.

For more information on steel buildings, please visit: www.norsteel.com

Source: www.buildingsguide.com

Steel Warehouse Buildings

Published March 17, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Norsteel Buildings News , Pre-Fabricated Building News Leave a Comment
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As long as you have the right tools and correct guidelines, building a steel warehouse building can be easy.  Warehouse designs are more advanced and available as they were not in the past.  A good manufacture will provide features that will make your planning and constructing process easy.

There are a few factors that will influence the design of your steel warehouse building.  Below, you will find a few key factors that you must consider before  constructing. The first one is building code, you must make sure that you know your local code information. You can find this out by calling your local building department and telling them that you would like to build a metal building at the given location. It is up to you, as the customer, to give the metal building supplier the final code information. It’s also a good idea to look into the setbacks and other code information that may prohibit the use of a metal building or any building on a given lot.

The second factor is the building dimensions of the building. Gather the dimensions of your warehouse building and indicate where you would like to have doors and windows and what color walls, roof and trim you want to have as well as the height of the building. This is extremely important when constructing a warehouse building, as doors must be the right size for large machinery and the dimensions will determine what inevitably can fit inside your warehouse. When it comes to the height of your building, please don’t forget to consider these two factors which are the overall height measured on the outside and the interior clearance.

Roof pitch – The dimensions of your roof are important to consider when constructing your  building.  Take a look at both the shape and the pitch of the roof as rigid frame metal buildings can come with several types of roofing options. Here are some options of roofs: a single slope roof construction starts with one side wall higher than the other and the roof simply slants from the high wall to the lower. A peaked or gable roof is more of a traditional peak with the roof running down both sides.

There are a few more things to consider, once the design of your building is complete. The first thing is engineering.  Once the basic design is complete and you’ve paid a deposit, an engineer needs to create the specifications and blueprints for the building. The next step is fabrication and delivery- This is when the production begins. The beams, posts, girders, side and roof panels, and even the fasteners to hold the building together are all produced at a factory, then shipped to your construction site. Next, site work – this is when the building site can be readied and foundations are poured. Now the last step!  It’s time to build.  When the components arrive and foundation is ready, construction can take place. This can be done by you, or you can hire an erector to put up your steel building. When finishing up your building, this will require insulation, interior walls, exterior finishes, doors and windows.  Finally, when all is complete and your building is up and running, you must have a building inspector approve your steel warehouse building.

For more information on constructing a steel building, please visit us at www.norsteel.com

Source: http://www.buildingsguide.com

 

Windows for your Steel Building

Published February 28, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Norsteel Buildings News , Pre-Fabricated Building News Leave a Comment
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Windows are a very important accessory for your steel building. They can make your steel building look brighter, modern and beautiful.  Aside from adding aesthetics, windows are important as they allow ventilation and lighting of any area in the building.  Galvanized or covered with aluminum framing, this will make your windows much more durable and will last for years to come. They will become less prone to destruction that is usually caused by poor weather conditions.  When ordering windows while purchasing your steel building, it will help to avoid discrepancies that are related to dimensions.

There are many types of windows to consider, down below we will talk about the different types of windows.  Most steel building companies have various sizes of windows for you to select from. Each selection will depend on the owners taste of course as well as the placement in your steel building.  Here below are the most popular types of windows:

Horizontal Slide Windows: They have overlapping sashes that slide horizontally; providing lighting and ventilation to the building. These may have features like half screen, latch, tainted glasses, weather stripping etc.

Single Hung Windows: They are fixed at the one end and movable on the other. These may also have additional features.

Slim Line Windows: These windows cannot be opened and are fixed and closed. Thus, these are basically used for letting the light in or enjoying a view of the outside. Many steel building owners opt for them to add on the appearance of their steel buildings and offices.

The windows that are described above can be insulated or non insulated, self framing or requiring sub framing etc. This all depends on the buyer and his/her building requirements. Windows are not usually included in steel building kits, however they do come completely assembled for easy installation in your steel structure.

If you’re considering installing windows in your steel building, you might want to start thinking about different designs. For more information please visit us at www.norsteel.com

Information on other steel building accessories can be viewed at: http://www.citysteelbuildings.com/blog/category/steel-building-accessories/

Source:  http://www.citysteelbuildings.com

Police Headquarters in Aurora, IL Achieves LEED Gold Certification

Published February 8, 2011 Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment
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Aurora Police Headquarters. Image Credit: Cordogan, Clark and Associates.

The City of Aurora in Illinois has been awarded LEED Gold certification for the green construction of its new Police Headquarters and Branch Court facility.

“The new Police Headquarters was not only built to enhance police operations and safety, but also to be one of the most environmentally-sound municipal buildings in the country,” Mayor Tom Weisner told the Trib Local, an Auroa-based publication. “Earning the prestigious LEED Gold certification is another mark of distinction recognizing Aurora’s leadership in sustainability initiatives.”

The police facility was able to earn LEED certification by utilizing incorporating a variety of earth-friendly energy, lighting, water and material strategies.  In addition to conserving resources, the new building will be using substantially less water and energy, thereby helping to save taxpayer’s money and creating a healthier environment for Aurora residents.

Construction on the Police Department and Branch Court facility was completed in late 2009. The 154,000-squre-foot facility uses 27 % less energy and 30 percent less water than a non-LEED certified building of the same parameters.  The massive campus also houses a 200,000-square-foot parking deck and 42,000-square-foot training building, in addition to 911 services, administrative offices, a records division and county court.

Other notables, according to the Trib Local include:

• Permeable pavers in the main parking lot that absorb storm-water runoff and are light in color so they do not reflect as much heat back into the building, which reduces cooling costs;
• Vegetated bioswales – as opposed to storm sewers – to carry water runoff into a 3.7 acre retention pond, which reduces the impact on Aurora’s municipal sewer system;
• “Daylight harvesting” elements that maximize natural light;
• Recycled content in drywall, steel and concrete; and
• Photovoltaic panels for solar power generation.

The stunning building isn’t only earth-friendly; It’s also equipped with state-of-the-art policing equipment.  It’s also the largest, full-service police station built in the United States.

To take a more in-depth look at this groundbreaking building, check out this YouTube video.

The Practicalities of Building Green, and Cool Regal White Roofs

Published September 10, 2010 Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment
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People associate “green” building with some elevated building style that isn’t accessible to the average person. They think of homes that are featured in architecture magazines with expensive solar panels, and cutting-edge technologies. This characterization has a kernel of correctness, but a building can still be green so long as it is built with environmentally friendly products and allows for more efficient processes of liveability. This can be done simply by choosing better materials.  What do we mean by ‘better’?

Typically, brand new green technologies are at the market introduction stage of their product life cycle. This means that initially, costs are high, sales are slow and a demand has to be created to achieve the economies of scale that allow for mass-market production. This creates fear from building green to avoid additional costs. 

Yet, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, building green isn’t reducible to dishing out big bucks for new technologies.  The reduction at issue is rather one of the harmful impacts on human health and the natural environment. This can be done as long as:

    * Resources, including energy and water are used in the most effective manner.   

    * Waste, environmental damage and pollution are minimized

    * Occupant health and employee productivity are maximized

At Norsteel, our buildings are designed to be sustainable as well as affordable.  We combine an energy efficient shell that minimizes negative environmental impacts and is code compliant.

Our steel, as well as some roof and wall products, are made of 100% metal alloy, which was recycled and can be reused or recycled again.

A wide range of energy-efficient structural components, including the Thermal Clad Insulation Panels, Energy efficient windows, and Tuf-Dome skylights help achieve more comfortable surroundings. In places with lower temperatures, our insulation can create thermal efficiency and last the entire life of the building. The skylights allow for 60% light transmission from the sun, decreasing the need for electrical lighting.

Even something as simple as changing the colour of your roof, for example, the Cool Regal White colour coating will bounce light off the roof, creating a cooler environment underneath.

All our materials come from wisely selected resources, minimizing environmental impacts and creating high quality products. We design our buildings for “high performance” and this turns out to be just another phrase for being “green.”

What’s LEED Certification?

Published August 27, 2010 Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment
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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a third party certification program and an internationally recognized standard for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. It was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to give builders, owners and operators the quantitative tools to measure the impact of eneruse and the impact of materials.

LEED guides sustainable building by providing us with a precise framework of identifying and creating practical and measurable solutions for green building design, construction, operation, and maintenance. This system covers all aspects of the development and construction process throughout a building’s lifecycle and adapts to different types of structures.

Rating systems for LEED are developed through a transparent process where technical data is publicly reviewed by USGBC members in LEED committees. This allows for marked consistency, opportunities for stakeholder involvement and review, member ballots of rating systems and an open appeals process.

Currently, LEED awards points to encourage green building practices. In 2009, there were 100 possible base points for all categories of buildings except LEED for Homes, which has a different rating system. Note that an additional six points that may be awarded for Innovation in Design and four points for regional priority. Buildings can qualify for four levels of certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points), Platinum (80+ points).

Materials that are recycled, reusable, and energy efficient help to increase the number of points on a LEED certified building.

Norsteel Building’s construction processes, combined with recycled steel sheeting, frames, and alternative wall and roof products are good steps towards creating an energy efficient structure. The design and construction of these buildings are energy efficient and can lead to LEED point eligibility. If you are in the market for a green building project, contact us at Norsteel Buildings to learn more.

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