Before embarking on your next steel building project, the end customer has to know his responsibilities to be able to ensure the project’s success. Most steel building suppliers custom design a building after the order has been placed, based on the applicable building code, loading conditions and serviceability requirement. Metal building structures are governed by the same building codes and material standards just like other forms of construction. The end customer or the owner has the sole responsibility of identifying all applicable building codes, zoning codes, and any other local regulations that are applicable to the construction project, including the metal building system. Aside from these, the end customer should also be the one to prepare the set of complete specifications including the design criteria, codes, standards, and regulations. In addition, the end customer is also responsible to prepare all the design loads and other requirements that will have an impact on the design and the erection of the steel building. Most importantly, the end customer is responsible for the design of the foundation of the steel building. Ensuring proper ventilation and condensation is another responsibility. Codes, Standards and Design Loads Based on the above discussion, the following information must be furnished by the end customer to the dealer of the metal structure, who in turn will pass the same information to the supplier: †The applicable provisions of the code or standard that specifies the application of design loads to the steel building system. †All applicable design loads including dead, live, soil, flood, wind, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, seismic, collateral and auxiliary loads. If no such disclosure is included in the order of documents, the supplier of the steel building will assume that no such loads or conditions exist. †Conditions on the site and construction area that might influence the design criteria such as those causing drifting snow and any existing buildings or adjacent structures. †The geometric requirements for the metal structure such as length, width, height, shape of the roof, slope, and vertical and horizontal clearance requirements. †Local zoning requirements that affect important factors of the applicable code or standard. †Any information that may be deemed necessary to determine if the steel building system can be designed to conform with the specified code or standard and is compatible with other construction materials used on the project. Steel Building Foundation The end customer should keep in mind that the supplier is not responsible for the design, the materials, or workmanship of the foundation of the steel building construction. The anchor bolt plans included in the steel building system package are prepared by the supplier for the sole purpose of showing to the end customer the location, diameter, and projection of anchor bolts that are required for attaching the metal structure to the foundation. The anchor bolts must be placed accurately as specified in the anchor bolt setting plans. The purpose of the foundation of the steel building is to anchor the columns and provide a level base on which to erect the metal structure. In other words, the foundation holds the whole construction together. If the foundation is properly designed, the end customer is assured of the integrity of the steel building. The supplier of the steel building system is responsible for providing the dealer with information on the loads that are imposed by the metal structure on the foundation. Using these information, the end customer is responsible in ensuring that proper provisions are made for specifying bolt embedment, bearing angles, tie rods, and any other associated items embedded in the concrete foundation. In addition, the end customer is also responsible in ensuring that the design of the foundation be adequate for the design loads imposed by the steel building system and other imposed loads, bearing capacity of the soil and all other conditions in the construction site. Soil conditions are of vital importance to the success of any building project and should not be ignored. Ventilation and Condensation Another one of the many responsibilities of the end customer is to ensure that adequate provisions for proper ventilation, condensation, and other similar requirements are made. The steel building system is just one element of the total construction project. A clear understanding of specific roles played by the supplier, dealer and end customer is crucial for the success of the project.
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