Olympia Steel Buildings Weblog

Not Just Another Pretty Steel Building

Adding color enhances the appearance of steel buildings to either match or stand out from their surroundings. When  you choose a color option for your Olympia Steel Buildings pre-engineered steel building or prefabricated metal building system, you not only enhance the building's beauty but you are also helping reduce energy costs, saving yourself money and helping to protect the environment!

Olympia Steel Buildings twelve energy efficient metal building colors reduce cooling costs and their “cool” paint coatings come with a 40-year warranty against chipping, cracking, peeling or blistering.

 Try our steel building design color picker or call 888-449-7756 for steel building prices.

Steel Buildings Construction Conference To Be Held In Pittsburgh

The 2011 North American Steel Construction Conference will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center – the world’s first “green” convention center - in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania May 11-14.  The North American Steel Construction Conference is the premier educational event for structural engineers, fabricators, detailers, educators, and others involved in the design and construction of fabricated steel buildings, pre-engineered metal buildings and bridges.

Conference highlights include Clifford Schwinger speaking on “50 Tips for Designing Constructible Steel Buildings”. New to the conference this year is the Sustainable Steel Conference focusing on a wide range of issues including LEED, green building design and construction. If you are interested in attending visit www.aisc.org/nascc. for more information on the 2011 NASCC, including conference agenda and registration.

Green Reasons to Build With Pre-engineered Steel Buildings

Green reasons to build with pre-engineered steel buildings and metal buildings systems for your next building construction project:

• Steel is the most recycled material on the planet
• Steel is sustainable
• Steel is a cost-effective, durable option for building construction
• Steel buildings are a part of all major Green buildings ratings programs and standards programs,  including the National Green Building Standard (ICC-700) for residential buildings, ASHRAE Standard 189.1 for commercial construction, and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.
• Using pre-engineered metal building construction reduces the amount of construction waste at the job site. Any steel construction waste is then recyclable into other steel buildings construction
• Reflective metal roofs on pre-engineered steel buildings keep the inside of metal buildings coolr and can save up to 40% in energy. 
• Because they do not absorb heat as do other roofing materials, reflective metal roofs can also lower urban air temperatures, reducing urban smog.

Steel Buldings "Cool" Technology

Steel Buildings use “cool” coating paints for roofs and side panels in a wide variety of environmentally friendly metal building colors. “Cool” coatings are special paints with superior reflective qualities that act as a thermal barrier to keep the insides of steel buildings cool in summer.  This saves energy in cooling costs and helps save the environment by lessening the urban “heat island” effect. An “urban heat island” happens when urban concrete and asphalt construction absorbs heat during the day then radiates it back at night so that temperatures don’t fall at night as they normally would, and is a powerful contributor to climate change and global warming.

Steel buildings coated with “cool” coatings use less energy, summer and winter, making such metal buildings more energy efficient.  “Cool” metal building coatings not only reflect heat in summer, but also retain heat inside the building on cool days, saving on heating costs and keeping the indoor environment healthy and comfortable in both summer and winter. The use of “cool” coatings for steel buildings saves money and the environment through reduced energy costs and can even qualify for Federal tax credits.

In California, Texas and Florida, commercial building construction is taking advantage of the “cool” properties of steel building metal roofs for commercial buildings such as warehouses, industrial manufacturing plants, aircraft hangars, storage buildings, retail outlet stores, auto dealerships, strip malls and more.

Sustainable Pre-engineered Steel Buildings

Olympia Steel Buildings can help qualify your building project for LEED certification. 

“Steel buildings are durable, cost effective, energy efficient, and Green...”

“Because steel buildings are naturally Green and because we want to do our part to be environmentally responsible, Universal Steel Buildings Corp., sole supplier of Olympia Steel Buildings has joined the U.S. Green Building Council to demonstrate our support of sustainable building practices and commitment to Green Building principles and design,” stated Arnold Davis, President of Universal Steel Buildings Corp.

The 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.

Part of any LEED building project is assessing the constuction environmental impacts ...

 

Assessing the Construction Environmental Impacts

By Martin Sejas - Reprinted with Author's Permission http://www.martinsejas.com

Assessing the Construction Environmental Impacts is one of the most important steps in reviewing an environmental plan for new construction. An environment impact assessment (EIA) needs to be administered to determine the possible positive or negative impacts that a proposed project may have on the environment in regards to natural, social and economic aspects.

A friend of mine lives in a small town in the United States. We typically chat by email or skype. Three years ago, Tisa was excited about a new Walmart coming to town. The nearest Walmart is a half hour away. A super Walmart is about an hour away in the other direction. In her place, other option includes a great size retail unit and some small kiosk. In Tisa's mind, there's no question as to whether or not the town needs a Walmart. If you figure out her facade lawn area, you'll see various signage denoting "Say yes to Walmart."

During these past few years, we've been discussing the Construction Environmental Impacts that Walmart might have on her small town. In regards to natural, social and economic, these are the concerns that have been brought up thus far.

Natural Impacts

In regards to natural Construction Environmental Impacts, there have been several heated debates. The targeted space for the store is an old airport strip. However, it's not quite enough space. Walmart would like to purchase part of a nearby golf course. If this were to occur, the Country Club owner would need to expand the course in a different direction. This would mean altering the river that flows through the land that might be used for the golf course. Several studies are currently being done to assess whether or not this would harm the river flow, as well as the animals and plants in the river.

A usual Construction Environmental Impacts is a collection of Canadian Geese! The geese feel like the old airport strip is their home. People who enjoy walking on the strip for exercise are tired of walking over goose poop and would just assume see the geese driven away.

Social Impacts

The social Construction Environmental Impacts mainly center on the fear of drawing "city" people to the small town for shopping. Heated discussions have been held at town meetings regarding whether or not it will be safe to walk at night time or to leave cars unlock. It also means that a local coffee shop will be torn down to make room for the new parking lot. Customers who have been enjoying breaking at the shop for years are already mourning the possibility of losing their hangout spot.

Economic Impacts

Regarding economic Construction Environment Impacts, teens and young adults are all for Walmart. They are in hopes of obtaining a job and receiving health insurance. Older folks are afraid that Walmart will force the little shops to close. They don't have any hope of the shops being able to compete with a large retail store. Because Walmart has started the beginning steps of a building project, it's caused other chain stores and restaurants to be interested in the area. Already, two mid-size chain stores have opened up. Yet once again, some people are fearful of turning into a small city.

Whether it's small town USA where TIsa lives, or right here in the UK, any time there is a new building project there is a mix of reactions. Evaluating the Construction Environment Impacts allows people to examine the advantages and disadvantaged when trying to manage the project.

Download your very own construction environmental plan from Ensafe Planning Solutions. The plan is specifically designed for construction contractors who do not have sufficient time, money or knowledge to write up their own. It complies with current UK environmental legislation and can be quickly adapted to any site in the United Kingdom. http://www.constructionenvironmentalplan.co.uk/

Pre-engineered steel buildings are an innovative building solution featuring solid steel I-beam metal buildings 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.

Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings - An Innovative Building Solution

Pre-engineered steel buildings, also known as prefabricated buildings or modular metal buildings, are an innovative building solution featuring solid steel I-beam building construction. Pre-engineered steel buildings are leading the way in the Green building movement, meeting Green building design goals with innovative building design, engineering and use of materials. Steel buildings are durable, cost effective, energy efficient, and Green:

• Pre-engineered steel buildings employ sustainable building design and construction.
• Steel building components are manufactured to precise specifications in a steel building factory using the highest grade commercial American made steel available.
• Modern American steel manufacturers employ energy efficient methods in steel production that help substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• The steel used in steel building manufacture has a high proportion of recycled content.
• Steel building construction does not require cutting down valuable old growth forests.
• When a steel building is razed to make way for new building construction, the steel can be recycled, not dumped into landfills as are asphalt shingles, concrete, brick and wood.
• Steel can be recycled over and over again without loss of the quality of the steel.
• More steel is recycled than all other recyclable materials combined.
• “Cool” paints for steel buildings and metal roofing reflects up to 70 percent of the suns rays acting as a thermal barrier to keep the inside of metal buildings cooler.
• Metal roofs can also save energy and the environment in cooler climates. A painted metal roof not only reflects heat in summer, but also retains heat inside the building on cool days, saving on heating costs and keeping the indoor environment healthy and comfortable in both summer and winter.  

Olympia Steel Buildings Architectural Metal Roofs

The Architectural Roof System available on Olympia Steel Buildings consists of metal panels joined together by a unique factory-formed interlocking seam that is easily assembled and seamed in the field. “The Architectural Roof System steel panels have a sidelap that can be formed into two types of seams. The patented TripleLok™ seam, which will resist greater uplift forces than any known seam, and the QuadLok™  seam, formed by reforming the TripleLok™ seam to further tighten and form an additional strengthening bend. This allows a 24-gauge metal roof panel to resist uplift loads greater than even a 22-gauge panel. Because the TripleLok™ seam is such a superior seaming system, the additional strength of the QuadLok™ seam is required only at some roof edge zones and corners on buildings or on extremely high roofs in high wind areas where wind uplift forces are severe.”

Olympia Steel Buildings Architectural Roof System

The new “Architectural” Roof System showcased by Olympia steel buildings is designed for use on new construction and as a replacement roof for existing buildings where architectural appearance as well as weather resistance are important considerations.

 “Many standing seam roof systems have a similar appearance to the new Architectural Roof System, but they have major differences in their performance,” states Arnold Davis, President of Universal Steel Buildings Corp, sole distributor of Olympia Steel Buildings. “We are very excited about the new Architectural Roof System available as an option on Olympia steel buildings. It makes a beautiful roof profile on pitched roofs where the roof can be seen from the ground, making it very appealing to architects who want to enhance the look and appearance of the building. This unique roof system has many advantages over most other metal roof systems, and when properly installed the Architectural Roof System offers excellent weather resistance and is practically maintenance free.”

Steel Buildings Sale Ends August 31

must liquidate surplus Steel Buildings inventory! Help us fill our late fall production gap Call us now toll-free Free of building engineering fees! Discounts on all sizes in stock!

steel Building Orders must be received by August 31st, 2010 and buildings delivered before November 15th, 2010 Olympia Steel Buildings can be used for... Farm Equipment Storage • Grain or Hay Storage • Barns • Garages • Sheds • Workshops • Commercial Buildings • Churches • Airplane Hangars • Horse Arenas • Mini-Storage Buildings • Metal Building Systems

OLYMPIA STEEL BUILDINGS   call Toll-Free: 888-449-7756 Olympia Steel buildings Brochure (PDF)

12 Reasons To Build With Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings

• Steel buildings are cost fffective – Save up to 50% off cost of conventional construction with pre-engineered steel buildings rather than building with wood, brick or stone.

 

• Energy Efficient – Energy Star rated “Cool paints” for metal buildings & metal building roofing keep your building 20 degrees cooler in the hot sun.
• Pre-engineered steel buildings tight building design and construction means there is no air infiltration into the building, saving you on HVAC costs both summer and winter.
• Metal building metal roofs reflect up to 70% of the sun’s energy, keeping your building cool and saving you even more on energy costs.
• Olympia’s “High Energy Insulation System” steel building insulation system saves you even more.
• Green – Steel buildings use 70-72% recycled material & can earn your building project points toward LEED certification.
• Fast, easy, do-it-yourself building construction – for simple building projects, 3 guys, a weekend and you’re done.

 

• No surprises – pre-engineered steel buildings come in an easy-to-assemble metal building kit with everything you need & meet all local building codes.

 

• No architectural fees – from simple to complex, if you have a design and need in mind, pre-engineered steel buildings designers, consultants and engineers can eliminate the need for expensive architectural fees.