Guides

A plain-language guide to steel structures: the main structural systems, the parts of a steel building, and when steel beats concrete.

Pre-engineered steel buildings explained: scope, what the price covers, what the site must provide and how to compare quotes.

Pratt, Warren, Howe, pipe, triangular and space frame trusses compared by span, depth and use.

Span, bay, eave height, racking, mezzanine, wind and fire: what to fix before asking for a steel warehouse price, and why each one matters.

Loads, column grid, stairs, fire and when a mezzanine should be designed into the main frame instead of standing alone.

Profiled metal deck, steel bar truss deck and formwork-free truss deck with fibre-cement base compared on propping, fire, finish and cost.

The difference between design (IFC) drawings, shop drawings and erection drawings, who produces each, and how approval works.

How to source structural steel from China: finding fabricators, checking capability, quoting, contracts, inspection, shipping and payment.

Cold-formed C and Z purlins compared: lapping, span, use as girts, sizes and galvanizing.