Choosing a prefabricated steel frame for sandwich panel cladding

The 8, 10 and 12 m spans come with side columns 4 or 5 m high, as does the 14 m series. For the 16, 18 and 20 m spans, column heights are 5, 6 or 7 m. Check the space needed for doors, services and storage when selecting the height.

Vertical and horizontal wall panels need different supports. In the smaller series, kits for vertical cladding include brackets for wall rails. The 14–20 m series includes configurations for vertical and horizontal panels, with details adapted to the intended orientation.

Reversing the panel direction can alter both support and restraint. Settle the cladding arrangement before ordering the frame, and mark doors, windows and service routes on the same drawings. Once the kit arrives, there are usually fewer ways to fit them in.

Our frames can support a building clad in sandwich panels. Specify the core, thickness and facings for the building’s use: a heated factory, machinery shed and produce store have different requirements. Panel cladding alone does not determine the temperature that can be maintained indoors.

Check the proposed support spacing against the documentation for the selected panel. Allowable span depends on loads, deflection and fixings. Also detail the corners, plinth and roof-to-wall junction: these connections must maintain the insulation layer and envelope seals.

A typical kit includes the primary framing members, gable posts, bracing and ties listed for that configuration. Check whether purlins, secondary wall rails, panels, doors, gutters, foundations and erection are included. A frame price is only one part of the cost of a finished building.

The components are factory prepared, and the catalogue frames are hot-dip galvanised. Check the protection against the intended exposure and inspect the coating in service. Persistent moisture and aggressive substances warrant particular attention; galvanising does not make a frame maintenance-free.

The kit is supplied with structural documentation, including calculations and erection drawings. The foundation design, site conditions, building services and applicable approval procedure still need to be addressed for the project. A standard kit does not by itself entitle the owner to build without a permit.

Check the assumed wind and snow loads and the effect of nearby structures. Solar panels, a mezzanine floor or an overhead crane require separate assessment. The same applies to extending the building later: repeating a bay in the drawings does not establish that the existing structure can carry the change.

If a kit is in stock, make sure the unloading area is ready too. Long components need a safe access route and suitable supports in temporary storage. Agree the packing list and part markings before collection so the crew can check the delivery and follow the erection drawings on site.

A standard frame can form the basis of a warehouse, workshop or agricultural building. For harvested produce, specify storage conditions and the loading method. Bulk grain exerts lateral pressure: provide elements designed for that load rather than relying on an ordinary wall panel without verification.

For a quotation, give the site location, intended use, required width and length, and planned equipment. These details help establish the appropriate series and the work still needed. The frame, cladding and site-specific design must ultimately work together.

Use the quoted dimensions to shortlist kits. Before setting out the column bases, have the designer check the chosen frame and its foundations for the site and obtain confirmation of the exact configuration and availability from the supplier.