Olympia Steel Buildings Weblog

Pre-engineered Steel Buildings Work For Public Works

Case Study: Pre-engineered Steel Buildings Work For Public Works - Oakland, MD

Many municipalities are deciding to build public works projects with pre-engineered steel buildings construction. After investigating all options and receiving multiple building and construction quotes, municipalities are finding that not only are steel buildings durable, but they are cost-effective and energy efficient.

This historic Maryland town found that after considering the cost of building materials and the total bill for construction, pre-engineered steel buildings and metal buildings systems can save up to 60% off conventional construction costs. Compared to conventional construction with brick, block or wood, time to completion can be surprisingly fast - only a matter of days for small buildings and just weeks for large construction projects.

This public works building in Oakland, Maryland uses pre-engineered steel building construction and is covered with a Zeus-Shield® standing seam metal roof. The steel building was constructed with minimal crew size and once the foundations were poured the metal building system went up quickly. Several different crews were able to work simultaneously to complete this public works complex in a timely fashion.

The clear span of the steel buildings interior space provides an unencumbered area, perfect for vehicle and equipment storage, maintenance, workspace and offices. The Zeus-Shield standing seam metal roof has a number of advanced features that make it the best in its category, supplying superior performance, wind and weather protection at minimal cost.

Olympia Steel Buildings Offers Zeus-Shield™ Standing Seam Architectural Metal Roof

The Zeus-Shield™ Architectural Standing Seam Roof System is a heavy-duty architectural or functional standing seam metal roof for covering pre-engineered steel buildings, metal building systems and other types of buildings where architectural appearance, water resistance, expansion/contraction and insulation efficiency are of prime importance.

Zeus-Shield’s Architectural Roof System for steel buildings and metal building systems is designed to be water resistant and have a long life expectancy when properly specified by a qualified metal buildings designer who is aware of the conditions normal to industrial buildings and commercial building roof installations. The steel buildings designer will analyze the requirements of the specific building being covered with the Architectural Roof System to determine if the features and limitations of the system will be compatible with the design requirements of the specific building.

The Architectural Roof System is intended primarily for architecturally driven commercial steel buildings with steeper single or double sloped rectangular roof areas. Architectural roofs can be applied to more complex roof configurations with proper consideration given to the potential for increased material and labor cost and potential erection problems resulting from the complexity of the parts and their installation.

The Architectural standing seam metal roof panel is better suited for special roof details than the Trapezoidal standing seam roof panel because it is an easier metal panel to seal and make weather tight at the ends or at slope and bevel cuts.

More complex roof configurations and non-rectangular configurations such as beveled eaves, beveled gables, hips and valleys, are designed similar to their rectangular counterparts with the exception of the transitions which require field cutting of the panel and special factory or field-fabricated flashing parts.  The Architectural Roof System is not recommended for arched roofs.

Changes in roof pitch require a transition joint or ridge between the different pitched roof sections. The transition joint may require provisions for expansion and contraction of one or both roof planes. The designer may be required to provide special secondary structural members to accommodate fixing the roof panels at locations other than the eave. Panels that run “over the eave” onto a mansard will require rib clips or covers.

Ask your Olympia Steel Buildings pre-engineered metal building designer for more information about Zeus-Shield™ standing seam metal roof systems. See how a Zeus-Shield standing seam metal roof can add value to your steel building construction.

Three Seaming Systems For Standing Seam Metal Building Roofs

The Zeus-Shield™ Standing Seam Roof System for Steel Buildings Uses Three Roof Seaming Methods:

1. The “RollLok” seam does not require an electrical seamer to complete the roof. All that is required to seam the “RollLok” seam is a hand seamer, used to crimp the seam at clip locations.  The “RollLok” seam provides greater uplift loads than any of the existing no-seamed metal roof systems.
2. The “TripleLok” seam is formed using an electrically powered seamer that forms a seam that will resist higher uplift loads than any seamed metal roof system on the market.
3. The “QuadLok” seam is used in very high wind load portions of seamed roofs for pre-engineered steel buildings or metal buildings systems where other roof systems would require narrower 2'-6" purlin spacing, narrower 18" wide panels, thicker 22 gauge panels or a combination of all of these options.

The “QuadLok” seam is formed by seaming over the “TripleLok” seam to further tighten and form an additional strengthening bend in the seam. The “QuadLok “ seam is typically used in areas of the roof that require extreme uplift resistance such as the corner and edge zones of roofs in high wind areas.

Standing Seam Roofs for Steel Buildings & Metal Building Systems

The aesthetic appeal of a roof seen from the street or above, including both steep-slope roofs and even low pitch roofs is important. Zeus-Shield™ “Architectural” and “Trapezoidal” standing steam metal roof systems for pre-engineered steel buildings and metal buildings systems are designed with aesthetics in mind for use in architectural or functional applications where both appearance and weather resistance are primary concerns. Many metal standing seam roof systems may have a similar appearance but have major differences in performance. Zeus-Shield standing seam metal roof systems have many advantages over other roof systems, offer excellent weather resistance and are practically maintenance free.

Zeus-Shield’s Architectural and Trapezoidal standing seam metal roof systems are adaptable for use on new construction or as a replacement roof for existing buildings where weather resistance and architectural appearance are the most important design considerations.

The Classic “Trapezoidal” standing seam metal roof system for pre-engineered steel buildings and metal buildings systems is a heavy-duty roof system intended for use where water resistance, expansion/contraction and insulation efficiency are of prime importance. This metal roof system is designed primarily for industrial buildings and commercial steel buildings roofs with single or double-sloped rectangular areas, but can be used for more complex roof configurations as well.

The minimum allowable roof slope is .5:12 as standard; the maximum allowable roof slope is 6:12 as standard, based on general and typical roof applications.

Both “Trapezoidal” and “Architectural” roof systems consist of metal panels joined together by Zeus-Shield’s patented factory-formed interlocking seam, and are easily assembled and seamed in the field.

The roof panels are Galvalume coated steel, the strongest, most durable and maintenance free of practical roof materials, with proven weather resistance. Roof panels are available in nine Trinar® Cool Chemistry® Series color coatings with a 35-year limited warranty, providing long-lasting weather protection. These remarkable color coatings contain ceramic pigments that reflect infrared energy while absorbing visible light so the roof retains its richness of color while keeping your steel building 20 degrees cooler in the hot sun. The steel panels are impervious to moisture and resist falling objects and roof traffic better than other commonly used roofing materials. They resist live load and wind uplift without the complexity and cost of additional sub-framing that most other roofing systems require.