Olympia Steel Buildings Weblog

Olympia Steel Buildings of Canada Celebrates Success Working With Contractors

All over Canada, MSC Metal Structure Concepts is experienced in constructing numerous brands of pre-engineered steel buildings and the brand they overwhelmingly prefer is Olympia Steel Buildings. “Olympia Steel Buildings are a favourite of all our foremen!” states  Steve Ivanitz, President, MSC Steel.

“Their buildings are well made with quality materials, erector friendly, and come complete with easy to follow installation drawings.  In addition, it has been our experience that Olympia stands behind their product with efficient and fair customer service.  With hundreds of satisfied customers and over 40 years experience in erecting pre-engineered steel buildings, we at MSC feel we have the knowledge and experience to make an informed recommendation and we strongly recommend Olympia Steel Buildings.”

Olympia Steel Buildings Launches New Smart Phone Friendly Website

Olympia Steel Buildings launches a new smart phone friendly website this week to respond to the growing demand for online steel buildings information, photos and videos by smart phone and tablet user.

Smartphone use is changing the internet and world wide web challenging web designers to create websites that not only look great on large flat-screen monitors, but also look great on tablets and smart phones. In response to this changing technology and user demand, Olympia Steel Buildings has redesigned its website using Responsive Web Design to address the importance of website accessibility on a variety of devices.

Wikipedia defines “Responsive web design” as “an approach to web design in which a site is crafted to provide an optimal viewing experience—easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling—across a wide range of devices (from desktop computer monitors to mobile phones).”

Everyone has had the experience of coming across a website on their phone that just does not work, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes you’re not able to work the dropdown menus. At other times there is too much content to scroll through. Responsive web design ensures that “visiting OlympiaBuildings.com will always be a good user experience, regardless of the device you use to search the web,” asserts company president, Arnold Davis.

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Olympia Steel Buildings Supplies Prefab Metal Building For Ice Rink

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Olympia Steel Buildings Supplies Prefab Metal Building For Ice Rink

The Town of Lemberg Saskatchewan lost the skating rink of their Community Recreation Centre to fire.  Olympia Steel Buildings of Canada competed with a number of pre-engineered steel building manufacturers and won the project with competitive pricing and good service. The team at Olympia Steel Buildings Canada worked closely with the Community Recreation Centre Committee to design and engineer a pre-engineered steel building 85 feet wide by 230 feet long by 20 feet high at the eaves to replace what had been lost to fire. The new building is designed to meet a high occupancy load requirement that provides an extra degree of safety to the people using the building.

The more than nineteen thousand square foot steel building ordered from Ontario-based Olympia Steel Buildings will feature a skating surface and a lobby when construction is completed. The new building became necessary following the March 10, 2011 blaze that destroyed the former skating rink, a 50-year-old wooden Quonset building. Twenty firefighters called in from both Lemberg and Neudorf  fire departments battled the blaze and were able to save the lobby and curling rink. However, the structural damage to skating rink itself was too extensive to repair. The curling rink, not damaged by the fire, will remain open while the new ice skating rink is being constructed, with completion anticipated in early 2013.

The Lemberg Rink Ice and Curling Rink is an indoor community ice rink that is open year round with ice skating sessions for the public as the main attraction. Skating provides great exercise and an opportunity to get out of the house in the winter months.  Curling is a team sport offered at Lemberg Rink.  Lemberg Rink also offers figure skating & ice skating lessons for young and old alike with top instructors providing both the basics and instruction on proper form and technique for more advanced skaters. Both Adult and Youth Ice Hockey programs and leagues are also offered, including adult and youth pickup hockey and ice hockey clinics.

 “It means a lot to the community to rebuild their ice rink – I’m glad Olympia was able to help,” asserts Steve Wetmore of Olympia Steel Buildings Of Canada.  

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Olympia Steel Buildings Supplies FreeStall Barn To Wenning Dairy Of Coldwater Ohio

An Olympia Steel Buildings freestall dairy barn is being supplied to Wenning Dairy of Coldwater Ohio by Universal Steel Buildings Corp. of Pennsylvania. The new pre-engineered freestall dairy barn metal building that is going up now will be completed by the beginning of 2013. The more than 35,000 square foot pre-engineered building is designed to house five hundred cows. The all-galvanized metal building is equipped with a unique curtain ventilation system that allows the cows to remain comfortable all year round.  The Olympia Freestall Dairy Barn incorporates an innovative integral moveable side curtain system with dual curtain drive units and galvanized curtain doors that allow airflow and exposure to the outside elements to be controlled. The innovative sidewall curtain system can be adjusted for changing weather conditions and completely opened to increase air flow during hot weather. These curtains, placed above cow level, can be easily adjusted or rolled up completely.

Free Stall Dairy Barns

Naturally ventilated free stall barns have become the mainstay of the dairy industry. Olympia galvanized clear span free stall dairy barns are open, airy, well ventilated galvanized steel buildings with wide open layouts, 28 ft bay spacing and no posts to deal with. Olympia freestall dairy barns are bright with good lighting and equipment integrated into the building design for the most efficient layout for light and ventilation. Well-designed freestall barns, with easy access to water and easy cattle flow, wide outside rows and open ventilation equal comfortable cows.

Olympia Freestall Dairy Barn Systems incorporate an innovative integral moveable side curtain system with dual curtain drive units and galvanized curtain doors, which allow airflow and exposure to the outside elements to be controlled. A manual curtain door drive unit is also available. Olympia's open ridge ventilation system allows for ample air exchange, venting the large quantities of heat and moisture produced by cows. Other barn systems that may be closed too tightly allow condensation to form on interior surfaces and become damp, conditions which are uncomfortable and unhealthy for cows and can accelerate building deterioration. The bottom line is whether cows are comfortable because comfortable cows mean higher milk production. Olympia freestall dairy barns are continuously filled with fresh, outside air providing a healthy and comfortable environment for cows to maintain their productivity throughout the year regardless of hot summer or cold winter weather conditions.

“The Wenner’s are a really nice family, 8 kids, 4 boys, they all work on the farm. They have wanted this new building for a long time and are all very excited and I am excited for them!” proudly states Erika Stanford, Universal Steel Buildings Sales Executive.

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Olympia Steel Buildings of Canada Supplies Prefab Metal Aircraft Hanger

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Olympia Steel Buildings of Canada Supplies Prefab Metal Aircraft Hanger to Ayce-Pro-Corp General Contractors for the Parry Sound Airport in Parry Sound, ON.

 Olympia Steel Buildings of Canada has contracted to design, engineer and supply one Olympia Steel Buildings® pre-engineered Aircraft Hanger metal building for the Parry Sound Airport in Parry Sound Ontario. The project consists of a 24m wide x 30m long x 7m high hanger with a 21m wide x 6m high Hydraulic Door and a 6m wide x 30m long office area with Mezzanine. Construction of the facility is scheduled to be completed in spring 2013.

“The people at Olympia Steel Buildings have been a great help.  I was recently at the factory in Pittsburgh, PA and the General Manager (Pat). Head of Design (Ron), Quality Control (Shawn and Bill) all gave me their 24 hour cell phone numbers to use if there were any questions or problems.  Olympia’s warranties and personal attention to details are the best in the business” states Sandy Lenny President of Ayce-Pro-Corp General Contractors in Torrance Ontario.

John Montgomery, National Sales Manager of Olympia Steel Buildings Canada outlined that “this building is an exciting example of the additional feature that can be designed into an Olympia Steel Building”. John points out that this building “features a 4 Ton Crane, Fire Wall separation, Custom colour roof sheeting to meet special Airport requirements, 29 gauge liner panel on interior walls, and a 100 square meter mezzanine floor.”

Universal Steel Buildings Awarded TXMAS Contract To Supply Metal Buildings In Texas

Universal Steel Buildings Corp. was recently awarded a Texas Multiple Award Schedule Contract (TXMAS), enabling state and local agencies in the state of Texas to purchase Olympia Steel Buildings directly off TXMAS Schedule 56 for Buildings and Building Materials/Industrial Services and Supplies.

 On the basis of Universal Steel Buildings GSA contract first awarded in 2009, it was determined that the availability of Olympia Steel Buildings on TXMAS would add value to current TXMAS contractors’ TXMAS Schedule 56 simplifying the purchase of Olympia pre-engineered and prefabricated steel buildings and metal building systems for state and local agencies within the state of Texas. The award of the TXMAS contract will simplify the buying process for Texas state and local agencies wishing to purchase an Olympia Steel Building for their building and construction needs.

The new program, called TXMAS (pronounced Tex Mas), was developed by the 2002 Texas legislature as part of a nationwide trend to make governments leaner and outsource many functions of government and to make it easier for State agencies and co-op members to purchase goods and services. As the existing system of obtaining bids for most services has proved to be cumbersome to both state agencies and government vendors, the Texas Comptrollers office actively encourages agencies to purchase from the TXMAS schedule. While the bidding process is still used for some of the purchasing functions of state and local governments, more and more purchasers are preferring to use TXMAS contracts as it is a much faster procurement tool. The Texas Procurement and Support Services (TPASS) has established the use of Texas multiple award schedule (TXMAS) contracts developed from GSA contracts awarded by the federal government or any other governmental entity of any state as an alternative purchasing method. In order to quality for a TXMAS contract, you must first have a federal GSA contract. Once you have obtained a GSA contract, a TXMAS (Texas Multiple Award Schedule) Contract will allow you to sell the same products and services to over 300 state agencies and 1,700 co-op members in the state of Texas without having to bid on every project.

As the responsible federal entity, the General Services Administration's (GSA) Federal Supply Service awards Federal Supply Schedule contracts through competitive procurement procedures for more than 50 schedules that cover multiple commodities and services. TXMAS contracts take advantage of GSA schedule pricing and a "best value" purchase can be made by following the TXMAS purchasing procedures. The TXMAS Program adapts existing competitively awarded government contracts to the procurement needs of the State of Texas, providing a tool that allows federal, state, and local government purchasers to buy up to $1 Million in products and services, including prefabricated steel buildings, without having to go through a lengthy bidding process.

Olympia Steel Buildings Manufacturing Excellence

Olympia Steel Buildings’ factory, Steel Built Corporation (SBC), maintains manufacturing certifications and accreditations relative to the steel building industry. They also hold memberships in a number of trade organizations. SBC has invested time and money to ensure that customers receive the highest quality metal building product that meets or exceeds all metal building industry standards.

Metal Building Factory Certifications, Accreditations and Memberships

 The listings below demonstrate to customers how dedicated Olympia Steel Buildings is to supplying the best products available in the steel building market today.

 MBMA – Metal Building Manufacturers Association Member

 IAS-AC172 – must be achieved to continue membership in MBMA and refers to fabrication with regard to welding.

 IAS-AC472 – a high standard certification program specifically written for the metal building systems industry. It was written in cooperation with MBMA and is made up of three parts:

Part A – STRUCTURAL - accreditation that primarily covers welding and traceability for structural fabrication (AC172).

Part B – COLD FORMED – covers the fabrication of cold formed products that require no welding.

Part C – DESIGN – address the design of metal building systems.

This certification is much broader than AC172 accreditation and encompasses all manufacturing practices and engineering common to the PEMB (Pre-engineered Metal Building) manufacturing industry.

 CSA-A660 Standard – developed to assist code enforcement in reviewing building permit submissions and helps customers receive a quality certified building. As part of the CSA-A660 compliance Canadian quality certification for steel building systems, the manufacturer provides a “Certificate of Design and Manufacturing Conformance” signed and sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer for each building project

 AWS Certification – American Welding Standards inspector certification covering 350 standards for welding practices and procedures.

 CWB Certification – Certification of qualified supervisors or inspectors making sure that all welding procedures used in the fabrication process are approved by the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB).

 US Green Building Council (USGBC) Member – USGBC is a non-profit trade organization that promotes sustainability in building design, erection and operation. Best known for the development of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating systems.

 ENERGY STAR – “ASK ABOUT ENERGY STAR” – represent qualified products or services that can deliver ENERGY STAR performance levels.

 Additional Certifications

• Clark County (Las Vegas) Approved Fabricator Certification
• California - City of Riverside (pending initial official registration listing)
• Texas certificate of registration #F11839 product certification
• Underwriters Laboratories UL-90 product certification PD# 08M40421
• Texas, City of Houston Product Certificate of Approval #759
• FL#3722.1 – Florida product approval for PBR and R panels for roof systems
• FL#3722.2 – Florida product approval for ZS TS24 panels for SSR roof systems
• FL#3985 – Florida product approval for PBR and R panels for wall systems

"Green" Steel Buildings: What You Need To Know

Because steel buildings are naturally Green Universal Steel Buildings / Olympia Steel Buildings maintains membership in the U.S. Green Building Council to demonstrate their support of sustainable building practices and commitment to Green Building principles and design.

 Pre-engineered steel buildings are an innovative building solution featuring solid steel I-beam building construction and they are leading the way in the   Green building movement, meeting Green building design goals with innovative building design, engineering and use of materials. Because steel buildings are durable, the use of cost effective, energy efficient, and Green, sustainable pre-engineered steel buildings can help your building project qualify for LEED certification.

The U.S. Green Building Council is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices and advancing structures that are environmentally responsible, cost- and resource- efficient, and healthy places to live and work. Their Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System emphasizes state-of-the-art practices in five areas: Building site development that is environmentally friendly and responsible; water conservation and responsible water use; energy efficiency, including alternative energy sources; use of renewable materials; and indoor environmental quality.

Pre-engineered steel buildings are a sustainable, energy-efficient and Green building solution. The first thing to be aware of is that pre-engineered steel buildings employ sustainable building design and construction. What this means is that the steel building components are manufactured to precise specifications in a metal building factory using the highest grade commercial American made steel available and steel manufacturers employ energy efficient methods in steel production that help to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and steel used in Olympia metal buildings manufacture has a high proportion of recycled content.

 For those concerned for the environment, it is reassuring to know that steel building construction does not require cutting down valuable old growth forests. And when a steel building is razed to make way for new building construction, the steel can be recycled - not dumped into landfills like asphalt shingles, concrete, brick and wood. Unlike some recyclables, steel can be recycled over and over again without loss of the quality of the steel. In fact, more steel is recycled than all other recyclable materials combined.

 Then there are the paint coatings to consider. “Cool” paints used for steel buildings and metal roofing reflect up to 70 percent of the suns rays and act as a thermal barrier to keep the inside of metal buildings cooler. Metal roofs can also save energy and the environment in cooler climates because a painted metal roof not only reflects heat in summer, but also retains heat inside the building on cool days, saving on heating bills while keeping the indoor environment healthy and comfortable in both summer and winter.

 What this means to you, the customer, is that when you purchase an Olympia  Steel Building, you can save money and build Green with the latest in Green building technologies. Your project may even qualify for energy credit under the Federal tax codes, and you will be able to apply for LEED certification for your building project. 

How Steel Buildings Compare To Concrete Tilt-Up Structures

One of the most important factors to consider when comparing pre engineered steel buildings to concrete tilt-up construction is the size of the building. For projects requiring less than 50,000 square feet, steel is more cost effective than concrete tilt-up. Although concrete tends to be a less costly building material, other factors such as crane rental significantly drive up the cost of concrete construction. Larger scale projects begin to offset the fixed construction costs of concrete tilt-up due to the less expensive raw material cost. However, there are other considerations which come into play in the comparison of these construction methods.

 For buildings with larger spans and multiple bays, a pre-engineered steel building would be the best choice. It affords more flexibility and the ability to easily customize a building’s design. Fewer support columns required by a steel building translates to more useable space. Steel structures can utilize more glass in their design than concrete construction reducing energy costs.

 Tilt-up building walls are created horizontally in large slabs on the ground. Raw materials for concrete can be found locally, but wood forms must be made including grids of rebar inside each form and the slabs must be poured and cured on site before the panels can be tilted into place. Temperature can play an important role in this process. On the other hand, steel panels are delivered ready to install upon arrival at the construction site regardless of climate. Time and energy are not required in the preparation of metal panels, improving erection speed.

 Because steel is 100% recyclable, it is “greener” than concrete. Metal beams and columns used in the framing of steel buildings are often produced from 95% scrap metal with less impact on the environment. Steel building contractors have the opportunity to take advantage of LEED points and building owners can work toward LEED certification by incorporating energy saving strategies in the life cycle of their steel building.

 Steel buildings show better strength and flexibility over concrete tilt-up structures in the face of natural disasters. They absorb energy from earthquakes and can withstand much of the pressure from hurricanes and tsunamis that collapse conventional structures. A collapsed concrete structure often causes death and serious injuries, but a concrete building can resist fire for extended lengths of time and is less likely to collapse under such conditions. Spray on fireproofing is available to strengthen steel in the event of fire.

 There are many reasons to consider Olympia Steel Buildings over a concrete tilt-up structure. However, consideration can be made for a combination of the two systems, which will complement each other under the right conditions.

Canada’s CSA-A660 Quality Certification for Steel Building Systems

Steel Built Corp, the manufacturer of Olympia Steel Buildings ®, has been certified as meeting all requirements of Canada’s CSA-A660 Quality Certification for Steel Building Systems.

 “Steel Built Corp is proud to meet all requirements of Canada’s CSA-A660 Quality Certification for Steel Building Systems,” announced Arnold Davis, President of Universal Steel Buildings Corp, sole supplier of Olympia Steel Buildings®. “Not all pre-engineered metal building companies are able to meet the high standards of quality set by CSA-A660 and the CSSBI. CSA-A660 Certification assures Canadian customers that Olympia Steel Buildings meet or exceed the quality requirements for certification established for pre-engineered metal building systems and are manufactured to adhere to the standards of the CSSBI, the Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute.“

With CSA-A660 compliance comes the assurance that the manufacturer has been audited for personnel training and adherence to procedures, design and engineering compliance, raw material controls and traceability, and fabrication, warehousing, packaging, shipping compliance to the plant quality program. “ISO Accreditation is not the same as CSA-A660 Certification,” notes Davis. “CSA-A660 certification includes a quality control audit like ISO, but in addition undertakes an engineering design and personnel audit.”

“It is mandatory that U.S. manufacturers selling steel buildings into Canada have this certification,” says Davis. “Our factory, Steel Built Corp, has invested time and money to ensure that our pre-engineered metal building systems meet Canadian standards. All pre-engineered steel buildings and metal building systems bought out of the U.S. should have “factory of origin” documentation written on purchase contracts along with a copy of the CSA-A660 certificate from that factory. Otherwise,” warns Davis, “the buyer may experience problems getting permits for buildings from factories that are not CSA-A660 certified for Canada. Be sure to ask for proof of CSA-A660 certification before you buy.

About CSA-A660 Certification

The CSA-A660 Standard was developed to assist code enforcement officials in reviewing building permit submissions incorporating steel buildings and metal building systems and to help purchasers receive a quality certified building. As part of the CSA-A660 compliance, the manufacturer provides a "Certificate of Design and Manufacturing Conformance" signed and sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer for each building project.