Steel Buildings 101: Your information guide to metal & steel buildings

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Common Accessories for Steel Buildings

Which accessories you will need for your steel building depends on the application - what the building is being used for, where it's located, and how many people will occupy it what percentage of the time:

Overhead and entry doors: There are 3 main types of overhead doors found in steel buildings: 1) Sectional doors (used in garages), 2) Roll-up doors (used in mini-storage units), 3) Sliding doors (used in barns). At least one entry door is needed to allow people to walk into the building.

Windows and skylights: Most windows for steel buildings are of the horizontal-sliding type to provide light and ventilation. Translucent fiberglass skylights are an inexpensive way to bring lots of light into the building and are ideal if your steel building is in a remote location without electricity.

Ventilators and louvers: All steel buildings must be properly ventilated according to code. Depending on your building size, shape, location and application, you may need ridge vents, circular roof ventilators, or wall louvers. These may be fixed open or adjustable, and should also include bird and rodent screening.

Gutters and downspouts: Depending on your application and roof type, you may need a gutter and downspout system for your steel building. Gutters are generally roll-formed steel. Make sure your downspouts are sized to match your gutters.

Insulation: Most steel buildings suffer from condensation problems. These can be alleviated somewhat by proper ventilation, but the best solution is to provide insulation with your wall panels, roof panels, and any large overhead doors. Steel building paneling can sometimes be ordered with insulation sandwiched in (like for some overhead doors), other times these are separate panels that can be applied to the interior after the building is erected.

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