What Are Pre-Engineered Buildings? Benefits & Uses Explained

Cost-effective construction solutions are in high demand, and efficient building systems often use steel instead of wood to satisfy this demand. Steel frame construction is at the heart of prefabricated buildings, and the advantages are many.

Pre-engineered buildings offer streamlined construction, reduced cost to build, and provide a versatile design that is very adaptable. These structures also require very little maintenance, as the materials are less vulnerable to water damage and decay than traditional buildings.

Here we will discuss what a pre-engineered building is, what they are commonly used for, and discuss their various uses.

What is a Pre-Engineered Building?

Pre-engineered buildings are made from metal components, like metal roofing panels, steel girders, posts, and gussets, and metal siding panels. These components are assembled by professionals, as quality installation is very important to the strength of the building.

Traditional buildings with a continuous foundation, masonry exterior, fiberglass/asphalt roof, and drywall, are built mostly onsite for raw materials. With the exception of factory built trusses, traditionally built homes are mostly built using materials that must be measured, cut, and drilled before they can be used.

Pre-engineered buildings are assembled from factory made parts, not fabricated on site with raw materials. These structures, also known as prefabricated buildings, have a very high strength to weight ratio compared to a traditionally built building. This makes them simple to erect, which lowers the cost of both labor and machinery.

Business owners use pre-engineered buildings instead of wooden structures because they often are stronger, less expensive, and last longer. Pre-engineered buildings are made from corrosion resistant materials, which greatly reduces the need for regular maintenance.

While wooden structures must be protected from UV damage, rot, and damaging insects, pre-engineered buildings do not. Pre-engineered structures are not vulnerable to rot or decay, so damaging insects are not attracted.

When are Pre-Engineered Buildings Used?

Pre-engineered building uses include manufacturing facilities, storage spaces, office space, garages, and even barndominiums. These structures are quick to build, have few vulnerabilities, and often cost less than a traditional building. This makes pre-engineered buildings attractive to business owners, as the upfront investment is often less.

Traditionally built structures built from wood require much more internal bracing because wood is not as strong as steel by weight. The steel framework can span much farther distances than wood, so fewer internal support, like columns and posts, are required. As such, pre-engineered buildings are infinitely customizable due to their self-supporting design.

This adds clearspan, and floorspace, which are very valuable in manufacturing and storage facilities. Clearspan refers to the distance between vertical supports that can impede the movement of machinery, like a forklift. Floorspace is critical to warehouses and storage spaces, as every available square foot can generate revenue.

Prefabricated Building Advantages

Pre-engineered buildings have several advantages over traditionally built structures, such as lower cost, higher durability, and longer lifespan. Buildings made from wood typically cost more per square foot, take longer to build, and require much more regular maintenance.

Manufacturers of pre-engineered buildings have designed most of the vulnerabilities out of these structures over years of development. Metal pre-engineered building benefits include superior cost effectiveness, durability, and versatility in design and use.

Here are a few of the most popular advantages of owning a pre-engineered building:

Superior Cost Effectiveness

The building components used are made in the most cost effective way possible, which is in a factory setting. This virtually eliminates the need for onsite modifications, which are often inaccurate and time consuming to perform.

Pre-engineered buildings resemble a kit, and are delivered in an efficient, organized way. The authorized builder simply follows the included directions for assembly, with no significant modifications needed. This design strategy also produces no significant waste, which is a more eco-friendly approach to construction methods.

Increased Durability

Steel buildings resist rot, ignition, corrosion, and rust, and do not require the protection provided by siding or stucco. Pre-engineered buildings have a metal roof, steel framework, and metal panels for walls. When connected together, these components are exponentially stronger than a similar wooden building.

Unlike a wooden building, prefabricated buildings do not rely on nails, staples, or glue for strength. These structures are firmly bolted together, which from an engineering perspective, is far stronger than any nail, adhesive, or fastener that relies on friction.

Versatility

The design of these buildings is changeable, depending on the use of the structure.

Pre-engineered structures are ideal when the building will be longer than it is wide, as is common in factory design. These metal buildings can be connected end to end as needed without affecting the structural stability or strength of the framework.

Pre-Engineered Building Systems are Future Proofed

One of the advantages of a pre-engineered building is simple modification when the need arises. The steel framework within the building completely supports itself, so additional structural support is built into the new design.

Steel is exponentially stronger by weight than wood, so pre-engineered buildings can support their own weight, and even the weight of other objects when required.

If needed, the framework of a pre-engineered building can be designed to support heavy objects, like an HVAC compressor or hoist. This framework can also be designed to provide increased clearspan, which is invaluable when trying to move a large object within the structure.

Pre-Engineered Buildings Can Sit On a Pad, Or Footings

Unlike a wooden structure, pre-engineered buildings don’t always require a continuous foundation, which saves the owner both money and time. Traditional structures require a continuous foundation, or a monolithic slab since the beams used for support provide shorter clear spans.

Steel beams and girders are much stronger than their wooden counterparts, so they can span greater distances between vertical supports. In a factory setting, this provides far more usable space inside the building, because there are fewer vertical supports in the way, taking up valuable floor space.

Ready to Build Smarter with Pre-Engineered Buildings?

Pre-engineered buildings offer superior durability, versatility, and virtually unlimited customization options. Partner with Seufert Construction to create a cost-effective, durable, and customizable pre-engineered building tailored to your needs.