To ensure a successful completion to your next building project, be aware of your applicable codes and carefully review your drawings. Before you can start building, a building permit will be required. Will the building be put together outside of city limits? If so, then it is possible that you might be exempt from local zoning regulations and therefore a building permit would be unnecessary. Only after city authorities give permission to build should the purchase of the steel building be made.
Just satisfying the building code requirements are not enough reason to purchase a pre-engineered building. Find out if the manufacturer and/or supplier have just met the basic requirements or if they have surpassed them. If it has just barely met the code requirements, then it still may not be approved to be built per local standards. Here’s a little word of caution. Just because a dealer and/or supplier has designated one of its buildings as having met code does not mean that the building will meet ALL building codes for your particular area. There are indeed basic codes that a manufacturer may meet at just a minimum level. However, you want more than that. You want your new pre-engineered building to not only meet these building codes, but surpass them. This is an indication that you are dealing with a reputable manufacturer who will stand behind its product. Yet, you will be responsible to find out if the building meets the codes of the designated area in which construction will begin.
It is advised that you first have a copy of the purchase contract for the new steel building that you are wanting to purchase. An inspector at the code office will be better able to determine if your building will be approved if you provide him with a copy of this purchase contract.
Another item that is usually required from building code offices is a permit drawing. In other words, the permit drawings will probably be necessary in order for your new structure to be cleared for construction. Talk to the steel building company you are doing business with to find out whether this drawing available pre-purchase.
It may be required that your drawings be stamped by a certified engineer. Talk with the manufacturer and/or supplier about these design calculations and drawings. Before complete standard erection drawings can be offered, most steel building companies will require an engineering deposit from you. Most of these building manufacturers will employ a computer generated drawing that will include the anchor bolt plan with reactions that will provide your local foundation engineer with all information necessary to design the proper foundation for this pre-engineered building. The drawings provided by the suppliers are important indeed! They show diagrams of every connection that will be used as well as a cross-sectional diagram of every part of your steel building. Don’t wait for someone else to take care of all this paperwork for you.