Building anatomy

The Metbec system

Our Rigid Steel Frames

Rigid frame steel construction is a type of structure where the main load-bearing elements are steel beams and columns forming a rigid frame. This frame provides structural stability and strength to the building, enabling it to withstand various loads such as wind, snow and seismic forces. Here’s a description of rigid-frame steel buildings, their stylistic variations and how they’re made:

Roof system

The roof system can vary according to design requirements and preferences. Common options include single-pitch, gable and hip roofs. Roof panels of steel or other materials are attached to the roof trusses to provide protection from the elements.

Wall systems

Rigid-frame steel building walls can be constructed using a variety of materials, such as steel panels, metal cladding or other cladding options. These walls are attached to the steel frame to enclose the building's interior space.

Roof and wall purlins ( Girts and Purlins )

Girts and purlins are structural elements used in the construction of metal buildings. Here’s a description of these components, their style variations and how they’re made:

Girst

Girsts are horizontal elements attached to the posts or columns of a metal building. They are usually installed along walls to reinforce the structure and support exterior cladding panels. Girders can be fixed at different heights along Rigid Frames , depending on design needs and load requirements. They contribute to the building’s lateral rigidity and help distribute loads on the structure.

Variations on the style of girts :

  1. Galvanized steel girts: These girts are manufactured from galvanized steel for enhanced corrosion protection and durability. They are commonly used in agricultural, industrial and commercial buildings.
  2. Painted steel girts: These girts are coated with paint to enhance their aesthetic appearance and corrosion resistance. They are available in a variety of colors to match the style and design of the building.

Making Girst :

Girts are generally made from cold-rolled steel coils. The manufacturing process involves the following steps:

  1. Coil cutting: Steel coils are cut into strips of the appropriate width to form girts.
  2. Bending and forming: Steel strips are bent and formed according to design specifications to obtain the required shape and dimensions of the girts.
  3. Perforation: If required, girts can be perforated or slotted to allow ventilation or the passage of fasteners.
  4. Surface treatment: Girts can be treated with an anti-corrosion coating, such as hot-dip galvanizing or paint coating, to improve durability and corrosion resistance.
  5. Packing and shipping: Once manufactured, girts are packed and shipped to the construction site for installation in the building.

Purlins :

Purlins are horizontal elements attached to the roof trusses of a metal building. They are used to support the load of the roof panels and to reinforce the roof structure. Purlins are installed perpendicular to the roof trusses and spaced at regular intervals along the roof slope. They help to evenly distribute the load on the roof structure and prevent excessive deformation of the roof panels.

Variations on the purlins’ style:

  1. Galvanized steel traps: These traps are manufactured from galvanized steel for enhanced corrosion protection and durability. They are widely used in industrial, commercial and agricultural buildings.
  2. Painted steel purlins: These purlins are painted to enhance their aesthetic appearance and corrosion resistance. They can be matched to the color of the roof panels for greater visual harmony.
  3. Hot-rolled steel purlins: These purlins are manufactured from hot-rolled steel for increased strength and higher load-bearing capacity. They are used in buildings requiring a strong, resistant roof structure.

Manufacture of purlins :

Purlins are generally made from cold-rolled or hot-rolled steel coils.

The steel-clad envelope

PBR steel cladding is a strong, attractive wall panel. This panel is ideal for commercial, community and industrial steel buildings. R-Panel offers what most builders, contractors and owners expect in a versatile and attractive building system.

Inverted PBR sheathing offers a rigid surface designed to compress up to 4″ of insulation without causing unsightly bulges at the circumference. Fasteners are semi-dissimulated, allowing attention to focus on the beauty of the wall.

Class A coating features

PBR’s architectural features make it ideal for facades and decorative wall designs. Recessed fasteners offer a sleek exterior appearance, and the deep rib configuration creates an attractive shadow pattern. A-panel fastenings are semi-dissimulated.

Metbec + metal insulating panels

One of the most sophisticated building products on the market today, Metal Insulated Panels offer a clean, consistent, high-quality appearance that will immediately add value to any building. Hidden fasteners give the panel a clean, aesthetic appearance.

METBEC colors

Our METBEC color chart
for prefab steel buildings