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The C-Channel Metal Building System

Posted on March 30, 2020November 21, 2022 by Norsteel Buildings

In a previous blog we discussed the different Metal Building Systems in the Norsteel Product line. We touched on the basic concepts and terminologies that are important for customers to understand, as they work with their Building Consultant to design the steel building that will ultimately meet all of their requirements.

As mentioned, Norsteel’s C-Channel Steel Building System, is by far our simplest and most economical steel building system. The C-Channel steel building is aptly named because it is formed from several steel members that have a “c” shape. These are bolted together to form the structural basis for this type of Metal Building system.

We call our Norsteel C-Channel the EasyBuild Steel Building because we began carrying this product line specifically for our Do-it-Yourself Customers who had been asking for a simpler steel building that they could construct on their own.

This blog will provide you with an introduction to our EasyBuild Steel Building Kit. It will give you an overview of the structural support system that gives it strength and the components that give it aesthetic appeal.

What is the Norsteel EasyBuild C-Channel?

History and Origin

Our EasyBuild steel structure can be described as a C-Channel building because it is formed from several steel members shaped into a c-channel. These are bolted together to form the I-beams that are the structural basis for this metal building system.

The Norsteel EasyBuild Steel Building provides the same conventional look of a Rigid Frame steel structure at the affordable cost of a Quonset or wood build. This is because the EasyBuild is a simple structure. There is less design required to engineer it, there is no welding in manufacturing, and it is a lighter gauge structure, so there is less steel.

In fact, our EasyBuild Metal Buildings are affordable and more efficient on every level. From engineering, to manufacturing, to shipping, and even off-loading and assembly; the EasyBuild is the most affordable choice for simple, clear-span space – Especially when customers are looking for structures up to 35’ in width.

Because it is marketed as a Do-it-Yourself Kit that can be assembled with minimal use of equipment (many of our customers assemble with ladders and scaffolding), the savings continue right into the assembly of the EasyBuild steel building. Handy people can easily follow the DIY instruction manual and blueprints to erect their own steel buildings without the use of heavy machinery or crews of workers. The new, innovative creation of our EasyBuild Foundation Kit further increases savings in time and money by decreasing the amount of concrete that is needed in the foundation.

EasyBuild Steel Building – Components

Our EasyBuild Structures have a hot-dip galvanized steel frame. In fact, all primary and secondary framing members in our EasyBuild model are zinc coated. This zinc galvanizing process prevents rust and ensures a long life-cycle of performance.

1. Primary Structural Support System

When we speak about the Primary Structural Support of a Pre-Engineered Steel Building, essentially, we are addressing the framing of the building. The Primary structural support system is the main support of a pre-engineered steel building. For this reason, we often refer to the primary structural support systems as the main framing system of the building. It follows that when a frame is at an Endwall, it is called an Endwall Frame, and when a frame is within the building, it is called an Interior frame.

Interior and Endwall Frames are laid out in a carefully engineered pattern to provide the primary support for Metal Building Systems.

The distance between the centerline of each of the frames is called a Bay. Bay Spacing is an important factor in determining the design of your structure. The required width of each bay is something that customers should consider because it will have an effect on where you are able to place windows and service doors along the sidewalls of your EasyBuild metal building system.

The Primary Framing in our EasyBuild Steel Structure consists of galvanized, C-Channels which are bolted together to form the structural basis of the building. Typically, these c-shaped channels are 8” in depth, but this can change depending on the design and location of the steel building. Two C-Channels bolted back to back form the “I” beam that is equivalent to the primary framing of the Rigid Frame Metal Building System.

Tip: In keeping with the simplicity of the EasyBuild steel structure, Interior and Endwall Frames are created equally, and there are no expandable Endwalls.

Clear Span Primary Framing

By far the most functional component of Pre-Engineered Steel buildings is the Clear-Span Primary Framing system. We call these frames “Clear-Span” simply because they require no interior columns or support between the exterior columns. An amazing thing for any customer looking to achieve 100% usable interior space! In fact, it is the Clear-Span Rigid Frame that first revolutionized construction and made metal buildings such an incredibly versatile and innovative investment.

The frame on our EasyBuild steel building has straight vertical columns attaching to straight rafters. These c-channels bolt together to form the I Beams of the steel building – meaning that if you took a cross-section through either a column or rafter section, you would have an I-shape.

In our EasyBuild product line, the primary framing is reinforced with thick metal plates in three specific spots on each frame:

at the interior center point where the rafters meet and join to form the peak of the building and,
where the columns of the frame are connected to the rafter beams – at the Haunch, on each side of the building.

The center point and the haunch are the thickest parts of the primary framing in the EasyBuild Metal Building system simply because these are load bearing spots on the building. It follows that they must support great force, and so, we must reinforce that area with thick steel plates.

Exactly like the Rigid Frame Metal Buildings, the EasyBuild Primary Framing is designed to bear the load for half the bay of the roof on either side of its location and transfer that loading to the foundation.

Tip: Unlike the Rigid Frame, the primary framing components of our EasyBuild steel structures can be bolted together in sub-assemblies on the ground, where work is faster and safer. This requires fewer lifts and fewer connections to be made in the air by our DIY customers.

2. Secondary Structural Support System

When we are speaking about the Secondary support system of a Pre-Engineered Metal Building system, we are referring to the Purlins and Girts. These structural members are the steel components that run horizontally across the roof and walls, spanning the primary framing.

Girts and Purlins are essentially the same with the only difference being their location on the building, and they have 2 main functions: To transfer the loads to the primary framing, and to provide a surface onto which the roof and wall panels are screwed.

The Purlins

We refer to the secondary system that provides structural support to the roof as the Purlins.

The Purlins on our EasyBuild Structure consist of galvanized z-channels which are 6” in depth. These 6” purlins are standard in the EasyBuild Structure, but purlins may be produced in greater depth to provide greater strength to structures that will be constructed in areas with high snow loads. The depth of the purlin as well as the spacing, is determined by the engineering itself and is dictated by both the design of the structure as well as its location.

The job of the purlins is to transfer roof loads to the primary structural support system, which in turn transfers the loads to the foundation.

The Girts

We refer to the secondary system that provides structural support to the walls of a Metal Building System, as the Girts.

Girts run horizontally between the frames of the walls and are attached to the columns.

Like the Purlins, the Girts of our EasyBuild Structure consist of galvanized z-channels and the spacing of the Girts, varies with the load imposed on them. The depth of the Girts used in a structure is also determined by the particular loading requirements for that structure. Like purlins, girts are typically 6 inches in depth. Occasionally, deeper secondary members are necessary for specific applications and site locations.

The Girts take the loads imposed on the wall system and transfer them to the frames, which in turn, transfer them to the foundation.

Tip: One last thing to mention when we are discussing secondary structural members of a metal building system, is that the Eave Strut is located at the intersection of the roof and the exterior wall. It acts as both the first Purlin and the last Girt. This is important because the building height for a pre-engineered steel building is always recorded as the measurement to the top of this steel member – It is the eave height that is recorded as the height for the building, not the peak height of the structure.

3. The Bracing System

The final structural support system of the EasyBuild Steel Building is the Bracing system. As its name implies, the bracing system functions to resist the forces of the elements and to transfer these loads to the secondary and primary framing systems. The Bracing System for the EasyBuild Structure is accomplished with a combination of Elbow Bracing and Diaphragm Bracing.

Elbow Bracing

Elbow Bracing, is used to brace the building against forces from the elements. The elbow bracing on the EasyBuild Steel Structure is found between the girts and the primary framing system. Thick steel members are used to provide bridges of additional strength and are bolted and bent into position in the corners from the girts to the primary frames.

Where the bracing goes and how much is needed depends on the design of the building and its location. A structure that is situated in a municipality with high wind load for example, will require more bracing than one in a different municipality with mild wind. Likewise, a structure designed with an open wall, will require more bracing than a structure that is completely closed.

Diaphragm Bracing

Another type of bracing that is used to establish structural integrity in a pre-engineered steel building is Diaphragm Bracing. Diaphragm Bracing is inherent in most metal building systems, and results from the presence of the cladding – the exterior panels that cover the primary and secondary framing of the steel building. Cladding provides the building with aesthetically pleasing colour, and it obviously finishes the wall and roof skeleton of the building. In doing so, it provides yet another defensive brace against the loadings that impinge on the structure itself.

Our EasyBuild Metal Building System relies heavily on diaphragm bracing for structural support. This means that the number and size of doors will be limited, especially on the Sidewalls of the building, simply because removing too much of the cladding means compromising the structural integrity of the building.

4. The EasyBuild Paneling System

Wall Panels

The wall panels for our EasyBuild Steel Building come in twelve popular colors with a 40-year limited warranty against chipping, cracking, flaking or peeling. The paint has a siliconized polyester finish with a substrate galvanized coating beneath the paint providing further protection against rust.

The wall panels are continuous from floor to eave and meet or exceed required wind loads. These panels are 26-gauge as standard. All wall panels are attached to the girts with screws that come assembled with neoprene washers. The washers eliminate the potential for rust by preventing damage to the sheeting. The heads of the screws are painted to match the colour of the sheeting. They will not rust, tarnish or turn black.

Roof Cladding

Galvalume roof panels are standard on all our EasyBuild steel buildings. Our roof panels are 26-gauge high-tensile steel with a corrugation depth of 1-1/4”. The Purlin Bearing Rib (PBR) roof system provides a full overlap, which means our buildings are weather-tight, even under extreme conditions.

Rigid-rib panels are designed for long-life and pre-cut to building dimensions. AZ55 Galvalume® is an aluminum/zinc coating, which protects the roof sheeting against rust. It requires no maintenance or painting to retain its original luster and is comprised of 55% aluminum, 44% zinc and 1% silicone.

The AZ55 roof panels have a high aluminum content providing superior protection against rust and backed by a 25-year, limited rust-through perforation warranty. In addition, the self-drilling roof fasteners are stainless steel capped and come fully assembled with a self-sealing neoprene washers for a weather-tight seal and a limited lifetime rust warranty.

Our EasyBuild Steel Buildings come standard with a screw-down Galvalume roof system.

Trim Package

The Trim Package for the EasyBuild Structure is supplied at no additional charge and serves to provide a finished appearance as well as added protection against leaks and the possibility of rodent and insect infestation.

Trim is available in six complementary colors.

Closing Out

Norsteel’s EasyBuild Steel Building System is the ideal choice for DIY projects. In fact, we began carrying this product line specifically for our Do-it-Yourself Customers who had been asking for a simpler pre-engineered steel building that they could construct on their own.

Backed by the same theoretical pre-engineered design as our Rigid Frame metal building system, the Norsteel EasyBuild Steel Building provides the same strong engineering and conventional look of its rigid frame cousin, but at the affordable cost of a Quonset or wood structure.

This is because the EasyBuild is a simple construction with fewer options, making it affordable and more efficient on every level. From engineering, to manufacturing, to shipping, and even off-loading and assembly; the EasyBuild is the most affordable choice for simple, clear-span space – Especially when customers are looking for structures 35’ in width or smaller. This has made our EasyBuild Steel Building a very popular choice for garages and backyard shops.

It took us a long time to come up with a DIY product line that measured up to the Norsteel standards. We even put one together ourselves with our consultant team to make sure it was everything that we were hoping for in a do-it-yourself steel building before we offered it to our customers. The EasyBuild Steel Building Kit is a welcome addition to the Norsteel product line.

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Contact Us Today!

When you buy a building from Norsteel, we become your partner throughout the construction process. We work with you, or with your general contractor, to ensure that all your building requirements are met. Your project is our project, and we’ll be with you the whole way through.

For more information on specific building applications, click here to learn more about our line of products. If you have any questions or comments, click he r e to contact us today.

The Norsteel Product Line

Posted on March 27, 2020November 21, 2022 by Norsteel Buildings

Norsteel was initially founded to provide Pre-engineered Metal Buildings for large scope Industrial, Commercial and Warehousing operations.

For years, we focused on designing complex projects for airports, fire halls and hockey arenas. We designed and supplied customers with pre-engineered steel building solutions with multiple cranes, and mezzanines; metal buildings spanning hundreds of feet in width; steel buildings used for shopping malls and churches, and post-disaster buildings for electrical facilities. We provided customers with incredible solutions for mining projects and we shipped them to incredibly remote locations.

This was, and remains, our specialty – large-scale, customized projects which require out-of-the-box thinking and strategy to accomplish. We excel in finding pre-engineered solutions to satisfy conventional architecture and welcome the challenges of new and adventurous projects. Over the past 20 years, our product scope has grown to include an exciting array of diverse applications. Backyard shops and garages; workshops and mini storage; specialized buildings for grow-ops and food storage. We are always learning and always extending our reach. And because we are so passionate about the steel building solutions that we supply, we never stop increasing our desire to push our scope of work and our knowledge just a little bit further.

Continuing to deliver on our commitment to our customers, we are always researching new products, new cladding, new roof systems, and new types of insulation. Our consultants are continuously training on new innovations and new applications. Part of our Customer Satisfaction approach to service mandates that at Norsteel, we are constantly assessing our customers’ needs and adapting our offerings to include all types and sizes of Metal Building Solutions.

Our Pre-Engineered Metal Building Packages

Generally speaking, at Norsteel, we design two main types of pre-engineered steel buildings for our customers:

1. Rigid Frame Metal Buildings

A significant portion of our business is focused on Rigid Frame Steel Structures. One of our greatest strengths in this space is our ability to match each individual project to the building type that has the best suited design.

While there are always subtle differences, our Rigid Frame Packages are actually very similar in terms of their structural components. The structural support system is divided into the primary support framing system, the secondary support system of girts and purlins, and the bracing system. Rigid Frame Metal buildings can be used for all applications – simple to complex; small to large. They provide incredible versatility with virtually no limitations.

For more information, click the button below to download our rigid frame brochure.

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Rigid frame metal buildings can be used for any number of applications. They are ideal for small as well as large buildings like those pictured above.

C-channel buildings are named for the “C” shape of the support beams used in them. C-channel buildings are ideal for DIY steel building kits, garages, workshops, and other such residential uses.

2. C-Channel Metal Buildings

Recently, we have added a new product line, the EasyBuild steel building kit, to our list of offerings. The EasyBuild is very similar to the Rigid Frame steel building, but uses a series of back to back c-channels in order to achieve the structural integrity of an I-frame.

Our EasyBuild Models are an ideal offering for garages and workshops which are 35’ in width or smaller. They are efficient and economical, and the best solution for customers who wish to purchase a do-it-yourself steel building project. But the EasyBuild system has limitations that the Rigid Frame does not: The EasyBuild is only offered in a Gable style steel building; it is limited by high snow and seismic loads; and because it relies on diaphragm bracing, it cannot be designed with extensive openings on the Sidewalls of the building.

For more information on our EasyBuild steel building kits, click the button below to download a brochure.

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Our Conventional and Hybrid Metal Building Packages

We often have customers who provide us with architectural drawings and engineering plans that have already been used to organize and plan a Conventional Steel Building project. Through our manufacturing partners, Norsteel has the ability to provide customers with conventional all-steel solutions. Alternatively, we can provide hybrid solutions which incorporate the best properties of a conventional building solution with those of a pre-engineered steel structure. In this way a hybrid steel solution is often the optimal choice because it satisfies a range of conventional applications while maintaining the economic benefits of a pre-engineered steel structure.

Often we have customers who seek our assistance in order to transform their Conventional architectural design into a Pre-engineered metal building solution. These customers understand the advantages that are inherent in a pre-engineered steel building design and want to benefit from the savings in material and construction costs, as well as in the currency they gain as a result of faster occupancy.

Most often, the design team at Norsteel is able to transition the Conventional design into a Pre-Engineered Steel Building project very easily. And the transition does not affect the final outcome of the project in any architectural manner.

Ideally, when you contact Norsteel first, our highly experienced design team and advanced engineering software allows us to design your structure in-house, saving you the initial expense associated with high-priced engineers and architectural firms. Our team of design experts will work with you to completely understand your project and then will provide you with preliminary structural designs to address your specific requirements. Customers will still need the architectural and engineering firms to incorporate all the bells and whistles, but they will do it from the drawings that we provide which will save both time and money.

For more information on our Conventional & Hybrid building systems, click the button below to download a brochure.

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Conventional & Hybrid building packages can be used for all-metal building systems pictured above, or for buildings which combine different materials shown below.

A Final Word

Buying a metal building system can be an overwhelming process.

At Norsteel our consultants have the experience to tackle any project, regardless of size or complexity. Big or small, simple or complex, our experienced team is trained to listen to all of your specifications so that they can create the most compatible marriage between your requirements and the ideal Metal Building Solution, at the best value.

And remember, although at Norsteel we are primarily known for our Pre-engineered steel buildings, in actuality, we have the capacity to offer a complete product line of Metal Building Solutions. So, if a pre-engineered steel building does not suit your specific requirements, we can work with you to provide a conventional all-steel structure or a hybrid of the two.

When customers come to Norsteel, their building needs and requirements are thoroughly assessed so that we can provide a “best-fit approach” to excellence. In this way, we will provide the best structural solution to suit your actual needs – appropriately; efficiently; exactly.

The possibilities are endless.

Contact Us Today!

For more information on specific building applications, click here to learn more about our line of products. If you have any questions or comments, click here to contact us today.

What is a Pre-Engineered Metal Building?

Posted on March 25, 2020November 21, 2022 by Norsteel Buildings

When we talk about pre-engineered steel buildings, what we’re talking about are structures which have been custom designed using software and then manufactured in a plant to be shipped to the customer as a completely pre-engineered kit. Everything is included and arrives at the job site on a flat-bed truck as a neatly wrapped package. The entire package – frame, roofing, components – is made from steel, one of the strongest and most durable materials on the planet.

Simply Put, Anything Goes…

The beauty of the pre-engineered steel building is that it can provide clear-span interior space, which can be used to satisfy virtually any customer requirement. Applications are endless. We will go through this more in detail later, but suffice it to say that our buildings are suitable for industrial, commercial, residential, agricultural and recreational uses.

As odd as it may sound, I’m more than a little passionate about the topic, so here’s a little history that I’ve picked-up over the years.

A History of Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings

The official-sounding term pre-engineered building came into use in the 1940s as a way to refer to all metal building systems that used a rigid frame design. These buildings were called “pre-engineered” because like their (distant) ancestors – the Quonset Hut – they relied on standard engineering designs for a limited number of standardized configurations.

Here is a quick overview of how steel building design and construction has evolved over the years:

1940s: First, improvements in technology were constantly expanding the maximum clear-span capabilities of metal buildings. The first rigid-frame steel buildings introduced in the late 1940s could span only 40’ in width. Within a few years though, progressive widths of 50-, 60-, and then 70-ft buildings became possible; and by the late 1950s, rigid frames with 100-ft spans were made. That meant 100 feet of clear span width – no posts and no beams inside to obstruct the usable interior.

1950s: Along with the expansion of building size during the 1950s, this era also saw the introduction of a new manufacturing process which produced ribbed metal panels. Before this time, all metal buildings looked the same – they had the old, tired, corrugated panels like the Quonset Huts that looked industrial. The ribbed panel was flatter and more aesthetically pleasing.

history of pre-engineered steel buildings — In the early days, steel was strictly functional and lacked any aesthetic appeal.

colourful pre-engineered steel buildings — Advances in the 60s and 70s made it possible to create colourful, functional and aesthetically pleasing buildings like the one seen here.

1960s: What made these panels even more wonderful is that by the 1960’s, they were produced in colour. And at about the same time, continuous span cold-formed Z purlins were invented, the first factory-insulated panels were developed, and the first UL-approved metal roof appeared on the market.

But here’s the best part…during the 1960’s the first computer-designed metal buildings made their debut. Up until this time, all designs were done manually by engineers and design teams, so with the advent of computerization, as long as the purchaser could be restricted to standard designs, the buildings could be pre-engineered in limitless widths.

This marked the beginning of the metal Building BOOM….

1970s: As time passed and software became increasingly advanced, the original pre-engineered buildings were no longer restricted to standard designs. Metal building manufacturers could easily design and engineer buildings in different shapes and limitless sizes, with limitless openings for doors and windows. The number of potential applications exploded, as there were no longer required standardized size restrictions because each building was customized and designed taking into consideration each customers’ specific unique requirements and location.

Building Applications

Norsteel Buildings can be designed to suit unlimited applications. This is the most incredible thing about pre-engineered metal buildings – versatility. Our structures can be the solution for virtually every structural requirement.

Commercial pre-engineered steel buildings

Commercial Buildings

Mini-Storage Facilities
Restaurants
Car Dealerships
Convenience Stores
Car Washes
Mechanic Garage
Trades/Fabricator Shops
Retail Outlets
Office Space
Boat Storage
Aircraft Hangars

Community Facilities

Community Centre
Town Hall Meeting Facilities
Village Government Offices
Youth Centres
Tourist Information Centres
Cultural Centres
Health Centres
Search & Rescue Service Centres
Town Fire Halls
Pre-school/Day-care
Camp Bunkers
Elementary Schools
Churches

Agricultural pre-engineered steel buildings

Agricultural Buildings

Livestock Housing
Barns- Horse Barn; Dairy Farm
Dog Kennel
Produce (Tobacco, Grains) Storage
Tractor and Equipment Storage
Hydroponics Farming
Community Farmers’ Market
Fishery Service Centres
Marijuana Grow-op Facilities

Industrial pre-engineered steel buildings

Industrial Buildings

Warehousing
Manufacturing Plants
Truck Storage
Mining
Oil and Gas
Cement & Construction
Facilities
Forestry Equipment and
Logging Storage
Recycling/Garbage Storage

Backyard Shops/Garages

Snowmobile Storage
Automobile Garage
Self- Storage
Mechanic Garage
Small Equipment Storage
Artist Studios
RV Storage

Recreational pre-engineered steel buildings

Recreational Facilities

Golf Course
Hockey Arenas
Sport Complexes
Bingo & Pool Halls
Swimming Pool Facilities
Riding Arenas

Benefits of Pre-Engineered Steel/Metal Buildings

A pre-engineered steel or metal building can save significant time, energy and money compared to a building that has to be designed and built from the ground up. This can help with affordability for those working with limited budgets, or those who are on a short timeline and concerned about the expenditure of such an undertaking.

Indeed, a pre-engineered steel building can cut a lot of the headache, time and cost out of erecting a workspace or a large storage area for people, various bits of machinery or other needs. In fact, a pre-engineered metal building makes for a much easier build process that can be set up and assembled in just days instead of the weeks or months of a traditional building.

Here are some other benefits of pre-engineered steel/metal buildings.

Pre-Engineered Steel/Metal Buildings Are Cost-Effective

While a pre-engineered steel building may cost more upfront than simply buying the materials for a traditional wood structure, you’ll save far more money on the backend due to low labour and assembly costs. Not only are pre-engineered steel buildings incredibly tough and made to stand the test of time, but they’re also much easier and cost-effective to work with, which can really help you keep those labour costs down and shorten your project timelines.

Pre-Engineered Steel/Metal Buildings Are Flexible

Everyone knows that steel is rigid and strong. But did you know that a pre-engineered steel building provides an almost endless amount of design options and flexibility? Because pre-engineered metal buildings are designed to use the least amount of material possible to create a rigid and strong structure, you can always take a wall out, add an addition to the building, or whatever else strikes you. Or, if you need to swap out that small entrance with a huge, hangar-style door, you can do that too. Customize to your heart’s content or make changes down the line as your needs change – pre-engineered steel makes it all possible.

Pre-Engineered Steel/Metal Buildings Are Worry-Free

Unlike traditional buildings that need to be constantly checked on and maintained, especially after storms and other inclement weather, pre-engineered steel building designs are made to take much of the guesswork and worry out of it. Not only is steel great against high winds, dust storms, torrential downpours and snowstorms, but steel buildings are also highly resistant to bugs and insects such as termites and other pests because the steel provides no nourishment or place to hide.

A pre-engineered steel or metal building can save significant time, energy and money compared to a building that has to be designed and built from the ground up. That can make building a new building more affordable and financially viable for individuals and organizations that may be dealing with limited budgets and concerns with regard to the timeline and expenditure of such an undertaking.

Here are some other benefits of pre-engineered steel/metal buildings.

Pre-Engineered Steel/Metal Buildings Are Cost-Effective

While a pre-engineered steel building may cost more up front than simply buying the materials for a traditional wood structure, you’ll save far more money on the backend due to low labor and assembly costs. Not only are pre-engineered steel buildings incredibly tough and made to stand the test of time, but they’re also much easier and cost-effective to work with, which can really help you keep those labor costs down and shorten the timeline between inception and a completed building.

Pre-Engineered Steel/Metal Buildings Are Maintenance-Free

As opposed to traditional buildings that quickly start falling apart as soon as they’re put into service — and sometimes even earlier! — a pre-engineered steel building is designed to provide years and decades of faithful service under the elements, no matter what Mother Nature tries to throw at it. That can make long-term maintenance costs for a pre-engineered metal building less of a concern than it would be for just about any other type of building, and it also means having a building that looks and functions great year after year.

Pre-Engineered Steel/Metal Buildings Are Flexible

Everyone knows that steel is rigid and strong. But did you know that a pre-engineered steel building provides an almost endless amount of design options and flexibility? Because pre-engineered metal buildings are designed to use the least amount of material possible to create a rigid and strong structure, you can always take a wall out and add on to the building to meet your growing needs. Or, if you need to swap out that small entrance with a huge, hangar-style door, you can do that, too. Customize to your heart’s content or make changes down the line as your needs change — pre-engineered steel makes it all possible.

Pre-Engineered Steel/Metal Buildings Are Worry-Free

Unlike traditional buildings that need to be constantly checked on and maintained, especially after storms and other inclement weather, pre-engineered steel building designs are made to take much of the guesswork and worry out of it. Not only is steel great against high winds, dust storms, torrential downpours and snowstorms, but they’re also impervious to bugs and insects such as termites and other pests because the steel provides no nourishment or even a place to hide. Furthermore, when it comes to the simple passing of time, a pre-engineered steel building is your best defense against the things that are all fighting to take your building down.

Learn More About Building Applications

The reliability of steel, coupled with the advances in technology over the years has led to a virtually limitless number of steel building applications, far more than what are listed here. Click here to learn more about potential building applications, and how steel is the perfect building material for your next project.

Why Choose Norsteel Buildings?

Posted on March 24, 2020November 21, 2022 by Norsteel Buildings

Looking for a steel building can be an overwhelming process for many customers. There are several different Metal building providers and each has their own way of working with their customers. In today’s world, many of our purchases are made over the telephone or computer, so knowing a company’s reputation is critical: look for testimonials from past customers; delve into the history of each company; don’t be afraid to ask for referrals or for customers you can visit in your area.

Most of all, don’t be pressured. Buying a steel building is no small task. Take your time. You should feel comfortable with your consultant and the knowledge that they have. Before purchasing your building, make sure all your questions have been answered to your complete satisfaction.

Every company has their own etiquette. Every company has their own expectations for their consultants and how they conduct the relationships they have with customers.

Here is a little bit about our culture here at Norsteel.

Norsteel’s Mission Statement

At Norsteel we pride ourselves on maintaining integrity and honesty within our competitive drive to maintain our position as a leader in the steel building industry. Our brand is associated with respect and accountability for our customers, consultants and for our manufacturing partners.

Norsteel is able to maintain its position as an industry leader because we provide customers with a superior product at competitive prices and with exceptional service. Our company-wide mandate is to achieve and maintain the highest level of excellence in customer service experience and industry leading customer satisfaction.

Why Choose Norsteel?

What sets us apart from our competition is a strict adherence to three very important principles:

HONESTY – INTEGRITY – ACCOUNTABILITY

This is the basis of Norsteel’s Customer Satisfaction Service. We have no pitch, no cheesy gimmicks. We don’t apply pressure and we won’t call you 5 times every day.

We actually insist that our customers form a fully educated and comfortable partnership with us. When a customer comes to Norsteel, we want them to realize that we are part of their team, that our service is top-notch and that we will be with them every step of the way…and we are.

No matter the size of the project, customers who come to Norsteel receive access to a team of people. From the consultant who has expert product knowledge, to the engineering team that provides the drawings, to the operations manager who communicates deliveries; our team is available, consistently and conveniently – because your project is as important to us, as it is to you.

Norsteel’s Customer Satisfaction approach to service is a Multi Stage process of interaction that begins when a consultant is appointed to your project.

Our Consultants

Each consultant at Norsteel goes through several interviews and an extensive, intense training period before being offered a position.

When we look for people to join our team, it is essential that they embody the values of our company. We don’t look for hungry sales people. We look for people who will be trusted advisors to our customers; people who can co-ordinate with professionals at all stages in project development; people who form relationships and interactive bonds that are important to them. Trustworthy people.We want our customers to feel comfortable that they are dealing with people who are competent to answer their questions and we want them to feel confident that they are backed by a company rich in steel building knowledge and experience.

Understanding our customer’s needs and specifications is essential in ensuring that we are providing the structure that satisfies your specific project requirements.

We believe that it is a mistake to attempt to sell anyone a steel building until we understand their situation, budget and need for the building. In our experience, this is one of the most common problems encountered by customers. Far too often, we encounter customers who are unhappy with other companies because no one has taken the time required to uncover what they actually need and want before pressuring them to purchase a “clearance sale building”. This is NOT the Norsteel way.

Our consultants don’t use pressure to force a sale. Taking the time to understand as much as possible about our customers and prospects is an absolute must.

Our Relationship with Our Customers

At Norsteel, we provide a service, not just a structure. This is the first lesson that new consultants learn when they begin their training process. And that service begins with the customer’s first inquiry.

When you contact Norsteel, you can expect to be addressed professionally by a consultant who has the experience to discuss your project and site in depth; your consultant will ask questions about soil conditions, wind exposure and the location and proximity of other buildings on your site. Your consultant won’t pitch a clearance building with a generic box design, and they won’t expect you to adapt your needs to a building they have on sale.

Consultants at Norsteel will talk to you about your requirements, not only those of today but also what you may require tomorrow as your family or business evolves, and they will help you to come up with a clear understanding of all the possible options.

Once they have a thorough understanding of everything that you require, your consultant will provide you with a comprehensive design that addresses your specific, unique project. They will provide a complete proposal that clearly outlines all the inclusions for your project. And they will follow-up to go through the proposal and answer any of your questions until you are completely satisfied that you have all the information to make an informed steel building purchase.

Our Customer Satisfaction Service is an educative approach to providing customers with knowledge. But our services don’t stop with the sale.

Customers who purchase a Norsteel building receive correspondence regularly so that they know what is happening each step of the way: during engineering, production, and delivery. They have an entire team of people to work with, so any questions they have can be answered quickly and efficiently. And once the building is delivered, and the erection process begins, customers feel comfortable reaching out with questions and correspondence, often sending us pictures and videos of their finished buildings and sharing the end results.

Once you own a Norsteel Building, you are part of the Norsteel family and we will follow-up with you, year after year.

Satisfied customers are the foundation of our company. At Norsteel, we pride ourselves on maintaining good relationships – past, current and recurring. In fact, many of our current prospects come from customer referrals and recommendations. And there is no greater testimony of a customer’s satisfaction, and no better compliment for our company, then that endorsement.

Let Our Customers Do the Talking

Customer satisfaction is ultimately why we do what we do at Norsteel, but don’t just take our word for it – click here to visit our testimonials page where you can hear firsthand accounts from Norsteel customers about how their building project has added business value, exceeded expectations, or simply made them happy.

Occupancy Ratings: What You Need to Know

Posted on February 18, 2020November 21, 2022 by Norsteel Buildings

In a previous blog, we discussed how all steel buildings must be custom engineered taking into consideration the specific building codes and loads for their specific site location. We talked about the importance of understanding the specific Codes and Loads in the design of a metal building system.

Just as there are differences in structural design that correspond to different environmental conditions, there are also differences in design that relate directly to occupancy rating.

What Are Human Occupancy Ratings?

As the name implies, the occupancy rating is a designation given to a structure based on the number of human beings that the structure’s application would typically require or dictate. In general, the more people a building needs to protect, the stronger the building is required to be.

Buildings can fall into one of four occupancy rating categories:

Low Human Occupancy
Normal Human Occupancy
High/Substantial Human Occupancy
Post-Disaster/Essential

The majority of structures are designated as Normal Human Occupancy by the permit office. This is the catch-basin for all structures that do not fit into any of the other categories. Therefore, it is easier to distinguish what is NOT Normal Human Occupancy to understand what that category actually includes. With that said, let’s examine the different human occupancy rating categories and what each requires.

Low Human Occupancy

Buildings designated as Low Human Occupancy are strictly defined as those which have an occupant load of not more than one person per 431 square feet of floor area during normal use.

Examples of Low Human Occupancy buildings include agricultural structures, storage and equipment buildings. Each case is carefully evaluated before changing the occupancy rating.

Produce storage and packing facilities
Livestock and poultry housing
Equipment and machinery storage
Milking and dairy centres
Manure storage
Feed preparation facilities
Grain bins and silos
Farm workshops, farm rental centres
Horse arenas, riding, exercise and training facilities
Greenhouse and grow-op facilities

High Human Occupancy

Buildings designated as High Human Occupancy are those that are likely to be used as post-disaster shelters but whose primary use is characterized by a dense human attendance.

Examples of structures that are typically designated as High Human Occupancy include:

Elementary, middle or secondary schools
Universities and colleges
Auditoriums and stadiums
Places of worship; churches, mosques, etc.
Community centres
Manufacturing and storage facilities containing toxic, explosive, or other hazardous substances in sufficient quantities to be dangerous to the public if released

Restaurants, like the one built by Norsteel here, are examples of high human occupancy buildings.

Post-Disaster

The Post-Disaster designation is given to buildings which are essential to the provision of services in the event of a disaster. As you might expect, this designation carries with it the most intensive construction requirements.

Examples of structures that are typically designated as Post-Disaster Buildings include:

Hospitals, emergency treatment facilities, and blood banks
Telephone exchanges
Power generating stations and electrical substations
Control centres for air, land, and marine transportation
Public water treatment and storage facilities, and pumping stations
Sewage treatment facilities
Buildings with critical national defense functions
Emergency response facilities
Fire, rescue, and police stations, and housing for vehicles, aircraft, or boats used for such purposes
Communications facilities, including radio and television stations

Occupancy Ratings and Norsteel

At Norsteel, we design according to your specific project’s needs and functionality requirements. So, if your building’s function requires a higher or lower human occupancy rating, this is an important discussion that you should have with your building consultant. Determining the proper occupancy rating for your building will have a direct influence on the integrity of your engineered structure and it has an impact on the cost.

In general, more people = more steel = more cost.

At Norsteel, unless you tell us otherwise, we will always default to designing your structure with a Normal Human Occupancy rating. Not all metal building providers default in this way. Some design using a Low Human Occupancy Ratings (category 1). This is important to consider when you are comparing your quotes. Remember that a change in a structure’s occupancy rating will change its strength as well as its cost. So be mindful.

In the end, it is the permit office that will determine the essential rating for your structure, so it is important for you to understand where your building sits on the scale. This way, you can make an informed decision on the rating of your structure from the very beginning of the design process.

Click here to contact us today for a free, no obligation quote on your next building project!

Our Backyard Project

Posted on October 3, 2019November 21, 2022 by Norsteel Buildings

Owners and Customers

As a business owner, being passionate about what you can provide to your customers is a necessary requirement. To me that means understanding each individual customer’s unique requirements and then adapting my product to best suit their specific needs. It means fully recognizing the versatility of my products and thinking outside of the proverbial box, to create solutions that are unique and exciting. As owners of Norsteel Buildings, it was a very important thing for my husband and I to experience our service from our customers’ perspective…so we made ourselves customers. Here’s our story:

Our Backyard Project

In 2007, my husband and I moved into an incredible neighbourhood in the middle of rural Ontario. We were surrounded by the Oak Ridges Moraine and our property was immersed in a beautiful forest of 80 foot high sugar maples, cherry and oak. With 4 children, the house and property became our biggest investment. Instead of looking for a weekend getaway, we became determined to bring the cottage-life, to our home. The key to convincing my husband was that everything, from the landscaping to the building had to be virtually maintenance-free…

We decided to fully landscape the backyard – complete with patios and separate pool area, and I was determined to design my own pool cabana that could easily double as an apartment when relatives came to visit.

That’s when the research began.

I sourced out the pool first. I felt very confident after speaking to a representative of Mayfair Pools in Markham. The owner was very forthcoming with information, incredibly knowledgeable about many aspects of construction and landscaping and he had several referrals for me to look into. For landscaping, we went with a family owned and operated company – Dutch-Style Landscaping. They were in our neighbourhood working on several other yards at the time, so I was able to see their finished projects and speak with other customers.

Lastly (after I went to the permit office to make sure I had all the information I needed in terms of size and distance from the property line), I started to look into possibilities for the pool cabana. It was overwhelming.

How totally ironic that my first thought was to go with wood? Seriously….I have been in the steel building industry almost 40 years, and my first inclination was to build my own pool cabana in wood so it would match with my house.

You see at that time, our building focus at Norsteel was mainly on Industrial, Agricultural and Commercial applications. It took my husband’s adventurous spirit to look at my collection of photos, turn to me and say – “We can do it in steel.”

And so began our experience with Residential Pre-Engineered buildings.

That night Sean and I were up for hours, designing and re-designing, until everything we wanted was on the preliminary drawings. Things like an overhang porch, multiple entrances and bar height windows, side door washroom entrance, and high peaked ceiling. We discussed the inside space optimization and the “clear-span” interior (no posts inside) which would give me a totally open concept to work with and cathedral ceilings

My biggest worry was the look of the exterior. How could we make our typical steel building look like something other than steel? More research….We found steel panels in various colours, some that looked like stucco, some like wood, and some that even looked like brick. The options went on and on. In the end, we chose to put stucco on the back and sides and we called a friend of ours to brick the front of the building so that it matched our house.

Lastly, and most importantly, the concerns I had about the safety issues involved in putting anything up within our forest…were now gone. Trees are constantly falling (keep in mind they are on average, 80 feet tall), and I was worried that any structure could be compromised by a falling tree or the incredible amount of snow we get in the wintertime. With Pre-Eng structures I knew that the building would meet or exceed all building codes for our area. I also knew it would be strong, durable and virtually maintenance-free.

It took almost an entire year to complete our backyard project, but now that it’s complete, we enjoy every moment because the entire thing is as maintenance-free as we wanted – from the landscaping, to the building.

Pushing Our Boundaries

So how did this backyard project change things at Norsteel?

I’m going to say that one of the main reasons that we did this project was to test the boundaries of our own product line and to learn what we could from the customer’s perspective. All true.

I learned a lot from this project. I learned a lot about our buildings. I learned what I needed to teach our consultants so they could think outside the box and think of a pre-engineered building as something more than a square foot measurement.

Pool House Backyard Project Custom Building

It is from our own experience with our pool-house that we created our new product line for backyard shops and garages. And it was our experience with contractors and the permit office that spear-headed our client-centered focus at Norsteel…because sometimes there are frustrations when putting up any building, and sometimes you really need to speak to someone who can help – right away.

I can also, with complete honesty, tell my customers that my building is exactly what my building was supposed to be. That after over 10 years, it still looks great. The stucco panels have not faded and don’t look weathered and I clean them (actually Sean does…), with a power-washer each year. This building is stronger than my house. It holds up to harsh winters and it doesn’t leak.

It is from this experience that I tell our customers that when you are planning your building, make it bigger than what you think you need – because inevitably, you will need more space. And lastly, if my husband would take his old race car out of it, I could FINALLY make the inside what I know it can be (which is likely the reason that car hasn’t moved in a decade) – because I have a clean slate interior to work with and nothing but clear, usable space in which to create. And then I could take some pictures and show you the inside too.

Come to Norsteel – not just because you need a steel building. I hope you come to us because you recognize that we really want to help you create a lifetime of memories, in a building that makes sense for you.

Thanks to everyone who helped make our backyard project happen!

Kind Regards,
Michelle