A pre-engineered building (PEB, pre-engineered metal building, PEMB or metal building) is a custom-built, structural steel system designed to support the wall and roof elements of a building shell or enclosure and often includes the roof and wall cladding itself.

Absolutely! A metal build can be designed to accept any conventional wall finish such as: exterior insulation finish systems (EFIS or Dryvit), masonry block or brick, architectural flat panels (car dealership panels), cultured stone, concrete “tilt-up” panels, glass curtain wall systems. They can also include roof extensions, soffits, canopies, mansards, parapets and vestibules.

Although metal buildings can accept conventional roofs such as TPO, PVC and EPDM, standing seem metal roofs are industry standard and can last 2 to 3 times longer!

Metal buildings are great for buildings with 90 degree corners, however they are not good for curved buildings, buildings with very low roofs (< 10’) or residential structures. Until recently, they also weren’t good for highly insulated buildings, but new technology and requirements has remedied that.

Industrial facilities, warehouses and distribution centers, retail stores, shopping centers, motels, auto dealerships, office complexes, airplane hangars, sports and entertainment arenas, schools, libraries, churches, medical facilities and government buildings.

A few things: metal buildings can provide wide open spaces with clear spans up to 300 feet. Since there are no (or limited) interior columns, those concrete foundations are eliminated.

The flanges and webs of each column and rafter are built up from plate steel to match the required stresses at each point which is why they are tapered. Conventional steel must be design for the worst case stress.

Metal buildings are assembled much quicker and without welding which greatly reduces labor costs. Installation is by one contractor and not multiple trades (iron workers, roofers, insulators, siding companies, window and door trades, etc.).

A metal building consists of primary framing (columns and rafters), secondary framing (wall girts and roof purlins), wind bracing (rod, cables, portal frames, struts). Framed openings (for doors, overhead doors, louvers, fans, etc.) and usually wall and roof panels and insulation systems… plus other accessories such as mezzanines, windows, doors, fans, vents, canopies.