Engineer of Record for the Steel Building

Engineer of Record for the Steel Building

The engineering team of Tekmetsan has a wide range of structural diversity and expertise. With more than 10 years of experience in the metal building industry, we can meet any of your structural design needs for your next metal building project. 

However, typically the metal building manufacturer is only responsible for the structural design of the metal building system. Items not provided by Tekmetsan must be designed by “another” design professional. 

Please see below for a list of services that that should be provided by the EOR (Engineer of Record).

  • Local Building Codes
    • Code & Design Load Determination
    • Serviceability Determination
    • Other
  • Foundation Design
    • Footings and Slabs
    • Block Foundations
  • Wall Cladding Design
    • CMU
    • Tilt-up Concrete
    • Brick and Metal Studs
  • Retrofit of Existing Buildings
    • Expansion
    • Occupancy Change
    • Unanticipated Load Additions

Metal building systems have evolved over the decades into collection of structural items that work together as a very efficient structural system. The fundamental parts of the metal building system are: primary members of load bearing frames, secondary members composed of wall girts and roof purlins, bracing and cladding. Metal building system design may seem simple at first, but the complex interaction of these components into a durable and robust system is a challenging engineering job. Tekmetsan have demonstrated this experience and are on the leading edge of systems design.

In a metal building systems, design responsibilities are usually divided between the manufacturer and the design professional or EOR (Engineer of Record). Therefore, a clear understanding of their respective roles, as well as coordination and interaction are vital for success. Tekmetsan has a deep experience engaging with clients’ EORs and interact in the most effective way from initial contact to the completion of the building construction.

For a successful project execution and compliance with the local building regulations, the building manufacturer is responsible only for the structural design of the metal building system it sells to the building.
The manufacturer is not the EOR for the construction project. The manufacturer is not responsible for the design of any components or materials not sold by them.
Nor are they responsible for the interface and connection of other components with the metal building system, unless such design responsibility is specifically required by the order documents.
However, Tekmetsan always take a further step and engages in the design of the components which are connected to its steel building system.
It is the responsibility of the metal building manufacturer to design a metal building system to conform to the specifications, including the design criteria and design loads incorporated by the builder.

We recommend that the customer to work with a local EOR which will be responsible for specifying the design criteria for the metal building system.
These design criteria should include the geometric requirements, all applicable codes and design loads, site and construction conditions that affect design criteria, and serviceability criteria.
This will enable the client to ensure the builders/manufacturers bidding on the project understand and interpret the requirements in a similar and accurate manner.
Just as importantly, a proper specification ensures the building performs satisfactorily and meets the owner’s requirements.
The metal building system is just one element of the total construction project.
Tekmetsan does not provide site preparation, mechanical work, electrical design, and certain building envelope components/accessories.
The EOR is typically responsible for these important elements of the project as well as floor slabs, interior/exterior concrete masonry and /or tilt-up walls, and the connection of these walls to the metal building framing.
With regard to the foundation design, Tekmetsan does prepare the anchor bolt plans showing the location, diameter, and projection of the bolts required to attach the metal building system to the foundation.

Conclusion

Tekmetsan engages with the clients’ EOR throughout the project to provide a smooth progress and peace of mind to its customers while at the same time complying local building regulations and specific project requirements.

Sourcing building materials from Turkey

Sourcing building materials from Turkey

Tekmetsan not only produces steel buildings but also assists its clients with construction project management and procurement of construction materials from Turkish vendors.
Our Procurement department have vast experience with various Turkish construction material manufacturers. We assist our clients to find right materials from reliable sources.

What information do you need from me to start the product sourcing service?

We will need your product photos, specifications, estimated order quantity, and your target price.
The more detailed the information the better it will help our product sourcing agents find the most suitable suppliers.

How soon will I receive a product quotation?

Depending on the complexity of the product, our product sourcing lead time is 3 to 7 working days.
If you need to get an urgent quote, please let us know. But if you can wait, the additional time allows us to perform a more thorough product sourcing process.

Besides product sourcing services, what other services do you offer?

We provide buyers with all the services they need to import from Turkey, including order follow-up, factory inspection and ocean freight.

What products do you specialize in sourcing?

We have sourced and shipped many building materials for our buyers including rock wool, perforated railings, aluminium panels, furniture and lightings. 

Do you have your own storage for the shipping of these materials?

We have our own warehouse to collect the ordered goods and efficiently load them into minimum required number of containers.

Common Metal Building Terminology

Common Metal Building Terminology

Anchor Bolts
The bolts or rods that fasten components to the foundation or other support. Anchor bolts are usually set in concrete, but they may also be drilled and then set with an epoxy.
Approval Drawings
Product drawings sent to the customer to verify the dimensions and design. These drawings are also used to verify the services and materials the manufacturer will provide.
Bay
The horizontal space between the main frames or primary supporting members. A structural steel system with rafter beams that are supported by columns.
Bracing
Rods, cables and angles used in the plane of the walls and roof for the purpose of transferring loads to the foundation.
Clear Span
Describes a building with no internal supports. This makes the entire space under the roof usable.
Clip
A metal fastener that holds a component or panel in place.
Corner Column
Corner columns are usually “C” shaped and are placed along the corner of a bearing frame endwall.
Curtain Wall
These are perimeter wall panels that only carry their own weight.
Dead Load
Describes the weight of the structure as well as any permanent stationary loads.
Deck
A structural surface in which the insulation, roofing or waterproofing system is applied.
Eave
A line that runs along the sidewall. Eaves are formed by the intersection of the wall panels and the roof.
Eave Height
Refers to the distance between the finished floor and the top of the eave strut. The roof panel height is not included in the eave height.
Eave Strut
A structural member located at the eave. The strut supports the wall and roof panels.
Endwall
The exterior wall that runs parallel to the building’s primary frame.
Envelope
Separates the interior and exterior of the building. Screws or clips used to attach panels to frame members or other panels.
Flashing
A piece of metal that seals edgings along walls, drains, expansion joints or gravel stops.
Footing
A mat or pad, usually made of concrete, that sits underneath a wall, column or other structural member. The footing distributes loads from the member onto the supporting soil. The substructure that the building rests on. Foundations are typically made of concrete and has footings for columns to rest on.
Frame
A series of columns and rafters that support the secondary framing.
Framed Opening
An opening in a wall formed by flashing and framing members.
Gable
A triangular area of the building’s endwall that sits above the eave height and below the sloping roof.
Girt
A horizontal structural member that attaches to endwall or sidewall columns. Wall coverings are attached to girts and supported horizontally.
Haunch
Sometimes referred to as “Knee.” The haunch is the roof’s lowest point, and it’s designed to handle the stress of where columns and rafters connect.
Joist
Open web beams used for support in the floor or roof of a mezzanine. They can effectively carry large loads or span large distances.
Live Load
A varying or moving load that the structure supports. A roof live load, for example, usually refers to snow load.
Main Framing
Consists of steel frames that support secondary framing members, such as purlins, eave struts and girts.
Sandwich Panel
Insulation panels cover the roof and wall areas.
Pier
Concrete structures that transfer a vertical load from a column’s base to a footing.
Pitch
A slope or incline measured by percent or degrees, or by the rise and run ratio.
Purlin
A horizontal structural member in the roof that supports sheeting and is supported by the building’s primary framing.
Rake
Where the plane of the endwall and the plane of the roof intersect.
Rafter
A primary structural member that runs from haunch to apex. Rafters are any beams used in the main framing to support purlins.
Ridge
The highest point of the roof; a horizontal line that runs along the length of the building.
Secondary Framing
Structural members that carry loads from the surface of the building to the primary framing members. Girts and purlins are both considered secondary framing.
Self-Tapping Screws
A special fastener that taps, or creates, threads inside a predrilled hole.
Standing Seam
A standing seam is an upturned ribbed that has a watertight seal.
Trim
Used to finish a building. Trim is typically applied to framed openings and where surfaces intersect. Light gauge metal is used for trim.
Truss
Consists of three or more members. Each member carries a tension or compression force, therefore acting as a beam.
Wall Covering
Exterior wall panels or sheets and their attachments, trim and sealants.
Wind Load
Refers to the load from wind blowing in a horizontal direction.
X-Bracing
Provides additional strength and bracing through the use of rods, cables and sometimes, angles.

Quality Assurance of Tekmetsan Steel Structures

Quality Assurance of Tekmetsan Steel Structures

At Tekmetsan, we go above and beyond to provide our customers with the best quality metal building systems we possibly can. 

Metal fabrication requires an eye for detail, and with so many variables coming into play it is crucial that those overseeing your job have the knowledge and experience necessary to deliver a quality product. 

Sloppy and hasty workmanship can negatively affect the appearance, structural integrity and overall lifespan of the steel structure.

In this post, we’ll be shedding some light on the quality assurance procedures and what makes our structural steel stand out from our competitors.

 
The Need for Quality Assurance

Metal fabrication is not a simple process, particularly when it comes to structural steel. You are already aware of the incredible properties of steel which include its strength, longevity, aesthetic appeal and robustness to name just a few. 

But what you may not be aware of is that poor refinement and fabrication can compromise the finished product, leading to vastly reduced strength and longevity.

At Tekmetsan we keep a close eye on the finish, aiming to remove all defects prior to delivery to ensure a great customer experience.

How We Ensure Quality

1. Cutting Edge Equipment & Machinery
We invest in the success of our business, using the CNC controlled machinery ensuring they are calibrated on a regular intervals. We hold regular quality assurance inspections to ensure our equipment are in good condition and all welding/fabricating equipment is properly functioning.

2. Experienced Staff
Our production team have extensive training/qualifications and experience in welding, and they recognise their role within the customer experience. We utilise tried and true welding methods and oversee all work to ensure that it meets our strict specifications.

3. Expert Steel Knowledge
Tekmetsan has been in operation since 1971. As a leading Turkish steel fabricator, it goes without saying that we know our product. We have expert knowledge on the different types of steel and what they are like to work with, and our aim is to make working with steel easy. With the right processes, people and vendor relationships in place you can rest easy knowing that we are the steel experts.

 

4. Strong Relationships with Mills and Vendors
We source our steel from renowned mills and vendors who share our passion for quality. Throughout our history we have developed strong business relationships built on trust, and our vendors know that we make no compromises when it comes to the quality of our materials. We pay close attention to the grade of steel, carbon levels, alloy composition and tensile strengths to ensure it meets your exact specifications.

5. Attention to Detail
Structural steel fabrication must be carried out with care and attention to detail, otherwise the longevity and safety of a structure will be compromised. Just a few millimetres difference could bring a project to a halt. We have processes in place to ensure all design/measurement specifications are adhered to.

6. Weld Quality Management

We have a full-time Internal Welding Coordinator, a Quality Assurance Checker and an external Welding Coordinator who are solely responsible for overseeing manufacture and fabrication of our steel structures.

We also have strict weld quality management processes in place and are certified as a structural steelwork manufacturer up to Execution Class (EXC) 2 in accordance with BS EN 1090-2:2008+A1:2011.

Our Fabrication and Welding team members performing welding duties have demonstrated their competence skills in accordance with EN 9606-1 and are all trained in Defect Identification and Visual Inspection of Welds.

7. Accreditation, standards and quality

We are ISO 9001 Quality Management System accredited and CE Marked.

CE marking of our construction products is achieved through our Factory Production Control (FPC) in compliance with EN 1090-1: 2009 + A1:2011.

All of our structural steelwork conforms to current international codes.

How to Erect a Steel Building

How to Erect a Steel Building

The erection of structural steelwork consists of the assembly of steel components into a frame on site. The components are then lifted and placed into position before they are connected together.

Steel erection essentially consists of four main tasks: 

• Establishing that the foundations are suitable and safe for erection to commence.

• Lifting and placing components into position, generally using cranes but sometimes by jacking. To secure components in place bolted connections will be made, but will not yet be fully tightened. Bracings may similarly not be fully secured.

• Aligning the structure, principally by checking that column bases are lined and level and columns are plumb. Packing in beam-to-column connections may need to be changed to allow column plumb to be adjusted.

• Bolting-up which means completing all the bolted connections to secure and impart rigidity to the frame.

Generally, connection is achieved through bolting but, in some cases, site welding is used. The assembled frame needs to be aligned to within tolerance expectations before final bolting up is completed. 

The completed steel frame may then be handed over to following trades in an acceptable condition. 

Design for construction

The successful construction (including erection) of steel structures safely, quickly and economically starts long before the actual steelwork arrives on site from the fabrication shop. The ‘buildability’ of the structure is influenced significantly by decisions made during the design process long before erection commences.

It is important that designers clearly understand the impact of their decisions. Design for construction is a valid design objective and one that should be considered along with the other usual design objectives in play.

Erection planning

Planning for erection should start at the very beginning of the design process. Such planning should consider the construction sequence, the design factors that affect buildability and site practice in terms of typical erection plant.

 

In the broader design and planning context, there are three planning factors that affect the buildability of steel structures:

1. Practical erection sequence: the location of both temporary and permanent bracing systems or other means of maintaining structural equilibrium are crucial here

2. Simplicity of assembly: simply assembled connections are the main factor here

3. Logical trade sequences: which will affect the development of the master contract programme as the pre-tender plan metamorphoses into the construction plan.

Conclusion

Tekmetsan supports its clients during the erection works and offers free consultation and installation guideline to assist the clients.