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Cooling a Steel Building

Published May 17, 2011 Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Water Cooler. Image Credit: Ironic 1.

Steel buildings are a great investment because they are easy to assemble, more environmentally-friendly than other materials, and cheaper to heat and cool.  But how exactly does one cool a steel building? If you own a large steel building that houses employees, this should be a top concern of yours.  An un-insulated, improperly cooled building can be hotter on the inside than it is on the outside.  It is important to make sure that employees remain comfortable during the summer months.

Here are a few handy tips that will help get your steel building ready for the warm weathers.

First and foremost, air conditioning is a great investment for a steel building.  Compared to buildings comprised of other materials, a steel building can be up to 40% cheaper to cool. An air condition system can be used in conjunction with a cool roof system which will prevent the air conditioning from over-heating.

A cool roof system protects a building’s roof from weather damage and the sun’s heat.  Usually comprised of light-coloured tiles or covering, a cool roof system provides a reflective barrier from the sun’s rays.  This helps minimize cooling costs and makes it easier to stabilize the temperature within a building.

Good insulation is another way to keep a steel building cool during the summer months.  This will help keep hot air out and cool air inside, where it belongs.  Adding extra insulation to the ceiling will trap any hot air that makes its way into the building.

Another tactic, which may or may not be feasible, is to try and arrange workspaces in areas where there is not a lot of sunlight.  Trying to assign workstations to “shadier” areas of the building can help keep employees cool, which can again help to reduce cooling costs.

Last but not least, regardless of how cool your building is, it’s always important to have a water cooler or water fountain available for employees to cool down from the heat and rehydrate.

Planning A Mini-Storage Complex

Published March 10, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Mini-Storage Buildings , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Thinking about putting a mini storage building up? First thing you need to think about is location. Location is very important especially since zoning is almost always an issue. You must make sure you understand the restrictions on the type of building and business that you intend to bring with you to a given location, and that there is no conflict with mini-storage.  Below you will find a list by Erik Hermes’ article, “Insight to A Great Site,” which is a popular list that can be found in numerous articles and it used by many owners to determine a good location for their mini storage building.  First off, what makes a good location?

  • On an arterial street
  • Easy to see
  • Traffic count minimum of 20,000
  • High density of homes
  • Few competitors within 3 miles
  • Next to an apartment complex

And now what makes a great location:

  • On a major intersection
  • Easy to access
  • Minimum traffic count of 30,000
  • High density of homes in growing area
  • No competitors within 3 miles
  • Next to high activity retail or restaurant

Once you have decided on your location, size, number and mix of units, you can get in touch with a manufacturer.  There are many manufacturers in the market so be sure to do your research and to get information from a few before you proceed.  Make sure you discuss your own custom requirements, and any accessories they may offer that can enhance your operation.

We recommend that you try this FREE ONLINE QUOTE SERVICE, as it will put you in contact with multiple, top-level manufacturers, who will provide you with high-end project proposals at factory-direct prices. The form is quick and easy to use and requires no commitment. These suppliers will be competing for your business, so it is in their best interest to offer you top quality service and excellent prices.

We at Norsteel buildings also provide many types of mini storage buildings, please be sure to give us a call at 1-866-822-4022 or visit us at www.norsteel.com

Source: http://www.buildingsguide.com

Snow Guards for your Steel Building

Published February 1, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Pre-Fabricated Building News , Steel Building Tips 1 Comment
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Snow guards are used to keep the snow from sliding off of your roof; however they are not the most attractive component of a steel building.  You may find yourself of having to convince the architect that if they are even necessary as their aesthetic value is so low.  Most architects prefer very little snow guards on their roof.  Snow guards are capable of more than mere functionality.  One project in Alaska has shown that snow guards can enhance the look of a roof and even stand out as a nice feature.  The projects in Alaska which is called The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts and the Anchorage Rail Station, both utilize the SNOWBAR system which is manufactured by Action Manufacturing LLC, and distributed by Riddell & Co. Inc. and SnowBlox-SnowJax.

The Snowbar system can be curved to match the curves of the roofs.  One of the projects features more than three miles of snow guards and the other project features more than a mile of snow guards.   “The unique thing about both jobs is that the architect was using the snow guard not just for snow retention purposes, but for an architectural feature,” Said Paul Riddell, president of Riddell & Co. “That’s the unique aspect of these two projects; taking snow guards a step further as an architectural feature by incorporating them into the look of the job. They didn’t need that many rows for snow retention, but they wanted them every five feet on center to create more of a grid-type pattern on the roof.  “One of the biggest complaints we hear is, ‘When you put a snow guard on our roof, it takes away from the buildings’ look.’ We wanted to show that it can be part of the design process.”  Using a stainless steel clamp and bar, the Snowbar system can be left bare as on the performing arts center, or can be painted to match the roof as on the rail station. Because the clamp is stainless steel it can be used with all types of metal roofs such as copper and zinc.  The first project we talked about earlier features a stainless steel, standing-seam metal roof panel and the other project features a zinc panel.  All Snowbar systems can be painted to match the roof and the curving of the bar is great for preventing snow and ice from avalanching off a metal roof which will prevent damage to property, injury or death.  Also all stainless steel withstands weather.

So even though most of us think that snow guards are not the most attractive thing on a roof, most people consider using a small bar system over the entryway or the door.  And unfortunately, most of those small bar systems fail because they are not supported with multiple rows and bars.  Consider the two projects we talked about and hopefully this will shed some light on snow retention.

For more information on roofing, please visit us at www.norsteel.com

Source: www.metalconstructionnews.com

Steel Buildings are great for the Environment

Published January 27, 2011 going green , Pre-Fabricated Building News , Steel Building Tips 1 Comment
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With innovative building design, engineering and use of materials, pre-engineered steel buildings are leading the way in the Green building revolution.  Steel buildings are not only better for the environment but better for you too.  Here are some advantages to steel buildings:

-Steel buildings don’t require cutting down trees

-Steel manufacturers use materials with a high proportion of recycled content

-Employ sustainable building design and construction

-Buildings erect in less time than conventional building construction.

-They can lower insurance costs because Steel buildings are fire resistant

-They are rust resistant and maintenance free

-Steel manufacturers employ energy efficient methods in steel production that help to substantially     reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

-Steel can be recycled over and over again

-Most steel produced in Canada uses recycled material

-More steel is recycled than all other recyclable materials combined

Sustainable building also known as “green building design”, recognizes the environmental impact of buildings and works to make this impact much less through energy efficiency building materials that are, environmentally sound and innovative building design.  This will create a healthy indoor environment!    Steel buildings that are coated with cool coatings will use less energy in both the summer and winter and will make your building energy efficient.  Cool metal building coatings will reflect heat in summer, but also retain the heat inside the building on cooler days and will save you money on your heating bills. Cool coatings will reduce energy costs and you can even qualify for Federal tax credits.

Cool coating paints for roofs and side panels that steel buildings use, come in a wide variety of environmentally friendly building colors. Cool coatings are special paints with superior reflective qualities that act as a thermal barrier to keep the insides of steel buildings cool in summer. An “urban heat island” happens when urban concrete and asphalt construction absorbs heat during the day then radiates it back at night so that temperatures don’t fall at night as they normally would, and is a powerful contributor to climate change and global warming.

In Canada, commercial building construction is taking advantage of the cool properties of steel building metal roofs for commercial buildings such as: warehouses, industrial manufacturing plants, aircraft hangars, storage buildings, retail outlet stores, auto dealerships, strip malls and more.

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

Article Source: http://www.info-hog.com/

The Benefits of Using Skylights and Light Panels

Published November 5, 2010 going green , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Image: Norsteel SSR Dome Skylight.

In addition to saving on lighting costs for your steel building, skylights and light panels are excellent ways to add value and beauty by allowing more natural light to illuminate the space. There are multiple benefits of adding these products to your project.

Skylights are basically windows that are installed on the roof, allowing sunlight to filter into the space, eliminating the need for artificial light during the daytime hours as well as providing the warmth of the sun. Norsteel offers clear, high strength polycarbonate skylights with a one piece dome and curb design to allow for easy installation and maximum light transmissions. We also offer translucent fire retardant GFRP light panels that will match the metal cladding profiles of the roof and walls, allowing for a factor of 60% light transmission.

Skylights have been shown to allow up to five times more light than a traditional window of the same size on a vertical wall. Adding light panels on your roof and walls will increase this even more.

Both products maximize the amount of natural light in a space. This is important as it regulates the body’s circadian rhythm, inducing sleep at night and providing vitamin “D” to stimulate positive emotions and reduce winter mood disorders. Natural light also increases the likelihood for plants to thrive indoors.

Since skylights and light panels replace the need for artificial light, electricity bills are decreased during the daytime. The heat and light provided from the sun will lower the amount of energy, either in the form of electricity or gas, required. This translates to energy savings over time.

Due to the reduced need for electricity, these products are considered green because they make use of renewable energy and lessen the impact on the environment.

Lastly, skylights can increase the value of a property due to their energy efficiency and the visual appeal they add to a building. Since there is more light, dark areas are then illuminated, creating a sense of spaciousness and creating a more open and airy feeling. Small spaces benefit from the illusion of a larger space.

Norsteel offers skylights and light panels which are easy to incorporate into your building plans. Contact us for more information on adding skylights or light panels to your steel building project.

Metal Workshops for Strength, Durability and Low Cost Construction

Published October 14, 2010 Pre-Fabricated Building News , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Ezine Articles recently posted an article about the benefits of steel garages, entitled “Metal Workshop Buildings for Your Favourite Hobby.” It mentions that many people tend to get a workshop to create sufficient space for hobbies not suitable for inside the house. These could be activities that are dangerous, such as woodworking, or just require more space than a typical living arrangement allows.

It mentions that while all types of workshop buildings are popular, ones made out of steel are especially outstanding because of their strength, durability and lower construction cost.

In terms of strength and durability, steel is a great choice become wooden buildings may not be suitable for activities that require heating or burning objects since fires may occur. Yet, if a building is made out of steel, it would not rot, collapse or catch fire easily. Even if a fire occurs in the steel workshop, there is no fear that the entire structure will collapse.

There is generally a lower construction cost since these structures are relatively easy to construct and in many cases, a general contractor is not even necessary! Using only minimal professional help will definitely cut construction costs. The structure is made of modular parts so it is easy to set up with less time and effort. Because the length can easily be increased by adding additional sections, increasing the size of the structure is relatively easy and will not require much additional engineering.

As pointed out, the above are just two of the major advantages for using a metal building for a workshop.

When it comes to metal buildings, Norsteel Buildings is ahead of the pack. Norsteel metal buildings have a rigid frame custom built out of the highest quality, heavy-grade steel available in the AZ165 Galvalume 8000 Series. The size of the structure, as well as the style and colours of the panels can be custom chosen for the project. With so many choices to make, do not hesitate to contact us to help you create that perfect workshop or workstation.

Photographic Panels

Published July 21, 2010 Norsteel Buildings News , Pre-Fabricated Building News , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Photographic panels are a cool way to add some imaging to your panels.  Ombrae Imaging Technology is a popular new technology that uses light and shadow to create visuals on the paneling of your steel building.  How does it work?  Basically what happens is that Ombrae Technology breaks down an image into individual pixels.  Each pixel’s optimal reflective position is then calculated and punched into the Dri-Design wall panels.  It is then engineered to stay attached to the base panel.  The 3-D pixels act as reflectors to catch light or cast a shadow.  This creates a holographic image that presents slightly differing appearances depending upon the lighting and the view of angle.  In one situation, a parking  garage at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta,  Ombrae panels were used by Bing Thom Architects, in Vancouver, to create the image of clouds that appear to be moving across the sky because of the way the light is reflected.  The Ombrae concept originated with the artist Quin.  Bing Thom introduced Quin to Ken Smith of Calgary-based Flynn Canada Ltd. (the SAIT project installer), who in turn introduced Quin to Dri-Design.Dri-Design President Brad Zeeff realized making these reflective images could be done with machinery.

Thom was fascinated with the idea of 3-D surfaces and wanted to experiment, he wanted to naturally ventilate the SAIT parking garage with perforated metal. Rather than just painting on an image, the Ombrae allowed him to create an image that was alive, changing colors depending on the angle at which you approach it, the color of the sky and even the season, as green leaves can reflect off the exterior façade.  “Rather than just a billboard, this has more life to it,” Thom said.  “I just thought it was a great technology and I could see it on parking structures, roof top mechanical screen walls, artwork for interiors—I thought this would be a great natural way of doing it without putting on any paint,” Zeeff said. “We’re dreaming and experimenting and testing,but we see Dri-Design with Ombrae in theaters because we believe the sound transmission will be awesome.I see it in lobbies, it could go into a curtainwall or glass window system. I see it as corporate logos …anywhere you want to design a theme or project a feeling.”

If  you’re wondering if a photographic panel would require special installation or maintenance requirements,  it actually is easily installed with ease and maintains the same kind of low-to-zero-maintenance quality you would expect from metal panels says Dri-Design. 

For more information on Ombrae Imaging Technology, you can visit www.dri-design.com or for more information on Norsteel Buildings Limited and their products, please visit our website at www.norsteel.com Continue reading ‘Photographic Panels’

Insulated Panels for Your Steel Building

Published June 28, 2010 Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Since we just talked a bit about insulation in general, let’s go into a bit more detail. As you know from previous posts, a great benefit of building with steel is the tons of available options you have for insulation–including a lot of clearance room to add lots of insulation right where you want it–roofs, walls, you name it. But, one of the cool features we offer is our insulated panels. In addition to putting blanket insulation down, you can also have it incorporated directly into your walls and into your roofing

On our Insulated Panel page, you can get a complete run-down, but let’s cover some of it here as well.

Key Benefits to using these include lowered energy costs and a really high long-term durability. These panels offer the highest R values over the life of the building. (R values are the term used to measure the insulative properties of insulation. We’ll go into this in the future in greater detail.)

We offer several types of panels.

Architectural wall panels are flat panels, available in a large range of colours and are perfect for your fussier-appearanced projects. They offer a very attractive appearance, and can be installed vertically or horizontally for more flexibility.

Striated wall panels have narrow ripples running vertically down the length of the panels. They’re also very attractive because the grooves add pleasing detail. They have a core of blister-free polyurethane and a high insulation rating.

Mesa & Light Mesa partition panels are also quite attractive, and you can use these on an interior or exterior basis. The subtle design–wide vertical stripes, evoking board and batten siding–is nice, and the design repeats on both sides which adds visual consistency to your project. Lots of colours to choose from.

Fluted panels offer an attractive and bold design, with a high-tech industrial look. Great colours and r-values.

Tuff-Wall panels are really attractive, and give a similar look to stucco. They’re highly abrasion and impact resistant, as well as offering EXTREME weather resistance.

We also offer insulated roof panels, which is another chance to add some insulation to your project. These come in the standing seam design, with an all in one composite panel.

Give us a shout if our insulated panels could work for you!

Skylights and Lighting for Steel Buildings

Published June 21, 2010 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Using skylights and windows, especially ones that are energy efficient and have strong insulating properties, is a great way of making buildings that are environmentally friendly, and that have good appeal both inside and out. The environmental and energy effects of using (free!) natural daylight are pretty apparent. But it also turns out that people like it more as well.

Studies have proven daylighting makes employees more comfortable and productive. Reduced absenteeism, employee satisfaction and higher productivity are all bottom line benefits from the use of natural daylighting. An increase of just 1% in productivity provides enough financial savings to a company to pay their entire energy bill. (From Building Green TV).
There’s been a lot of talk about how Walmart is greening up its act, but it actually stumbled on to the benefits of using natural light. The company figured out that parts of a store lit by skylight panels had more sales. And, cash registers in the daylit portion rang up more sales. So, people just feel better with some sunshine on them. That seems to make sense.

Norsteel can help you bring some of the outside into your steel building with our skylights, light panels, and ventilation hardware.

Skylights
We offer bubble-type dome-and-curb skylights that are easy to install and let in lots of light.

Light Panels
These are similar to the ones Walmart uses to light their stores. Translucent, fire-retardant GFRP (that stands for glass-fiber reinforced plastic) match the cladding profiles of roof and walls. This permits you to use a lot of them, and the building will still look good. They have a light transmission factor of 60%.

We’ve got good news if this stuff has you thinking about leaks. With a good installation and our good materials, a skylight has no more tendency to leak than any other roof component requiring a hole in the roof.

And if it’s ventilation you need, as well as light, we offer attractive louver panels, adjustable ridge vents, and of course, mechanical ventilators. These can help you control your building’s temperature and humidity at a relatively low cost.

Sheet Metal Gauge: Measuring Gauge of Your Steel Building

Published June 9, 2010 Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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We like to explain a lot about our metal building products. Sometimes we talk about the metal in terms of “gauge.” In our case, this is a measure of the thickness of sheet metal. Various industries use different kinds of gauges to describe different things: wire gauge is a measure of the thickness of wire; Stubs iron wire gauge is a measure of the thickness of a hypodermic needle, suture wire and catheters (ouch!); and a measure of the diameter of a shotgun barrel. You may think that all these gauges refer back to something standard, but unfortunately for the case of simplicity, they do not. To make things more complicated, the Stubs’ measure is also known as the Birmingham Wire Gauge and is used widely in the UK for sheet metal, pipes and so forth as well–not just painful medical implements.

But wait, there’s more! In North America, sheet metal thickness gauges for steel are based on the weight of the steel per square metre or foot. This allows more efficient calculation of the cost of material used. The standard for this is 41.82 pounds per square foot of thickness. It is called the Manufacturers’ Standard Gage for Sheet Steel.The higher the number, the thinner the sheet.

Because it’s a measurement based on weight, it cannot be standard across different types of metal. So, aluminum, brass, or lead and platinum are clearly going to be using different numbers when talking gauge. However, even different types of steel have differing gauges, because their weight varies with differences in makeup: stainless and galvanized correspond to different gauge numbers than does plain mild steel. Custompart.net has a cool calculator for standard, galvanized and stainless steel, as well as aluminum and zinc.

So, now when we talk about our steel building products being offered in 24-gauge standard and 22-gauge optional, you’ll know that 24-gauge is about 2/3 mm in thickness and weighs 5.35 kg per square metre, and 22-gauge (optional) is 3/4 of a milimetre in thickness and weighs 5.95 kg per square metre. News you can use!

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