Reviewing Metal Building Drawings 1

[abusementpark]

When you are the EOR on a job that utilizes pre-engineered metal building framing, how closely do you review their shop drawings and calculations?

I am particularly asking about situations where the structure is more than just a metal building and there are a lot of miscellaneous structural steel attachments that put additional concentrated loads on the metal building frames or purlins. Even though I have clearly defined the additional loading criteria on the drawings, they are reluctant to show the inclusion of some these loads in their calculations. More recently, I had the engineer from a metal building company argue that he can say he doesn't need to consider a loading based on engineering judgement and that it is his prerogative to do that since he is stamping the drawings.

My opinion of these metal building suppliers is quickly diminishing. More and more architects are wanting to dress up metal buildings with all these different architectural features. However, I finding that from an engineering standpoint, these metal building suppliers can't handle anything that isn't their typical cookbook warehouse-type structure. It's like they can't deal with any kind of engineering calculation that their metal building program can't spit out.

Ok, end rant/

 

[JedClampett]

It's as if someone designed a car where the wheels fall off at 76 mph, because the highest speed limit is 75 mph.

 

[Ron]

NittanyRay...I have one that I'm currently working on that was designed under Exposure B....It's a small hangar at an airport...open for at least 1500 feet in two directions.

 

[ToadJones]

Ron-
Watch for snow load on the hangar....I have heard bad stuff can happen:

http://www.thekathrynreport.com/2010/02/dulles-airport-hangar-roof-collapse.html

 

[pmtpemb]

Ron
Pardon the tardy response. i do not customarily do site inspections. We do have an engineer on staff that does nothing but site visits, as well as troubleshooting. Prior to a project being delivered the engineer discusses the erection process with the erector. He also reviews the entire scope of the project that pertains to the PEMB. Any issues are usually caught at this stage.

PMT

 

[Ron]

pmt...sounds like your company is one of the better ones. Most others don't do that. Troubleshooting is done by a salesman. Not much technical field input.

TJ...fortunately no snow here...only wind!

 

[abusementpark]

I once had a metal building designer say that he always used exposure B because 80% of the buildings in the country fall under that classification. What he failed to realize is that a large percentage of metal buildings are erected on the perimeter of developed areas where the land is cheaper and more readily available. These areas are more frequently exposure C.

What he fails to realize is that he is a disgrace to his profession. Seriously, if that is true, then that is the epitome of lazy.

 

[vandede427]

Here's the real reason behind the site visit issue and it's hard to blame them for it.

PEMB's are purchased in whole then delivered. Most engineer's get paid based on the progress of drawings submitted (SD, DD, CD, CA).

I'll be honest if I got paid 100% of my fee before I submitted my final drawings, I'd be much less inclined to perform a long distant site visit too. PEMB designers typically have two to three times the distance to travel that a struct eng.

To quote Chris Rock, "I ain't saying it's right. I'm just saying I understand."

 

[dik]

I generally stipulate added loads for purlins, frames, etc. to suit the project and stipulate deflections and warranty items for various components.

I also have the client 'sign off' for the loads as well as inform him that he is looking at a 'throw away' building with a limited life expectancy.

Dik