According to the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA), at least 34% of the low-rise buildings that are built in the United States of America utilize metal building structures. Moreover, most of the Fortune 1000 firms use metal buildings for their business facilities. When creating a business, you always look for a site to set up your new venture that is futuristic and can allow easy expansions. It is these properties, along with their durability and adaptability, that make metal buildings an ideal choice for various industry applications.
Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur looking to use metal buildings for warehousing purposes or a new business owner setting up a small office, metal buildings are the right investment. They can also be customized for higher efficiency and operationality.
In this blog, we will understand industrial metal buildings and their economic benefits better.
Understanding industrial steel buildings
Industrial steel structures are essentially designed for heavy-duty purposes. They are built stronger than other metal buildings in order to house big machinery and carry out significant tasks. Primarily, these buildings are used for manufacturing purposes or storing raw materials or finished products.
Majorly ranging from 40 feet wide to 300 feet wide, these structures are supposed to be at least 15 feet high and can be as high as your business requires.
They are utilized for a variety of purposes, such as:
- Factories for manufacturing goods
- Assembling products
- Warehouses for raw material or finished goods storage
- Distribution centres
- Machine workshops
- Fabrication workshops
- Energy generation power plants
- Renewable energy facilities
- Chemical processing plants
- Food/beverage processing facilities
- Oil refineries
- Freight and cargo handling businesses
- Truck terminals
- Aerospace manufacturing centers
- Aircraft hangars
- Automotive parts production plants
- Car manufacturing units
- Mineral processing plants
- Heavy equipment storage facilities
- Waste processing or scrap metal processing centers
- Meat processing plants
- Research laboratories or testing facilities
These are majorly unobstructed clear-span structures, offering a high possibility of customizations to transform them into the right structure for your business.
What makes industrial metal buildings cost-effective?
There are numerous factors that help in enhancing the cost-effectiveness of prefabricated metal buildings for industrial purposes. A few are:
Initial set-up cost
The initial setting-up cost of metal industrial buildings is at par with traditional structures. A detailed comparison is:
| Steel | Concrete | Brick and Mortar | Wood |
| $10 to $25 per square foot | $30 to $80 per square foot | $50 to $100 per square foot | $20 to $50 per square foot |
As you add more customizations, this cost is likely to go up. For metal buildings that are highly customized and wider, the cost can be up to $60 per square foot. However, this cost is usually lower when compared to the maintenance costs and the longevity of the structure.
Maintenance
Each industrial building is likely to have distinctive maintenance needs depending on its material. Let’s take a closer look at the maintenance costs and needs of different types of industrial buildings.
| Steel | Concrete | Brick and Mortar | Wood |
| Low maintenance due to resistance to pests and rodents | Low maintenance but are susceptible to cracks | Moderate maintenance but requires structural repairs regularly | Extremely high maintenance and are vulnerable to pests, rot, and water damages |
| $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot every year | $0.75 to $2 per square foot yearly | $0.50 to $2 per square foot annually | $1 to $4 per square foot year |
Steel industrial structures are also resistant to fire and mold. They are highly likely to protect your facilities and storage centers from environmental hazards and other damages.
Longevity
Metal industrial buildings are known to last up to 100 years if they are regularly taken care of and properly maintained. With 26-gauge vertical roofs, 12-gauge steel frames, 24-gauge wall panels, additional trusses, and wider beams, these structures can be made sturdier. Moreover, structures like wood do not just last for fewer years but also cost a lot in terms of maintenance and eventually become a burden.
Easy installation
In business, time is money. The longer you have to wait for your industrial building to set up, the more money you lose. Prefabricated metal industrial buildings that are highly complex and have numerous customizations take from 2 to 6 months.
Complex concrete buildings take from 9 to 12 months. Even wooden buildings take up to 12 months, but they are highly labor-intensive, and the work may be delayed due to weather conditions. Whereas brick and mortar buildings can take up to 18 months as they require extensive on-site work.
Energy-efficient
To further make your operations within metal buildings more cost effective, you can easily install solar panels on the roof of the structure. These buildings often have large roofs, offering ample space to install solar panels to maximize the energy production as well as savings. The electricity generated can be efficiently used for your business operations, and heating and cooling systerms. These panels can offer a high return on investment for business owners.
Do metal industrial buildings offer customization options?
Metal industrial buildings are hassle-free and can easily incorporate a variety of customizations ranging from installing a mezzanine for additional floor space to adding assembling equipment.
You can also use the clear-span structures to your advantage, as they allow you to set up temporary partitions for each department easily. This can help structure your operations and optimize the building to the utmost. With each department having the space it requires, steel structures will also help you in enhancing your efficiency and functionality.
Are metal buildings safe for industrial purposes?
Steel in noncombustible and delivers an excellent resistance to fire, unlike wooden buildings, which makes it one of the best materials for industrial buildings. With metal buildings you can enhance the safety of your employees along with protecting expensive machinery and elaborate equipment within the building for manufacturing or other purposes.
Metal buildings are also highly resistant to corrosion, pests and moisture, which will ensure the longevity of the structure as well as your hardware.
In Conclusion
Metal industrial buildings have proven to be one of the most economical solutions for a wide range of industries and activities. Along with being cost-effective, their sturdiness and longevity make them highly durable, so much so that they last for decades, providing stability for your operations to run smoothly.