The industrial era in the United States saw the construction and manufacturing industries take off. Americans desired goods and new technology, causing businesses to build new factories and facilities to produce them. Steel building construction became the heart of American industry as steel became one of the most extensively used building materials in the country.
This trend toward steel led to the construction of many magnificent steel structures that serve as landmarks in their respective cities. Below is a list of five of the most famous and recognizable steel buildings ever constructed in the United States.
Empire State Building
CNN. The Empire State Building also features a variety of technological equipment, including power units similar to Warren cat generators as a safeguard for the businesses housed there.
12 Most. This dome-shaped building was constructed using 110 tons of steel and stands as one of the most unique steel buildings ever constructed.
Michael is a full-time blogger who has passions in all corners of the online world. In his downtime he enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and blogging on everything from technology to business, to marketing, and beyond. Follow him on Twitter or Google+.
Bigger isn’t always better. Anyone living the tiny home lifestyle can confirm that small living offers many full-size benefits. Advantages of tiny homes fit into three main categories: financial gains, environmental benefits and psychological benefits. Some buyers focus on one main benefit, while others like the full gamut of advantages that come along with owning a small house.
This might sound impossible for some, but the rising demand in tiny homes proves that the concept of living small is not a bad idea at all. In fact, homeowners that began to downsize their living space can attest to the oversized benefits that come with the tiny home lifestyle!
Now, even the minimalist lifestyle is also piquing interest, including that of media. This is evident in magazine features and television shows, like “Tiny House Hunters”, “Tiny House Builders” and “TINY: A Story of Living Small”. Whether you’ve gotten enticed by the media or you’ve simply decided to minimize expenses and opt for a greener lifestyle, living small has so much to offer.
Do you want to adopt the tiny house lifestyle as well? Check out this infographic, “7 Reasons Why Tiny Homes Are Worth It,” to know the reasons why living in a tiny home doesn’t leave room for regret.”
Whether you’re ready to downsize now or are just beginning your tiny home research, fully exploring the advantages and the options helps you transition to the lifestyle. Keep reading to discover all the potential pros of going small.
Basics of the Tiny Home Movement
House sizes have increased steadily in recent decades. The median size of new single-family homes sold in 2015 was 2,520 square feet. That’s much larger than many of the homes from our parents’ or grandparents’ generations.
But not everyone craves massive spaces. The tiny house movement counters the “bigger is better” mentality by returning to the days of smaller homes. The idea is to cut down to only the essential to lead a more fulfilling and financially stable life.
Tiny homes range from 100 to 400 square feet, with an average size of 186 square feet – much smaller than the average modern home size. The tiny home movement is more than a shift in housing. It is a social movement, aimed at living a more rewarding life with financial and emotional freedom. Blogs and TV shows based on the movement continue drawing mainstream attention to shrinking house sizes. The advantages of building a tiny home outweigh the sacrifice of space for the people who choose to jump on the tiny house wagon.
Who is joining the movement? Tiny homeowners come from a variety of backgrounds and have different motivations for downsizing. Here are some examples:
Millennials who couldn’t otherwise afford a home of their own
People who want to own a home but don’t want a mortgage
Retirees who want to downsize
People who want to reduce their carbon footprints
Adventurous types who want to spend more time traveling
Individuals who want to take their homes with them when they move
Homeowners who want to simplify
In the initial stages of the tiny home movement, most structures used the traditional wood construction on a smaller scale than traditional homes. As the industry gains traction, tiny homebuilders continue seeking out efficient ways to build homes. Steel is gaining ground in the industry, thanks to its energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, eco-friendly quality, and durability. Thanks to the popularity of tiny homes, the building plans, materials, and innovative designs continue expanding, giving you great flexibility in the finished product.
Build for Less
The financial advantages of tiny homes begin right away with cost-effective building methods. It costs much less to build a tiny home than to build a larger home. That lower cost opens up the option to buy for individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford a house. It also appeals to young people who may have lots of college debt or haven’t saved up a large down payment for a home.
The specific cost of a tiny home depends on several factors, including the type of building, size, features, and finishes. Prices typically range between $19,000 and $50,000. Tiny homes with higher end finishes or specialty features can go higher, but most tiny homes come in well below the 2015 average new home sale price of $360,600. The cost of land is another factor if you don’t already have a spot to place the home.
A tiny home gives you the option to build at a fraction of the cost of a traditional home. Here are some of the reasons building a tiny home is more affordable:
Fewer appliances to own because of the limited space. Tiny homes typically have small refrigerators and a small cooking appliance. Some may have small washing machines or dishwashers
Smaller amount of materials needed to cover the smaller surface area, including flooring, siding, windows, and cabinets
Less time to build, resulting in lower labor costs
Simplified systems without expensive parts and extensive installation processes
No basement or large, intricate foundation
Choosing cost-effective materials helps keep the initial cost of a tiny home low. Steel is an affordable building option for small homes. Complete your steel tiny home with affordable yet durable finishes to keep building costs down and minimize ongoing upkeep costs down the road.
Ditch Your Mortgage
The idea of eliminating a mortgage payment is a big draw in the tiny home community. Because of the low building costs of smaller homes, many people pay for tiny homes in cash. In fact, 68 percent of tiny homeowners are free of mortgage payments, while only 29.3 percent of all homeowners have no mortgage. You also save money on interest by paying for the home outright or paying the outstanding balance quickly. The interest on a traditional mortgage means you end up paying a lot more than the sale price by the end of the loan term.
Living without a mortgage offers several advantages, including:
More flexibility in your budget to pay other expenses
Financial freedom
Full equity in the tiny home to increase your overall assets
Option to use the tiny home as collateral if needed
Security of not losing your home if you face financial hardships
Increased opportunity to build a savings account
Opportunities for other investments
The satisfaction of owning a home outright
If you don’t have the money available immediately, saving up the cost of a tiny home is possible in a short amount of time. The total cost of a modest tiny home is similar to the down payment on an average home sold in the U.S. You also have the option to pay cash for part of the cost and take out a loan for the rest. If you do need to borrow money, your payments on the cost of a tiny home will be much lower than a traditional mortgage payment. With lower payments, you can pay off the loan faster by paying more than the standard loan payment each month.
Save Money Long Term
The lower build cost helps you save money initially, but the cost advantages of tiny homes continue after you move into your small home. From lower maintenance to less space for furnishings, the lifestyle helps you cut costs.
A smaller space means less money spent on decorating. It won’t take many pieces of wall décor to spruce up your home, and you won’t have room for large pieces of furniture. You can redecorate cheaply when you get tired of the current style. Painting the interior doesn’t take a lot of paint or time.
If your tiny home needs repairs, those costs are likely to be much less expensive due to the smaller size. You won’t need as much material to make the repairs. If you hire a contractor to do the work, he can finish the job quickly, reducing the amount you spend on labor. Even if your entire roof needs replaced, for example, the surface area is so much smaller, that you save money on the materials and labor costs.
Live in an Eco-Friendly Home
The environmental advantages of tiny homes appeal to many people who join the movement. A smaller home makes it easier to reduce your carbon footprint and minimize your impact on the environment. The idea of a tiny home is to have just the amount of space you need. Traditional homes have lots of wasted space, unlike tiny homes, where every space has a purpose. This concept of only having what you need supports a sustainable lifestyle.
Tiny homes require a much smaller amount of materials than a traditional home. This reduces the amount of natural resources used for the structure. The smaller space may also make it possible to use reclaimed or secondhand materials, further reducing the impact on the environment.
Steel construction naturally lends itself to a green lifestyle, since steel is the most recycled material. Recycling doesn’t affect the integrity of the steel, so you gain the benefits of recycling without sacrificing the stability of your home. Steel is also stronger than wood and better able to handle weather elements, mold, pests, and fire. Your home remains secure and needs less maintenance when you opt for steel.
Building a tiny home requires much less energy and produces significantly less pollution than a traditional home. The smaller scale of the project allows for smaller equipment. The homes are often built in manufacturing facilities, minimizing disruption to natural areas. A shorter building process further minimizes the amount of energy consumed and pollution created.
A tiny home lends itself well to living off the grid, for additional eco-friendliness. The small size and lower than normal amount of electrical components makes it easier to power the space with solar panels. Composting toilets minimize water usage, offering a green way to outfit your bathroom. Rainwater harvesting systems can easily provide a water source to sustain the small size of the home. This reduces your carbon footprint and gives you greater freedom in placing your home.
Enjoy Energy Efficiency
The small space inside the home makes it easy to heat and cool, no matter how you supply energy. A properly sized heating and cooling system won’t have to run long, to get the home to an optimal temperature. With fewer windows than a larger structure, a tiny home is better able to retain heat in the winter and cold in the summer, which further reduces the amount of time the heating and air conditioning system has to run.
To save on space, many tiny homes skip the traditional oven and large stovetops in favor of countertop cooking appliances. These appliances generally consume less energy than a full oven. They also produce less heat, which keeps the space cooler during the summer months.
Choosing an energy-efficient building material compounds the benefits. Steel is a solid choice for creating a cost-effective, energy-efficient tiny home.
Other decisions during the design process help improve the energy efficiency of the home. Retrofitting an existing tiny home is also an option. Consider these energy-saving ideas when designing or updating your tiny home:
Seal any gaps to prevent air leakage.
Insulate the walls to prevent hot or cold air movement.
Install an insulated door.
Choose energy-efficient windows.
Position windows opposite one another to allow for a cooling cross breeze.
Add skylights to allow heat from the sun to enter easily during the winter. Those skylights also let in natural light, reducing the need for using light fixtures during the day. A blackout shade on the skylight minimizes heat during the summer months.
Size the heating and cooling system properly so it doesn’t work overtime.
Maintain the heating and cooling system by changing filters and keeping ducts cleaning. This allows the system to run efficiently.
Take Your Home With You
Many tiny homeowners choose this lifestyle for the portability of the home. Tiny homes built on trailers allow you to tow the house wherever you want it. Other styles of tiny homes aren’t as easy to move, but they are still much more portable than a traditional house. If your career takes you to a new location, you can take your entire home with you instead of selling, packing everything and buying a new house.
Even if you decide to build a more permanent tiny home, the lifestyle affords you flexibility in the placement of the home. At less than 400 square feet, tiny homes don’t require much land. Lease a small plot of land or place the home on land owned by a family member or friend for affordability. You can also buy a small, inexpensive piece of land if you want to feel more grounded.
Simplify Your Life
The major downsizing that happens when you move to a tiny home is that it forces you to simplify your life. You simply can’t keep everything you own. Cutting things like furniture is easy. It’s often the sentimental items, clothing and other possessions that take some effort to donate or sell.
The benefit of cutting back is the freedom often felt with the lack of clutter. Keeping only things with a purpose or with significant meaning makes you appreciate those items more. While difficult to decide what makes the cut, people often report a sense of freedom by getting rid of all those things that never get used.
You also learn to do more with less when living in a tiny home. You can’t have 10 different small kitchen appliances, because you don’t have room for so many items that serve only one purpose. Instead, you learn to use one appliance in 10 different ways to maximize the space.
Tiny homes give you a crash course in simplifying your routine while using everything efficiently. Every area of the home needs a specific purpose and organizational tools integrated into the design. The most efficient designs allow for multiple uses in one space.
Experience More
The money and time you save by living in a small space, allows you to experience more in life. Low or no monthly payments on the home free up a huge chunk of your income, allowing more money for experiences, such as travel or local outings
Because the home doesn’t have a lot of room to do things inside, the tiny home lifestyle encourages owners to get out and be active. Instead of sitting in a tiny room, owners enjoy nature around them or pursue hobbies outside the home. Those experiences can lead to a richer life, focusing on memories rather than on collecting things.
Cut Cleaning Time
Cleaning a 2,000-square-foot home takes a significant amount of time. By shrinking your living space and the amount of furnishings in the home, you reduce your amount of cleaning time drastically. You have few windows to clean, less floor space to sweep and few dishes to wash. That time saving gives you even more freedom to experience life.
The small space and the scaled-back amount of possessions make it easier to keep the home tidy once you clean. You have fewer things to leave out, which makes for less clutter. The need for organization in such a compact area also helps keep everything neat and orderly.
Bond With Family
Spending quality time with a partner or family in a tiny home encourages bonding. In such close quarters, it’s not an option to hide away and do your own thing. This lifestyle engages family members in conversation and activity. Living in such a small space can encourage better communication habits. Tiny homes also encourage compromise to share such a small space.
Show Off Your Unique Style
A tiny home gives you the chance to customize every aspect of the build, more so than a traditional builder going off a set of standard plans. With a tiny home, you can customize the layout and create a space that works for you. The building method works with any style of home, from traditional and rustic to modern styles.
Beyond showing your personal style through the design, living in a tiny home is a conversation starter. When you tell someone you live in a tiny home, expect to get many questions. This is a great opportunity to showcase your reasons for downsizing and for promoting the tiny home lifestyle.
Building your own tiny home can save you money, but the process also presents plenty of challenges. Doing the work yourself will likely take much longer than using a commercial builder. Check out these advantages of having your home built for you instead of building it yourself:
Experience: A company who specializes in building small structures knows what works. This results in efficient building practices, quality construction and structural integrity.
Time: Builders often employee a large staff with experience in the field. They have the manpower to build the structure quickly, even if you have a tight deadline. The employees know what they are doing and have worked through problems on previous builds, so they don’t waste time trying to find solutions or figure out how to tackle a particular task.
Quality: Reputable builders use quality materials and high standards in their construction methods. This results in a quality-built tiny home with a durable design.
Varied Expertise: Staff members with training in building practices ensure the house meets codes and can withstand local weather and environmental factors. Engineers, designers, detailers and project managers make up the team at MBMI.
Cost Effectiveness: While a DIY project may seem cheaper on paper, unexpected expenses and the time cost of doing everything yourself adds up. You may be surprised at the cost effectiveness of hiring a builder to complete the tiny home for you.
Another option is to have a builder construct the shell of the tiny home while you complete the interior detailing. A steel building is a perfect option if you want to go this route. We handle all the structural components of the building. Windows, doors, insulation, metal siding and metal roofing are also options as part of the build. You can tackle the rest of the build to keep your project on budget and put your own sweat equity into the home.
Start Building Your Tiny Home
Choosing a steel building for your tiny home gives you a durable, energy-efficient framework. At MBMI Metal Buildings, we build custom steel buildings to your specifications. Our in-house team of professionals provides you with the support and guidance you want throughout the process.
We use the best materials and finishes with sound engineering practices to build a sturdy structure that allows you to take advantage of all the benefits of tiny homes. The cost-effective construction lets you enjoy the financial freedom of owning a tiny house, and fast build times mean you can move into your new tiny home quickly. Contact us to find out more about customizing your own steel building so you can join the tiny house movement.
Microbreweries are popping up all over the country. Whether you work at a brewery, brew beer at home or just have a strong love of beer, building a microbrewery is a way to turn that passion into a business. Learning how to start a microbrewery takes a lot of information, though, from the equipment you need to the building specifications. Keep reading to find out what you need to know to start a microbrewery.
What Is a Microbrewery?
Just like a traditional brewery, a microbrewery is a facility for brewing beer, but on a much smaller scale. These businesses often sell on a local basis without the national reach of big-name breweries.
Here are some general characteristics of a microbrewery:
Quantity: A general definition of a microbrewery is a facility making no more than 15,000 barrels of beer each year.
Batch size: Microbreweries typically brew on a small-scale basis.
Brew types: The beers from microbreweries often have a seasonal or themed flavor. Brewers might experiment with their methods to come up with highly unique brews. They might focus on a particular style or have a signature type of brew.
Limited distribution: Most microbreweries don’t distribute their beers on a large scale, if at all.
Taxation: Microbreweries typically face lower taxation than large breweries.
Choosing a Building for Your Microbrewery
It may be called a microbrewery, but there’s nothing small about the amount of space you will need to accommodate your beer brewing. The building is one of the most crucial aspects of starting your microbrewery. Not only does the square footage of the building need to match your needs, but it also needs tall ceilings, proper venting, access to high-pressure water and proper drainage.
When choosing a building, the location is a major factor. You want an easily accessible location that allows patrons to reach you and provides accessibility for delivery trucks. You need an entryway large enough to allow all of the brewery equipment inside the building. If you plan to expand, choose a building on a large piece of land to accommodate a larger building.
You have two main options for your building: an existing building or a custom-built new building. While an existing building seems alluring because it is already built, it comes with some serious considerations. The building may not have all of the features or the type of layout necessary for your business. Even though the building is already there, the time and cost to renovate it to fit your needs can delay the opening of your microbrewery.
Building your own facility lets you customize the size and layout, but you have to wait for the entire building to go up. The cost is also very high when you decide to build on your own. A steel building is a good compromise, offering quick construction with an often lower price tag.
Benefits of Using a Steel Building for Your Microbrewery
A steel building is the best building for a microbrewery to meet the space and feature requirements. Consider these benefits of opting for a steel building as your microbrewery home:
Spacious designs: Steel buildings are available in a wide range of sizes with tall ceiling heights to match. This means you can build your microbrewery to accommodate all of your equipment, whether you start with one barrel or multiple barrels.
Customization: When you choose a steel building, you can customize the design to match the layout and equipment you need for your operation. You can often customize the look of the building with different finishes and facades. Set aside a tasting room area, include offices and storage space in addition to your production areas depending on your needs and your intended direction for the business.
Exceptional strength: A microbrewery housed in a steel building holds up due to the strength of the structure. Steel buildings hold up to weather elements, including wind, hail, ice and other threats in your specific area. The steel construction protects your microbrewery from fire and keeps insects and rodents out, unlike wood-framed buildings, which are highly susceptible to those issues.
Low maintenance: Steel buildings offer extreme durability, which means low maintenance for you. You won’t waste time repainting, repairing the damage or handling other maintenance tasks. This gives you more time to focus on running your microbrewery.
Affordability: A steel building is often a more affordable option than other building options during the initial build phase. It also saves you money over time due to the lower maintenance requirements. You won’t waste money constantly making repairs to your building, which may happen if you buy an existing building, especially if it is older.
Fast construction: Once you secure funding and have your plans set, you don’t want to wait to see your microbrewery take shape. Steel buildings go up quickly, allowing you to get all of your interior equipment set up and running much faster. Since the structure is built specifically for your purpose, you don’t need to wait for renovations or special modifications. Faster construction means a shorter time until you start having income from your microbrewery.
Easy expansion: No matter how large or small you start with your business, future expansion is always a good goal. With a steel building, you can easily expand to add more space when you need to ramp up production, when you require more storage space or when you want to build a tasting room for your business.
Suitable for required standards: The ability to keep the steel building free of rodents, pests and other potential issues means your steel building microbrewery is easier to keep in compliance with local and state regulations.
Longevity: The strong design of steel buildings means they last for a long time. Many come with extended warranties to give you a sense of protection should you have any issues.
Building Size Considerations
The building size of your microbrewery must take into consideration several factors, including the size of your brewing system, expected yearly production, and the various purposes for, the space. For example, if you plan to only brew and store small amounts of beer at the facility, you won’t need as much space as you would if you also needed office space, a tasting room, and storage for larger batches of beer. Have a clear idea of what you need in your space before you decide on the size of the building.
3- or 5-barrel brewing systems: approximately 300 to 500 square feet
7-, 10- or 15- barrel brewing systems: approximately 550 to 1,200 square feet
This doesn’t account for any space needed for other brewing activities, storage or any additional uses. This gives you a starting point for the amount of space needed to accommodate the brewing system itself. Add in the space you need for any other storage and activities you will handle on-site. If you plan to use skid loaders or similar equipment, your microbrewery needs the extra space around the brewery equipment to easily maneuver that heavy machinery.
If your budget allows, choose a building design that gives you room to expand. Having extra space ready to go as your business grows lets you easily add a larger brewing system, have more storage or accommodate other facilities. On the other hand, you don’t want a huge amount of unused space when you first start your business, as you are paying for empty space that isn’t bringing in any income. Balancing the amount of extra space helps you prepare for the future without throwing away too much money.
The ceiling height is another space consideration of your facilities. If you’re building a facility or using a steel building, aim for a ceiling height of 12 to 14 feet in the brewing area. This ceiling height accommodates the equipment without facing restrictions during the brewing process.
The ceilings in fermentation and serving areas don’t need to be as high. Ceilings that are nine or 10 feet high are generally functional for those spaces. Your ceilings should be high enough to not interfere with production while being low enough to allow for economical heating and cooling of the space.
While not a size issue, the strength of the floor is another consideration when choosing or building your microbrewery space. The equipment alone is heavy. Once it is filled with the ingredients to brew your beer, the floor receives even more weight. You need a floor with the strength to safely handle the weight load of a microbrewery.
Utility Requirements
Microbreweries require specific designs when it comes to utilities. These features must meet local requirements, as well as the requirements of your brewing equipment. Check with the local building ordinance department and the manufacturer of your equipment to ensure your utility plans line up with the requirements. If you choose an existing building, the microbrewery may require a costly overhaul of the water, drainage, electrical and venting systems. If you opt for a custom-built steel building, these systems can go into the building to meet the specifications from the beginning.
Water is an essential component of the brewing process. Your microbrewery needs high pressure from the main water supply to accommodate the demands. The flow needs to be such that you get a uniform flow into your brewing system without pressure fluctuations with water use in other areas of the building. You may need a filtering system to make city water suitable for your production. Plan for water access in kegging and bottling areas if you plan to handle those tasks in house.
Reliable electrical service is another essential element in building a microbrewery. Brewing equipment may vary in terms of electrical requirements. Work with the manufacturer of your brewery equipment to ensure your building’s electrical system can handle the demands of the equipment.
Microbrewery buildings require proper drainage in a number of areas. You need drainage in all of the following areas if your microbrewery design includes them:
Brewing area
Fermentation area
Walk-in cooler
Boiler room
Kegging or bottling area
Any other areas with the potential need for water or spill drainage
Not only do you need drainage systems in those areas, but those drains need to flow well to handle large volumes of liquid without backing up into your workspace. A minimum drain opening diameter of four inches is typically necessary to keep up with the demands of a brewery environment. Durable grating made of stainless steel or fiberglass protects the integrity of the drains while keeping the grates easy to clean.
Another aspect of drainage is the slope of the floor. Adequate floor drains won’t make a difference if the floor is perfectly level or slopes away from the drains. The floor needs a gentle slope toward the drain to encourage liquids to flow directly toward those drains. This saves you work and minimizes messes.
Venting is another essential component in the setup of your microbrewery. The venting system constantly draws fresh air into the brewery and helps maintain the proper pressure in the brewing equipment.
All the steam generated by the brew kettles needs somewhere to go, which is where a brewery-specific venting system comes into play. A flue vents the steam from the brew kettle. Exhaust flues are also necessary, with the specific location and type of flue depending on the type of system you use. Your setup must also provide make-up air in areas where using exhaust systems. Work with your equipment supplier to ensure your venting meets the requirements to have a safe setup.
Air conditioning also works into the effective operation of the brewhouse. Air conditioning helps to control the air temperature as well as the humidity in the brewing facility.
Finishing Requirements
Running a microbrewery involves a lot of cleaning. All surfaces must remain sanitary to meet regulations for a commercial microbrewery. The finishes you choose for your brewery facility play a role in how easy it is to meet those sanitation standards.
All surfaces, including walls and ceilings, should be washable. This enables you to keep the level of cleanliness required without damaging wall surfaces. Steel buildings work particularly well for this cleaning aspect of the building design.
Floor finishes also need to be easy to clean, but they also need a durable finish to hold up to the brewing process. Sealed floors that resist acidic and alkaline materials are essential to avoiding damage. A floor that can’t handle those materials that are part of the brewing process ends up with stains and damage. They simply won’t hold up to the everyday activities in your brewery. When you use a steel building for your microbrewery, you have the ability to design a durable floor system with the sealing necessary to prevent damage.
Planning Your Space
When figuring out how to build a microbrewery, planning your space is a key step. Be very clear on all of the specific requirements based on local and state law, as well as the equipment-specific requirements.
The layout plans for your microbrewery depend on several factors including:
Your budget
Your goals for the microbrewery
How much you plan to produce
Number of brew kettles you plan to have
The overall size of the space
Different functions you want the space to serve
Location of water and electrical outlets
Working with an architect and your equipment manufacturer helps you create a functional layout for your brewery. The setup should allow for a logical flow through the brewing process. Essentially, you want a layout that provides easy access to the materials needed in each step and easy movement of the beer from one phase to the next.
The general steps in the brewing process include:
Grain handling and milling
Brewing
Fermentation and aging
Filtration
Conditioning
Packaging
It makes sense to arrange the different areas that handle each step in a progressive way, so the beer flows smoothly through the process. This simplifies the workload for you and your staff.
Another consideration is the type of activities in a particular area. Placing wet work areas next to dry areas puts both areas at risk for contamination and issues. The same idea works for hot and cold work areas. Placing a very hot area next to an area that must remain cold can inhibit proper temperature maintenance.
If your space contains non-brewery facilities, such as administrative items, consider the type of proximity you want to the brewing facilities. You might want your office near the brewing facilities so you can easily access both spaces as your workload demands.
If you plan to have a tasting room, consider the location and how that fits in with the brewing process. When people come to your tasting room, they want to get to know your beer brand and your processes. If possible, arrange your tasting room to allow a view of the brewing facilities. This might be with a large window, an overhead view or another way to let visitors have a glimpse of your process. Give tasting room visitors a way to connect with the people involved with the actual brewing process.
Many microbreweries offer tours of the facilities. If this is part of your eventual plan, create a layout that safely allows visitors to check out your facilities. This means providing enough clearance around equipment and out of the way of your staff to keep the tour guests safe without interrupting your operations.
Tips for Building Your Microbrewery
Learning all of the steps in building a microbrewery can feel overwhelming at first. Breaking down the job into smaller tasks helps the project feel more manageable. Taking your time and doing things correctly helps keep your stress under control and saves you money in the long run.
Follow these tips when planning and building your microbrewery:
Create a business plan: Having a business plan is an essential step in opening your microbrewery. In fact, you’ll likely need one to secure funding. Take your time to create a clear, realistic business plan to guide the process.
Develop a timeline: Create a realistic timeline for your microbrewery business based on your business plan. Set deadlines for things like finding a location, designing your steel building layout, starting construction, finishing construction, installing equipment and beginning production. This timeline serves as a motivator to help you stay on track.
Check requirements: All commercial business must follow local and state guidelines in terms of structure, safety, and other factors. Fully understanding those rules and regulations helps you successfully plan your microbrewery building to make the process smooth.
Call on experts: No matter how much experience you have in brewing beer, you can always use the help of experts. Do your own research by checking out other microbreweries. Consult with an architect to plan your building layout. Work with experts in steel buildings to design your building.
Keep learning: The learning never stops when you own a microbrewery, whether your building is up and running or you’re still in the early planning phase. Attend conferences on the subject, and continue learning various techniques to improve your product.
Remain flexible: You see your microbrewery in your mind, but building a business isn’t always smooth sailing. Prepare yourself for the delays and roadblocks that may pop up as you plan and build your microbrewery. Being flexible lets you roll with the punches and find ways to still make your dream come to fruition.
You perfected your beer recipes, and now you have all the information necessary to get started on the construction of your microbrewery. Contact MBMI Metal Buildings with all of your questions about using one of our custom-built metal buildings as your microbrewery location.
A shooting range is a place where law-abiding, licensed gun owners can practice shooting in a safe environment. Some patrons come to practice handgun shooting to develop self-defense skills. Other patrons come to practice rifle shooting for the purpose of honing their hunting skills. Some ranges place limits on the types of guns used, whereas other ranges accommodate a wider range of legal firearms. Indoor and outdoor ranges even exist for archery practice.
Indoor ranges typically consist of a sloped bank against a back wall and baffles on the roof. Outdoor ranges are more open-ended, but they often feature concrete, baffle-topped structures. Whether you’re building an indoor shooting range or an outdoor one, you’ll need to find or develop a foolproof bullet-trapping system that meets safety and sanitation standards.
First, however, you’ll need to lay the groundwork for the shooting range by determining its size, type, setting, and purpose. As soon as everything is ready, it’ll be time to make a pitch to your local city council, which will examine your proposed shooting range to ensure it meets legal requirements and regulations as they apply in your area.
How to prepare a shooting range?
When you set your sights on building a shooting range, there’s a lot of ground to cover. As you determine how many acres for an outdoor shooting range will be necessary – or, alternatively, how large a building would have to be to house an indoor range – you’ll also need to determine the scope of your shooting range and various environmental factors.
Depending on whether your range is outdoor or indoor, the
requirements of your range could vary, but some concerns apply across
the board, such as the following:
How many patrons do you intend to serve?
Which types of firearms will be permitted?
Will the ventilation be sufficient?
Will noise be adequately blocked?
What are the safety protocols for patrons and employees?
Once you’ve made concrete choices in the following six areas, your idea for a shooting range will be a whole lot closer to becoming a reality.
#1. Choose Between Building an Indoor Shooting Range or an Outdoor Shooting Range
If you’re currently trying to decide whether you’d rather operate an indoor range or an outdoor range, consider the needs of the patrons you intend to serve. Most specifically, which type of range would they prefer?
If you intend to have patronage that primarily consists of private gun owners who wish to practice shooting handguns for the purpose of self-defense, an indoor range would be perfectly suitable and probably easier to manage than an outdoor range.
If, on the other hand, you intend to run a shooting range for hunters to practice rifle shooting, an outdoor range would offer longer-range shooting distances and would, therefore, be more suitable since your patrons will be coming to the range to practice an outdoor sport. With an outdoor range, hunters can gain practice on two of the most critical skills of the sport – an ability to shoot at long range and an ability to cope with different types of weather and natural elements while shooting.
The choice between an urban versus rural location for your shooting range should also be considered in this regard. If you plan to build a shooting range in or near an urban environment, an indoor range would be the most appropriate – and likely the only feasible – option. By contrast, if your sights are set somewhere along a vast rural stretch of land, an outdoor shooting range would be just as practical, if not preferable.
#2. Decide How Many Shooters You Plan to Accommodate
As you determine the size of your prospective shooting range, you can more easily decide upon the square footage by coming up with an estimate of the number of shooters you will need to accommodate. Of course, the size of a shooting range can simply predicate the number of people who could come in to practice at any given time, but it’s best to operate a shooting range that’s most accommodating to the largest number of local, licensed shooters in a particular category.
Therefore, several questions should be considered here. What type of shooting range – self-defense, hunting, archery – do you intend to operate? From the chosen category, how many licensed gun-owners live closer to the location of your prospective shooting range than any competing ranges in your city, county, or state? With that information, you can more easily determine the general number – as well as some of the more specific needs – of the shooters who will frequent your range.
#3. Determine Which Types of Guns and Ammunition Will Be Permitted at Your Shooting Range
The type of shooting range you choose to build is one thing, but the types of guns you allow to be used on the premises is a more complex matter. For starters, certain types of guns come with different licensing laws in various states and counties. Second of all, different types of guns place different demands on a bullet trap.
Tests have shown that on some of the most effective bullet-stopping media like sand, pistols can penetrate deeper than rifles. As such, a pistol shooting range would need a deeper set of sand compartments than a rifle shooting range. Rifle bullets, which travel at a higher velocity, also tend to break up more within a sand compartment, which in turn, can place more of a demand on the maintenance aspects of a shooting range.
#4. Choose an Optimal Air Ventilation System for the Shooting Range
Air quality can be comprised in any environment, indoor or outdoor, where particulates of lead go airborne. In a shooting range, this is one of the main areas of environmental concern due to the presence of lead in spent rounds of bullets. The dust from these can easily become aerosolized and end up being inhaled by – as well as landing on the hair, skin, and clothing of – patrons and employees. To prevent lead elements from infecting the air at a range, it’s crucial to have proper ventilation at an indoor shooting facility.
Granted, the air at an outdoor range will naturally circulate more freely and be far less prone to congestion. As such, less air maintenance is generally required at an outdoor range. However, even an outdoor range can have problems with aerosolized lead dust, particularly within concrete structures under ballistic baffles in which the air can easily stagnate. Therefore, the health of shooters as well as range employees depends on the maintenance of ventilation systems at indoor and – to a smaller though no less significant degree – outdoor shooting ranges.
#5. Select an Optimal Soundproofing System to Curb Bullet Noise Pressure
Firearms are capable of producing high levels of sound pressure, the likes of which can damage hearing for those who come to a shooting range unprotected. While it’s important for shooters to wear earplugs and/or earmuffs when firing rounds, it’s even more crucial for a shooting range to have sufficient sound barriers in place.
In an indoor range, noise should not exceed 140 dB. To suppress the travel of noise pressure from one corridor to another, today’s indoor ranges use air – locked soundproofing. Each corridor consists of mirror-image egress doors at opposite ends. In some jurisdictions, the regulations for shooting ranges prohibit the use of .50 caliber bullets or higher.
At outdoor ranges, it’s easier to avoid excess noise exposure by placing shooting columns further apart from one another. However, high levels of noise pressure can still be generated within concrete baffle-topped structures. In any case, earplugs and earmuffs should always be worn when shooting at indoor or outdoor ranges.
#6. Determine Whether the Shooting Range Will Be Supervised or Unsupervised
In terms of the management of a shooting range, one of the more defining aspects is the presence of range officers or the lack thereof. Therefore, the reputation of your shooting range will somewhat be affected by whether you choose to operate a supervised or unsupervised range. Of course, you’ll need to check local laws for the area in question to see what regulations for shooting ranges might apply.
How to Implement a Bullet Trap System
Whether you decide to build an outdoor shooting range or an indoor one, no component will be more critical than the bullet trap, which is where spent bullets will be contained with each shot fired. With a solid, secure, and suitably sized bullet trap, fired bullets are safely stored with no damage to surrounding structures within a shooting range. Furthermore, an optimal bullet trap makes it easier to collect spent rounds with no harm to the environment.
Granted, a bullet trap needs to meet criteria on a number of fronts to be suitable for a shooting range. For starters, the bullet trap must be sized appropriately to the dimensions of a shooting range. Secondly, a bullet trap must have the durability to contain bullets without fail and endure the brunt of round-after-round with no harm to the trap’s underlying structural integrity. Additionally, protocols must be implemented to separate bullets from the trapping media so that lead can be dispensed with in a sanitary manner.
Regardless of the overall size of your shooting range, the following 10 steps will help you implement a bullet trap system that will make your shooting range safe, clean, and user-friendly.
#1. Determine the Bullet Trap Footprint Within the Shooting Range
As you determine how much space to build a shooting range will be necessary, you’ll need to factor in the size of the bullet trap to the overall equation. If you’re building an indoor shooting range, the costs that a bullet trap will entail could largely depend on whether you plan to have the range built from the ground up, or if you plan to convert a pre-existing structure into a shooting range. In the latter case, you’ll need to figure out what size of building for an indoor shooting range will be necessary and select enough bullet traps to fill these dimensions.
If you’re building an outdoor shooting range, the overall costs aren’t likely to be as high since you won’t be dealing with the construction or renovation of a pre-existing structure. However, you’ll need to determine how much acreage to build a shooting range will be necessary. Whichever dimensions and sizes you choose, the length of a bullet trap times the width of the range could give you an idea of the overall cost of construction.
#2. Calculate the Bullet Trap and Shooting Range Dimensions
If you’re not building an indoor archery range or shooting range, but you’re instead converting a pre-existing structure into a shooting or archery range, you’ll need to consider whether a prospective bullet trap will fit through any of the entrances to the building in question. If a particular bullet trap is perfect for the interior space of the shooting range, but it doesn’t fit through any of the entrances, you might need to knock down a wall and renovate the building to accommodate the range.
If you do choose to renovate a building for the sole purpose of incorporating a bullet trap into the framework, the undertaking is liable to be costly. Therefore, it’s wise to determine the measurements and portability of a bullet trap in relation to a building before making a choice on either. Ideally, both should be chosen in tandem with one another to keep costs down and avoid sudden confusion about the dimensional aspects of indoor shooting range requirements.
#3. Determine Maintenance Protocols for Bullet Trap Media and Spent Rounds
The type of media – sand, water, rubber – used within the structure of a bullet trap could help determine the amount of maintenance that will likely be needed after a given day or week of operations. For example, if a bullet trap consists of sand compartments, a degree of work will be regularly required to separate the bullet shards from the sand so both can be properly dispensed.
Granted, sand is one of the easier mediums for lead cleanup because most bullets fired at a shooting range can be stopped within the first five inches of sand, and thus most cleanup work would only involve the first of several layers of sand compartments. A greater amount of separation maintenance is liable to be required if the water is used within the compartments of a bullet trap. In any case, the frequency of maintenance and everything that entails at a shooting range could be a weekly, daily, or even hourly concern depending on the mediums used within the structure of a bullet trap.
#4. Decide Between In-House vs. Outside Lead Collection
The amount of time it will take per week or month to collect spent rounds is just half the overall concern when it comes to the maintenance and disposal of lead at a shooting range. The method by which the maintenance and disposal of lead are handled is of equal importance. Most specifically, do you intend to have such work handled among your very own in-house maintenance crew, or do you intend to hire an outside company to collect and recycle spent rounds and bullet trap media?
If you opt to hire an outside company, you’ll need to factor the additional costs of that labor into the budget of your operating costs. Granted, while it would likely be less expensive to simply have the lead collection and recycling work handled by an in-house crew, the work of third-party professionals could ultimately be faster and more thorough. Therefore, the choice between an in-house and outside crew could actually be of the equal-cost when you consider the excellence and time-savings of the latter option.
#5. Establish Fire Safety and Lead-Mining Maintenance Protocols
Depending on the media used in the structure of your bullet trap, an additional consideration for the fire safety of the shooting range might be in order. If the trap consists of flammable material such as wood, for example, you’ll need to ensure the range has clear and easy exit routes for members to access in the event of a fire on the premises.
You’ll also need to consider how much downtime will occur during the operation of your shooting range and how this might affect the bottom line. Will the range have to be closed periodically to mine for lead within the bullet trap? If so, how much will these closures cut into the overall profits of the range? It’s in these planning stages before you build a shooting range, where it’s most important to determine whether it would be more financially prudent to hire overnight staff to perform lead-mining maintenance, or to shut the range down periodically for such work.
#6. Prevent Gaps Between the Bullet Trap and Walls
The vast majority of bullet traps feature horizontal designs, which in and of itself places certain requirements on the dimensional aspects of an indoor shooting range. If the length of a bullet trap doesn’t join at both ends of an interior set of parallel walls, there’s liable to be problems with the bullets in use. The fact is, one of the biggest problems that operators of shooting ranges often encounter is when bullets land in the space between a bullet trap and the right or left wall. Simply put, gaps of this nature are problematic and potentially dangerous.
If you build an indoor shooting range from the ground up, coordinate the dimensions with the bullet trap beforehand to ensure that no gaps exist between the trap and the surrounding walls. Likewise, if you construct both the structure and the bullet trap, measure out both in the planning stage to prevent the possibility of side gaps. If you import a bullet trap into a pre-existing building, fill any spaces that might remain between the bullet trap and the walls on either side.
#7. Select a Bullet Trap in Which Lead Can Be Cleanly Dispensed With
When it comes to the environmental impacts of a shooting range, one of the most important things to consider is the release of lead into the air. Therefore, when you look at building an indoor shooting range, you’ll need to have a system in place that can deal with possible airborne particulates from bullets that do emit lead. Consequently, the first question to ask yourself regarding a prospective bullet trap is whether or not the trap is designed to collect these kinds of particulates.
Due to the ill-effects of airborne lead on human health as well as the environment, the containment of bullets is crucial when plotting out an indoor shooting range design. For these very reasons, you’ll need to have a set of bullet traps in place that will dispense with the bullets properly. The disposal of lead should be handled atomically with as thorough a system as possible, so as not to involve human contact with the material or the possibility of lingering debris.
No matter what kind of business you run, and no matter where you live, a quality building is vital. From personal to commercial use and everything in-between, there’s one name the nation trusts, time and time again, when it comes to delivering pre-engineered metal buildings and accessories.
MBMI Metal Buildings is a premier supplier in America; paying uncompromised attention to detail in all we do.
They’re also much more resilient to things like fire, wind, rain, snow and more – not to mention natural disasters. As the age-old adage goes: “You get what you pay for”. Paying less may seem more convenient now, but how much more will you need to spend on unforeseen costs in the future? It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Simple upgrades
When looking at steel buildings versus wooden ones, steel allows for easy upgrades later on. You can update or add to your structure with ease, including heating and air conditioning units.
Speed
If you want to get your building up and running without delay, pre-engineered metal buildings are the way to go. The speed of construction is unbeatable.
Flexibility and Versatility
Did you know that metal buildings can be designed to mimic wood or asphalt shingles? You can make it completely indistinguishable from other materials. For example, you can paint wall panels (in a range of colors) to create a “brick-work” look. You can also cover a steel frame with stone or synthetic materials. Imagine that – all the benefits of steel, with the look and feel people know and love. There’s no compromise – it’s the best of every world.
Strength
One of the most important things to note is that steel provides unbeatable strength – minus undesired bulkiness. Sure, stone is strong; but it’s also heavy and impractical for many types of buildings. Wood is also far too weak in many cases, prone to rotting which can send your maintenance bill skyrocketing. A steel building, on the other hand, can last for decades without a single problem. We can even apply certain specialized steel coatings to protect the surface from things like rust; thus, lengthening the lifespan of your building even further.
What’s more, steel is 100% recyclable
By choosing a metal building, you won’t only enjoy more flexibility, strength, and style. You’ll also be contributing to a better environment! If you want to obtain a LEED certification, sustainable construction is vital. Steel structures provide simpler insulation, lowering heating and cooling costs. Heat island effects can also be prevented with a “cool” or light roof design.
Building color and Energy Efficiency
Speaking of heating and cooling costs, did you know that effective color choices are a crucial factor in buildings? The color you choose can have a massive impact on insulation. For example, the most popular color choice for roofs is white or light-colored. Why? Because they provide unbeatable insulation in both summer and winter-time. Yes; your office building or home’s color can affect internal temperatures. It has an effect on the amount of heat (and cold air) that penetrates walls. By choosing a lighter color, you won’t just be more comfortable, but you’ll also reduce your energy bills seeing as you won’t be as reliant on heating/cooling systems inside.
Facts don’t lie
Darker colors can absorb 70-90% of the sun’s radiant energy, according to the Department of Energy’s “Controlling Your Home Naturally” report. From there, this energy can be transferred into the building. However, while dark buildings absorb sunlight, they give off heat equally. In other words, darker roofs are a far less effective insulator. Let’s say the external temperature is 95 degrees. If you have a dark roof, it will conduct a higher temperature; making rooms hotter and forcing your air-conditioner to work twice as hard. Think about it this way. If it’s hot outside, would you wear a light-colored shirt or a dark one? The answer is obvious, and it all comes down to science. Dark walls absorb more light, but reflect less, meaning more lighting is needed for rooms with dark walls than rooms with light walls. White reflects radiant energy back to the sun to be reabsorbed.
Let’s look at some statistics
A study was conducted in Florida, and it was found that homeowners saved 23%, on average, by increasing heat reflectivity. In fact, Lawrence Berkeley laboratory discovered that, by increasing roof reflectivity, metropolitan areas nationwide could save drastically on their energy costs. If a nationwide project was to ensure, America could save up to $10 billion on energy costs.
Steel trumps everything – every time.
At the end of the day, steel is the clear winner; as is a lighter-colored roof. MBMI Metal Buildings can assist you with everything in this regard to build a future-forward building that CAN and WILL stand the test of time.
Thanks for taking the time to read this article. If you want to discover more, or are interested in a competitive custom quote, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email at any time. Our in-house engineers are at the ready. As industry leaders in pre-engineered steel buildings, it’s not just our job to meet your expectations. It’s our duty to exceed them.
Heat and sun exposure can quickly tire both the horse and rider at a much faster pace than in the winter months. Fear of over-heating can cause trainers to cut lessons short, as can unstable footing caused by summer thunderstorms. All of this can seriously affect a student’s overall training program. So…what’s a cowboy or cowgirl to do?
Enter…steel! It sounds so simple and maybe even random but either a covered outdoor ring or an entirely indoor riding arena is the absolute answer to every rider’s summer riding qualms! A protected arena allows students to practice in a climate controlled setting not only shielding both the horse and rider from the sun, but also rain, which means more riding can be done in a safe and secure setting leading to faster student growth!
Speaking of security, horses and riders (not just children but adult riders too!) feel more secure in a covered space, and even better, a closed, covered space. The controlled environment decreases the chance of distractions that normal rings can’t protect against. That adorable stable dog barking at new arrivals or chasing squirrels may be a quaint vignette of bucolic barn life but could also distract the rider or spook the horses causing an unsafe environment.
Indoor rings also present the opportunity to invest in the better footing. The footing is so important for training and it can change in a heartbeat when exposed to the weather. Too much rain can create mud which can result in slippery footing…always unsafe for riding. Sloppy mud can turn into packed mud which can be too hard for your horses’ hooves. These scenarios can both result with your horse pulling a shoe which means more money to the farrier.
Closed indoor rings also offer the chance to place some bleachers out of the elements for parents to watch their kids achieve some horsey dreams. And let’s face it since the parents are paying, they will want to witness where their money is going.
And lastly, in the equestrian world, an indoor arena screams professionalism. Not only is it a sound investment in terms of safety but new clients looking for a true professional stable will be impressed by the option to ride inside. All the best training facilities have this option.
So why steel?
1) Steel is durable. Rain, heat, wind, even fire, are no matches for steel.
2) Steel is the most affordable construction material option.
3) Steel offers way more design options that concrete just can’t.
4) Steel is far better in defense of pests and rot, unlike wood. Definitely a plus for barns!
5) Lighter footprint. Steel is the world’s most recycled material. And it doesn’t need a foundation!
It’s a simple solution for those ponies you pour all your love into and for the hardworking students, you root for…it’s a no brainer!
For some people the answer is in black and white. They know exactly what they want, how they need it, and where it’s going to be installed.
However…
That might not be the case for you.
You might have done some research already and have found the pros and cons of carports and metal garages.
Is there a difference between a carport, canopy, garage?
Unless it is attached to another building, in which case, it would have even two or three sides that are open.
CarportsGarages
CARPORT VS. GARAGE
Durability
Whether you get a carport or a garage- both made of metal, they will both rank high for durability.
Hurricane-Grade metal is used to building steel carports and steel garages so that your vehicles and other motor toys are safe from hurricanes and other types of extreme weather conditions –
Hurricane rated carports withstand hurricane winds; however, they are not meant to protect your vehicles, while an actual hurricane is approaching.
Their main purpose is to cover your vehicles from the sun and normal rain conditions.
How can they be customized?
Metal buildings can come in a variety of colors. The colors can be customized from the walls, the doors, roof, trim, and you can even do stripes if that’s your thing!
There’s no limit on how big or small you want your carport to be. (how tall are they normally)
Solar panels are a great option for buildings that are in states with a ton of sunshine.
Uses: Where can they be put?
Carports can be used for personal or commercial use. Either of these options will be up to the state/ county with what is and isn’t allowed as far as permits and regulations go.
Rules and regulations…
vary state to state, and neighborhood to neighborhood.
Check to make sure what your zone laws are for having a metal building.
SHOW ROOMS are another great example of what carports are used for.
PARKING LOTS can sometimes have carports so that [some] of the cars can be covered from the sun and/ or rain whether it is at a mall, gas station, or even a school.
ADDITION TO YOUR HOME There are no limitations on where a carport can go, even attached to your home or commercial building is a great, and popular choice.
Where can I get one?
MBMI creates a custom look that is unique to your needs. Additionally, our designers and engineers help throughout the process of your project.
American Steel is used to create these hurricane grade carports and the customizations are second to none.
Metal carport prices can vary from state to state. So, for a good reference, a carport and a garage that are both 30 x 40×12 could be around: $9K VS. $12k.
Overall Advantages
It can be made as simplistic as possible…
Meaning, you can just have it as a roof system and not have any walls around the structure.
Durability is a huge advantage, however, not all companies uphold that promise. Many companies take deposits, promise quality, and efficiency; then you’re left with no building and a non-refundable deposit.
With that being said…
MBMI prides itself on high-quality products to create, not only, carports but also, with every building.
Affordable and tend to be cheaper than a garage. This is a great option for those that do not need to have a fully enclosed building for their vehicles.
However…
Keep in mind, the only way a carport is really cheaper is if it is a non-rigid frame.
Second, I-beam constructed buildings are A LOT stronger which can increase the price compared to other companies that use cheaper and weaker materials.
Carports protect your vehicle
They require little maintenance…
With our buildings being mold and termite resistant, there is very little maintenance that goes into owning an MBMI product as well as having a 40-year warranty on the paint of the building.
Here is the Virgin Hyperloop One prototype facility. This building is located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What is Virgin Hyperloop One?
The company, formerly known as just, Hyperloop One, is a transportation technology company that has the end goal of becoming a commercialized high-speed commuting system.
Elon Musk, mainly known for his company Tesla, was part of the main concept of this new type of transportation.
The concept of Hyperloop is for it to travel up to 700 mph – efficiently, safely, and reliably.
Here is the short video from Hyperloop explaining what it can actually do in further detail.
This facility was built in order to create the prototype for Hyperloop One. The building houses various electrical equipment to power the systems needed for testing prototype vehicles.
How MBMI Customizes Its Buildings
Each building is designed in its own unique way. If the building is going to an area where there is a lot of snow, then the design must reflect on the snow load of the building, etc. So, the destination of the project is critical to starting the design process.
First, MBMI gets the dimensions from the customer to start the most basic part of the design. Our team really appreciates if there are already architectural designs that they can base their work from, especially if the building is being used for something that includes interior work.
From there, the designer asked the customer if there are windows, doors, insulation, etc.
This is just a summarized run through of what a designer might ask the customer. Again, each building and customer is unique so the questions will vary.
How Did MBMI Customize This Building In Particular?
To start, the dimensions of this project are 65’x75’18.
There is no snow load required, but there is a wind load which is: 115 MPH. In areas with hurricanes, the wind load can be higher.
3D Of Hyperloop
Colors can be mixed and matched for different parts of the building.
We’re investigating the real relationship of lightning to metal and addressing your safety concerns when it comes to a metal building’s ability to withstand one of Mother Nature’s most worrisome weather conditions. (Spoiler Alert: it’s good news)
Lightning Myth – Busted
Installing a metal roof may have you concerned when it comes to an old urban legend we’re all familiar with: that metal attracts lightning like table scraps to hungry dogs.
If that’s the case,
we’ve got good news.
It’s not true.
Long story short, a metal roof will not increase your building’s chances of being struck by lightning, but conversely will make a lightning strike less dangerous if it does, by chance, happen to occur.
It’s a scientific fact that lightning is not actually attracted to specific objects, surfaces or types of material. Lightning can strike anything and occurs on too large of a scale to be influenced by distant objects on the ground, yes that includes metal.
Most of us have
learned that counting the seconds between the flash of lightning and the crash
of thunder will help measure the approximate distance in number of miles from your location to the storm, which is actually a much more accurate way of
understanding the threat of an incoming storm to your home or building.
Stress over lightning is a valid concern for any property owner, but knowing the facts makes a major difference in ensuring proper preparation. So, instead of worrying about lightning having it in for your sturdy metal roof, know that the proximity of a storm is more of a determining factor than anything else. And
that there is currently no known material that will decrease the likelihood of
a strike.
Personal Safety During Lightning Storms
If your home or building has a metal roof and you are inside it during a lightning storm, are you more likely to be in danger?
No, in fact, the best thing you can do for your own personal safety during a
thunderstorm is to head indoors.
In the case of a metal roofed building, any electricity from a lightning strike will be safely transferred to the ground below so occupants will be unaffected. Plus, metal’s inflammable nature means your home will be even more safe should the rare chance of a lightning strike actually take place.
This is because the fixed grounding of such a building creates a more secure way for lightning to travel.
Although we’ve learned that metal buildings are not more prone to lightning strikes, we still encourage responsible owners to review the extra precautions listed below to better protect their property.
The Metal Construction Association Breaks This Situation into Two Parts:
As we’ve stated before, steel is not a lightning magnet. However, it does have the capacity to decrease the destructive impact, should lightning strike your home or building.
It’s important to note:
That a metal building or roof will likely survive a lightning strike with significantly less damage when compared to other building materials.
You may also be asking, should a metal roof be grounded? Our answer is yes.
A “grounded” lightning pole is installed with a ground rod hammer, 10-feet below the surface of the earth. A grounding system connected to the earth will help to absorb the impact and equalize your buildings electrical systems, in the event of a hazardous lightning strike.
Did you know?
That
steel roofs are in fact, less dangerous when struck by lightning, even without
a grounded lightning rod.
Steel roofs are one of the most reliable building resources in today’s modern
marketplace.
Extra preventative measures include
A lightning rod
Concrete foundation
Grounding
Here’s How a Lightning Rod is Installed on a Metal Roof
The copper poles connect to cables
The cables run down the side of the building & into the ground.
To ensure the highest standard in safety, the rod is designed to draw all the negative charge of electricity from the building. The rod ingenuously draws all electricity to itself and transfers it to a system of cables, made up of copper or aluminum wire, so that the building is protected from the intense surge of electricity.
The Basics in Lightning Protection Systems (LPS)
Lightning is a flow of electrical current between the earth and the sky. The result of this dangerous electrical flow results in billions of dollars of lightning-related damage, annually.
It is a false belief that metal roofs can increase the risk of a lightning strike. Metal roofs are no more attractive to lightning than any other type of roofing material.
While a building’s structural steel will conduct lightning, it is the bonding, interconnection and grounding provided by a lightning protection system (LPS) that will dissipate lightning’s harmful electricity safely to the ground.
When lightning strikes, an LPS offers assurance. An effective LPS not only protects roofs, walls and other structural components from direct lightning strikes, but it also shields electrical circuits, communications, process control systems and other elements that are vulnerable to indirect strikes.
Before You Install an LPS
A safety standard compliant system provides proven and effective grounding to dissipate lightning’s harmful electrical discharge by employing a grounding network, which must include:
Strike termination devices (air terminals or rods)
Conductors (which can include conductive
structural members)
Appropriate Interconnecting components such as
connectors and fittings required to complete the system
Bonding to reduce potential differences created
by the lightning current.
Grounding electrodes (ground rods, plates or conductors) installed to direct the lightning current deeply into the earth
Surge protective
devices (SPDs) installed at every service entrance to filter the intrusion of lightning from utility lines and further equalize potential between grounded systems during lightning events
Installing a Lightning Protection System
Opposite charges of electricity attract one another – every structure on the ground has a negative charge of electricity on it.
When a lightning storm hovers over those structures, the clouds are charged with positive charges which attract anything nearby with negative charges (trees, buildings, cars, people, etc.)
By installing a lightning rod over a structure, such as a house, for instance, the negative charge can be drawn, which is safely “diverted” into the ground through a series of cables.
The cable should be a 17-gauge red copper wire, which goes 10 feet into the earth for proper grounding. An electric ground rod hammer can be used to drive the copper wire into the ground.
Remove the ridge cap from both opposite ends of the building (e.g. north/south or east/west) because a scroll brace will need to be mounted on both opposite ends of the roof.
A scroll brace made from galvanized steel is fastened to the ridge cap along with the copper lightning rod, polar ball (with brass collars on top and bottom) and directional arrow which is then mounted on the roof.
The lightning rod is not designed to attract lightning, but rather give it a safe path to ground – the idea is to draw negative charge from the building and drive it straight into ‘neutral’ ground.
Slide the ridge cap over the rod and make sure the clips are fastened firmly along the metal roof lining.
Finally, once you slide the three-legged galvanized scroll brace down the rod, you’re all set.
More Advantages of Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are resistant to wind, snow and hail
Metal roofs do not crack, peel or rot like shingles.
Metal roofs are more structurally sound, particularly in storm scenarios.
CNN. The Empire State Building also features a variety of technological equipment, including power units similar to Warren cat generators as a safeguard for the businesses housed there.
12 Most. This dome-shaped building was constructed using 110 tons of steel and stands as one of the most unique steel buildings ever constructed.
