Metal Building insulation

HOW TO INSULATE A METAL BUILDING ?

In most applications, the primary feature of thermal insulation material is its ability to reduce heat exchange between a surface and the environment; or between one surface and another surface. The general rule is the lower a material’s thermal conductivity, the greater its ability to insulate for given material thickness and set of conditions. 

Before buying an insulation system for your metal building, you need to understand insulation R-value.

At its simplest, insulation R-value indicates the amount of heat flow through an insulation product.

The higher the R-value number, the greater the product’s resistance to heat transference.

The more effectively the insulation works, the greater your energy savings.

However, just buying thicker insulation and stuffing it into a wall does not increase energy efficiency.  The more air pockets in insulation, the better the insulation works.

Why Insulation R-Value is so important

Steel buildings have many benefits over other framing materials.  However, steel has one weakness: thermal transference.  In an uninsulated metal building, summer heat and winter cold can follow through the framing, affecting interior comfort.

Nevertheless, insulating metal buildings with a first-class insulation system renders steel’s thermal transference moot.

For example, Tekmetsan’s insulation panels breaks heat and cold transfer through the steel, creating a comfortable, cosy inside interior.

Starting with a Tightly Sealed Structure

Even the best metal building insulation is only part of the energy efficiency equation.

If the structure leaks air, it consumes too much energy in spite of a high insulation R-value.

As an organic material, wood framing twists, warps, creeps, and sags with changing humidity.  As lumber-framed buildings age, nails start to pull out and loosen, creating air leaks and drafts.

On the other hand, a pre-engineered steel building creates a very tight building envelope.

The steel framing will never move or change in shape.  The high-strength bolts and screws used in a TEKMETSAN metal building hold tightly.  Consequently, our metal buildings stay tight and draft-free for the lifetime of the structure.

Insulating Metal Buildings during Construction is the Smart Move

Customers sometimes consider cutting corners by eliminating steel building insulation from their order.  They think they can add insulation to the building later.

Insulating metal buildings at a later date is possible.  However, it is much more labour-intensive to add steel building insulation to an existing structure than to install insulation during construction.

In delayed insulation installation, some of the structure will require disassembly.

In addition, removing and replacing steel panels could cause leaks, if screws are not placed in exactly the same locations.

Conclusion

You need to consider how to insulate a metal building for maximum efficiency right in the early phase of the project design. Tekmetsan steel buildings come with great options of medium and high R values to provide an energy efficient insulated environment for your building.

Steel Anchoring

Steel Anchoring

TEKMETSAN supplies a detailed Anchor Bolt Plan with every metal building system. These plans show the building dimensions, the precise locations for anchor bolt placement, and the total number of foundation anchor bolts required in the structure. 

Anchor bolts are not just the connection elements between the steel and concrete surfaces but they are one of the most important element in a steel structure. Anchor bolts are responsible for the transfer of loads between the steel and concrete member.

Depending on when the anchors are installed, anchors used by Tekmetsan are classified into two categories;

1. Cast-in Anchors

These are the type of anchor bolts that are installed in place before pouring the concrete and are efficient in handling forces of high magnitude. Bolts are firmly held in place while the concrete is poured to maintain proper alignment and position.

The size and location of the anchors can be determined from construction drawings.

 In the below figure, you can see some examples of cast-in anchors.

2. Adhesive Anchors ( Chemical Anchors)
Adhesive anchors are anchor bolts that are placed in a pre-drilled hole, which contains an adhesive that dries and bonds to the anchor rod thread as well as the concrete.
Adhesive anchors, also known as epoxy anchors or chemical anchors, are capable of reaching high bond-stress values in relatively fast cure times.
Adhesive anchors are fully threaded rods that can be supplied in many different grades and finishes and can be cut to any length required for a given application.
How to install epoxy anchors?

Good installation is critical to performance. Here is the 5-step for the installation. 

1. DRILLING: Drill correct hole size and depth on concrete/brick/stone/masonry.

2. HOLE CLEANING: Blow out dust and clean the hole with brush, then blow out remaining dust.

3. INJECTING: Inject mixed adhesive from the bottom of the hole.

4. INSERTING: Insert and rotate stud/bolt/anchor/rebar/threaded rods into the hole.

5. HARDENING AND CURING: Time table refer to TDS. Don’t touch until full curing.

• All structural columns on a building must be anchored by at least four anchor bolts

• The placement of all actor bolts on the structure must adhere to the approved Engineered Foundation Plan

• All anchor rods shall be placed with their longitudinal axis at a 90-degree angle to the surface of the foundation

• A template (preferably steel) must be used to insure exact placement of anchor bolts in concrete.

Steel Detailing

Steel Detailing

Structural steel detailing has evolved as a critical engineering approach in the construction industry, requiring great precision. Even a minor mistake might result in a significant loss of time and money.

Steel detailing is an important and necessary step in construction of residential and commercial structures, factories and institutes. 

Steel detailing provides a communication that collaborates key stakeholders such as architects, contractors, fabricators, and others who are involved in the project at any level.

Creating comprehensive steelwork drawings serve as a guide for the structural steel detailing process.

What is the scope of steel detailing works at Tekmetsan?

Structural steel detailing entails the development of comprehensive drawings for our fabrication similar as plans, estimates, and other necessary reports and activities. There are two sorts of drawings we used in this process: shop drawings and erection drawings.

The erection drawings specify the placement coordination of each steel component within the structure and detailed dimensioned plans. It is the construction site steel erector who refers these drawings in the steel detailing process, in order to know how and where to build with the fabricated steel pieces. 

Included in the erection drawings are dimensional plans to identify the steel members, in addition to all work required on the site including bolting and anchoring.

Shop drawings on the other hand are more detailed. Each steel component, such as columns, beams, braces and purlins are meticulously detailed in the shop drawings. This describes how steel fabricators should make each component.

Component dimensions and sizes, bolting, welding, material specifications, and other details required for each component’s fabrication are all included in the shop drawings.

With its decades of experience, Tekmetsan is responsible for the design, strength, and integrity of steel constructions. For the fabrication and erection of steel members, structural steel detailing aids in the creation of detailed structural drawings, design plans, and a range of construction documents.

Steel detailing is a vital link in the project’s communication chain and to avoid any kind of misunderstandings during or after the construction process, providing a universal communication ground between the architect, general contractor, client and Tekmetsan.

With steel detailing, comprehensive shop drawings may include for each piece:
• Size
• Material description
• Required dimensions
• Surface preparation
• Bolting
• Welding
• Painting requirements
• Manufacturing conventions
• Special fabricating guidelines.
Traditionally steel detailing was carried out manually by pencils, rulers, templates of circles, triangles, drafters, drafting machines, etc. Later, these primitive methodologies were substituted by Computer Aided Designing (CAD), a specific software used only for designing in 2D and 3D which are nowadays integrated within a BIM interface.

Steel Helicopter Hangars

Steel Helicopter Hangars

Helicopters require the exceptional protection of pre-engineered steel hangars. No other building system guards helicopters and other aircraft as well as a durable steel prefab hangar.

Why Steel is the Only Sensible Choice for Helicopter Hangars?

To create the lift needed to fly, helicopters must be extremely lightweight.  The endless vibration of a helicopter in flight takes its toll on these machines. Consequently, helicopters require diligent maintenance— and heavy-duty protection.

Pre-engineered metal hangar buildings offer the best protection at the best possible price.

Tekmetsan metal prefab hangars are durable, waterproof structures for all types of rotorcraft, gliders, jets, and other aircraft. Designed to withstand mother nature at her worst, TEKMETSAN buildings promise built-in resistance to earthquake, fire, lightning, snow and wind damage.

Metal Hangar Buildings Benefits

TEKMETSAN helicopter hangars offer the benefits chopper owners appreciate most:

• Unobstructed space— TEKMETSAN hangars promise clear span, column-free interiors up to 45 meters wide.

• Towering heights— Choose hangars up to 12 meters at the eave height on a standard TEKMETSAN hangar design.  Even taller structures are available with additional engineering.  Taller hangars allow ample space for a variety of aircraft— and leave room for two-story offices, kitchen space, or pilot and personnel quarters.  Unlike arch shape buildings, TEKMETSAN hangars supply maximum usable space.

• Limitless lengths— Pre-engineered steel buildings and hangars can achieve any length required.

• Watertight protection— TEKMETSAN’s fasteners with built-in sealing washers, die-formed ridge caps, sealed eave closures, and formed-based trim keep the hangar dry in all types of weather.  

• Bolt-together system— No welding, cutting, drilling, or painting is necessary with a TEKMETSAN hangar.  Our pre-engineered system reduces the erection time significantly.  

• Bird-proof ceilings— Unlike truss-type buildings, TEKMETSAN’s rafter-and-beam portal frame buildings offer no place for birds to rest or nest overhead, fouling your chopper, equipment, or the crew!

 

Building a Hangar that Suits Your Specific Needs

Customize your helicopter hangar with stairs, overhead cranes, mezzanines, vents, gutters, or skylights and wall lights
whatever you need to make the building ideal for your helicopter or other aircraft.

Choose from an array of exterior panel options.  Finish the exterior with stone or brick accents for an upscale look.

Conclusion

Keep your chopper or aircraft safe from the elements with an affordable, long-lasting, low maintenance TEKMETSAN prefab hangar. 

When building a hangar for your aircraft, you can trust TEKMETSAN Steel Building Systems.  TEKMETSAN ships competitively priced steel helicopter hangars and aviation support structures all over the World.

steel and earthquake

Steel and Earthquake

There is a mistaken belief among some people that steel buildings do not do well in earthquakes. The truth is quite the opposite. In fact, steel buildings have a distinct edge over concrete in earthquakes. The reason, however, is counter-intuitive, and worth understanding.

We tend to think that the heavier and more rigid an object is, the stronger it is. This assumption is especially common regarding buildings, because our day-to-day experience validates it. If you’ve ever been in a wooden house during high wind, and heard the timbers creaking and groaning ominously, you might have wished the structure was concrete. We assume that the weight of concrete would help hold the house down, and the unbending nature of concrete would resist the swaying under the wind impact. That makes sense if the impacts are on the scale of a truck hitting a wall, or even a hurricane. 

However, an earthquake is different than other loads. It isn’t a surface force threatening to sweep the house off its foundation. The earth itself moves, moving the foundation of the building. It’s more like a strong bucking bronco, trying to shake the house off its back.  

Steel construction is lighter in weight than concrete, without compromising strength. It has less mass – and therefore less force – to damage itself under seismic shaking. It requires less earthquake resistance to be built into the superstructure and into the foundation, potentially lowering construction costs, too.

Moreover, steel makes a more resilient structure because it is a more ductile material, allowing it to bend considerably before breaking. It will respond better in an earthquake than a more brittle structure. In smaller seismic events, a steel building is more likely to snap back than it is to crack. Should the maximum seismic event for which the building is designed occur, there may be severe deformities, but it won’t undergo progressive collapse. 

Tekmetsan Steel Structures will meet or even exceed all local building codes including seismic codes. Let us know the location of your building and we will provide the ideal steel design for your building.

5 Factors to choose your steel supplier

5 Factors to choose your steel supplier

Steel is a hugely popular metal used in residential, commercial or large construction projects. With many options, it can be overwhelming to select a steel fabrication supplier for the first time. It is important to do your research and perform due diligence on a company before signing a contract however, this is not always possible through online sources. 

Asking the right questions of your potential supplier is important and sometimes, the best way to research their credentials.

If you’ve never worked with a metal supplier before, consider the following factors before choosing one:

1. Product and Fabrication Range

Choose a supplier with a wide product range so that you can have all your steel requirements met instead of sourcing them from different companies, and the inherent planning and delivery problems that comes with this.
Tekmetsan is a one stop shop for all your steel structure needs.
We have an experienced in-house design department and sophisticated fabrication workshop to meet all your expectations.

2. Design Capabilities and Technology

The best manufacturers of steel structures have experienced designers who will create an individual design according to the customer’s guidelines.
They are not afraid of making changes at various stages and they are able to incorporate thought future modifications, e.g. additional features, expansion, a changed layout, or even a transfer of the steel building to another location.
Our great design team and fabrication capabilities enable us to offer highly customized solutions for changing client needs.

3. Experience & References

A company that has been on the market for a long time is a safe choice. Make sure that the steel manufacturer you choose meets all your expectations, check and look at the projects that have been delivered by the company to be sure.
If there are many you can be confident that the company has the ability to deliver steel halls of all kinds.
The best manufacturers list interesting projects on their websites. Tekmetsan has a broad range of project references all around the world.

4. Production Quality

Before selecting a supplier, make sure that they do not provide substandard and poor-quality materials and tools. To ensure that this does not happen, look through the history of a before choosing them.
If the supplier is recognized for good quality products, then you can rest assured that they would offer reliable products.
Tekmetsan production systems is certified by leading German intuition Tuv-Nord on a yearly basis and all our products are CE certified.

5. Customer Support and Reliability

At Tekmetsan, we work hand in hand with clients to understand their ideas, enabling us to deliver the best possible service, on time, on budget and with the safety of everyone in mind.
As we have been in operation for over 10 years we have a high returning customer base from both small private clients to leading brands.
With our excellent customer service and transparent quotations, you can rest assured we have your best interests at heart in saving you money on your project.
Customer service is like steel—it’s ultimately the foundation of all we do. From the moment you contact our customer service representatives, you will be expertly guided through the design of a structure tailored to your exact specifications, right down to the foundation, trim and paint.
When you ask for pricing on a building or components, you receive a quote with an easy-to-follow detailed description. We follow up with a materials list that accompanies the delivery of your building. Our customer service department continues to assist you after your building has been delivered.

Should You Choose a Concrete, Timber or Steel Structure?

Should You Choose a Concrete, Timber or Stell Structure?

Concrete, timber and steel are three of the most common building materials used today. The material you should choose for your structure depends on many factors, such as the type of building, your budget, and the capabilities of your worksite. Concrete, timber and steel each comes with their own advantages and challenges, so which one should you choose?

Concrete

Concrete has been used since ancient times, and today it’s often chosen for its durability, versatility, thermal mass, and low maintenance.
For high-rise buildings or long-span bridges, structural concrete provides maximum strength, durability, and the ability to withstand a high level of tensile stress.
Concrete is environmentally friendly because it is made from readily available materials – sand and limestone – and it’s also fire and weather resistant.
Choosing a concrete structure also provides a wealth of aesthetic possibilities.
Concrete can be easily incorporated with other materials to create colours or patterns, and it can be moulded into any number of shapes, because it starts in liquid form.
Compared to steel, concrete requires less skill to erect.
However, because of the many steps involved in erecting reinforced concrete, the final strength can sometimes be affected if there has been poor workmanship.
Another risk with concrete is that shrinkage can cause cracks or loss of strength.

Timber

Timber is cost effective, naturally durable and has a high structural efficiency as carried load per unit.
If it’s sourced from sustainably managed forests, it can be a more environmentally friendly choice than steel or other building materials.
Timber is ideal for use internally as it maintains a pleasant level of humidity inside a dwelling, and it absorbs sound – preventing echo and noise inside.
The natural beauty and warmth of wood creates an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, as each tree has its own colours, smells and patterns, depending on how it was sliced.
Timber is lightweight, easy to work with, and adaptable to offsite manufacturing, so it is often used in low-rise residential structures.
However, timber can deteriorate over time due to decay, mould, bacteria, insects, weather or fire.
This means a timber structure may require more maintenance than concrete or steel.

Steel

Steel has a high strength to weight ratio, making it a better structural material for low and high-rise buildings, long-span bridges, or buildings on soft ground. Steel is often used in major construction to speed up development, reduce onsite risks, and minimise waste. Computer modelling can be used to ensure components are manufactured correctly the first time, minimising rework. Buildings with steel structures are often lighter and have smaller foundations because steel is structurally efficient. Steel structures can be erected quickly and with fewer workers needed onsite, reducing labour costs. Compared to concrete, erecting a steel structure creates less noise and dust on a worksite and surrounding areas. Steel is fire resistant, termite free, and a large portion of steel can be recycled.

Value Engineering Structures

Value Engineering Structures

More than one reasonable, safe and acceptable solution can often be applied to a particular design. Value engineering asks: “Which acceptable solution is most economical?” and “Does an entirely different and better approach exist?” To answer both questions effectively, depth and breadth of experience is required.

The performance benefits of steel in relation to strength, stiffness, lightness, prefabrication and quality are facilitated by a range of principles for value engineering at each stage of a project and across a number of stakeholders, including: 

• lighter is not always better 

• utilise prefabrication and modularisation when appropriate

• implement responsive member and connection detailing

• repetition and standardisation

• design for construction 

• minimise the potential for variations

• design for economy 

• life cycle costing

Vastly experienced Tekmetsan engineering department provides value engineering for all projects even without it is requested by the client. We believe having over 70% repetitive or referred clients is the outcome of this standard procedure. 

 

Some value engineering activities that we are constantly checking are;

• Suggesting changes to parts to give better nest utilisation and avoid material wastage

• Designing parts for manufacture that suit existing capabilities

• Taking down material gauges but adding design features to retain structural integrity

• Making assemblies easier to assemble

• Adding features which will provide fast and safe erection

• Substituting materials based on the availability on the market and price levels.

 

Steel Mezzanines

Steel Mezzanines

When it comes to increasing space, it is more economical to building up rather than to expanding outward. Mezzanines are the most common solution for building additional space inwards. A mezzanine is an intermediate floor inside a building, usually with direct access from the inside of the building.

There are a few different types of mezzanine construction, depending on the size and application. To ensure the right solution for your needs, you need to understand the variety of structural options and decking types available.

Cold rolled refers to the method of forming sheet metal into a c-channel to use as the framework of the mezzanine floor.
Cold-rolled material is much lighter than structural steel and therefore easier to handle. It can also be pre-galvanized; offering a substantial savings over painted, hot-dipped galvanized mezzanines.
Cold rolled sections are generally used as a primary or secondary beam member rather than column members.

The major disadvantages of cold-rolled mezzanines is the very limited column spacing (usually 3-4 meters max) and the inability to reach the high live loads or heavily concentrated point loads accomplished with hot rolled mezzanine systems.
Structural steel mezzanines are constructed of structural I beams, which connect to tubular columns or I-beam columns to form a primary frame.

The greatest benefit of structural steel is allowing bigger column spacing. Column spacing can increase up to 8 meters without compromising the dead and live loads on the mezzanine floor.
This means more material can be stored in a smaller area ⎯ with more space for manoeuvrability underneath.

Your mezzanine does not depend on the building for support and can be used as a totally freestanding structure or can be combined with your existing equipment.
Our mezzanine floors are individually designed and engineered to suit your specific needs.

Flooring or Decking Type

Since the type of mezzanine decking you choose will be determined by a variety of circumstances, you have a lot of options when it comes to designing your flooring system.
Whether you’re establishing an office and need a deck to support the building’s visual appeal, storing large goods and require a reinforced material to offer adequate support, or anything else, the correct decking will ensure that your floor is perfectly finished.

Tekmetsan, as experts in this field, would be delighted to assist. We’ve got you covered on everything from the suitability of mezzanine decking to which materials look best.

The most durable type of mezzanine decking is concrete. Concrete should be utilised in high-capacity industrial and military applications where the mezzanine is considered permanent since it has a high point load and negligible noise transmission through the deck.
Steel decking comes with a pour stop that allows you to pour up to 15cm of concrete.

In the waste management, mining, and food service industries, steel grating, also known as bar grating or press-locked grating, is a popular alternative.
Air, light, heat, and fluids may all pass through the deck surface thanks to steel grating. It’s powerful, long-lasting, and almost maintenance-free.

Most economical selection for general storage and office applications is the OSB flooring. OSB provides good resistance to foot traffic and can handle random wheel loads up to 150 kg.

Produced from hot-rolled steel, alongside its structural configuration made up of an evenly distributed raised pattern, our chequered plate flooring type is extremely robust and durable as well as anti-slip as standard.

Conclusion

Our mezzanine floors are individually designed and engineered to suit your specific needs.
• Maximise existing floor space into profitable rentable areas
• Increase net rentable areas by utilising full building heights
• Fully engineered and certified
• Metal fabricated stairs and Balustrades

Why to choose a steel building system ?

Why to choose a steel building system ?

The best metal buildings are made with high quality, pre-engineered, commercial-grade steel, like Tekmetsan steel buildings.

In addition, TEKMETSAN metal buildings include built-in features that add value and convenience to your building project.

Why Are So Many Builders Choosing Steel Building Systems?

Prefabricated steel buildings offer so many advantages over more traditional construction methods.

Pre-engineered steel buildings are the strongest, lightest, fastest, safest, and smartest way to build.

ECONOMICAL:  Efficient designing, engineering, production, and distribution make steel buildings affordable. Your TEKMETSAN metal building system arrives ready to assemble.

STRONG:  In addition, steel has the strongest strength-to-weight ratio of any construction material.  Therefore, you can build a much stronger structure and use far less material with steel.

FAST:  Pre-engineering metal buildings dramatically streamlines construction.

Fewer framing pieces mean speedier construction, less chance of weather delays— and money saved on your construction time.

All designing, cutting, welding, and drilling is done at the factory. Every TEKMETSAN building arrives clearly marked and ready to erect.

EFFICIENT:  Sandwich panels with different insulation thickness will enable different levels of insulation. Climate-controlled steel buildings with Tekmetsan sandwich panel’s offer great utility savings.

SAFER:  A steel structure provides built-in protection from winds, snows, fire, lightning, earthquakes and aging.

ENDURING:  Steel buildings last longer, require little maintenance, and adapt to various uses easily.

TEKMETSAN’s steel building systems are also simple to expand and renovate.

 

Why Do the Best Metal Buildings Come from TEKMETSAN?

TEKMETSAN provides exceptional buildings with built-in features. We not only believe in delivering quality steel buildings, but also in delivering first-class service.  We build relationships with our clients on the strength of our product— and our service.

Conclusion

TEKMETSAN not only claims to provide the best steel buildings but also guarantees free of charge top quality service during the erection works and lifetime of its structures.