Today, the popularity of prefabricated steel structures is no accident. As more business owners, contractors, and project managers realize that this type of steel structure has more benefits than traditional steel structures, their popularity will only increase.

When you look at the two construction methods in a side-by-side comparison of various factors, the advantages become apparent.

Structural weight

The primary frame members used in the pre-designed building are tapered, requiring less material than the traditional "I" profiles used in conventional steel structures. By strategically using larger beam depths at major stress points and thinner cross sections in less critical areas, the overall weight of the structure can be greatly reduced.

The lower weight of prefabricated buildings gives them the following advantages:

Shock resistance

Basic requirements (lighter buildings require less support)

Steel construction price (the less steel, the more cost effective the construction is)

Architectural design

Designing a pre-designed steel structure building is very simple, as many structural elements are commonly used and work together. The design process can also be aided by powerful computer-aided programs that can analyze a given structure and determine the best use for the material.

For traditional steel projects, the planning usually starts from scratch, namely:

Longer design time

Make them unsuitable for customization

Due to the need for consultation time, the price of steel construction has increased

And because the design process is so fast and efficient for pre-designed buildings, delivery times are much faster, on average.

Erection time

Once the prefabricated metal building arrives at the construction site, it can be assembled. With a building plan and experienced ground crew, your project will be completed in a matter of weeks. Because they are easy to assemble, you need:

Less manpower

Reduce working hours

Lighter equipment

Traditional steel construction projects are inherently slower and require more labor because the planning process is less precise. This indirectly leads to a rise in the price of steel construction.

To learn more about steel construction budgeting, check out our article: Industrial Steel Construction Prices: 5 Factors Affecting Cost Planning.

Expansion potential

For budget-conscious companies or those with long-term business plans, being able to expand buildings to accommodate future growth is beneficial for a number of reasons:

Prevent you from using funds

Optimize operational capability

Help you plan for your company's changing needs

The components of the steel structure building are universal, which makes the expansion a relatively simple process. If you anticipate this need in advance, your designer can even factor these changes into the initial building plan.

For traditional steel structures, expansion is a greater challenge because the individual building components are not easily interchangeable.