Steel Framed Buildings Technical Frame Information

When it comes to your steel framed buildings, Buy Quality and Buy It Direct!

Steel framed buildings is what we do and who we are. We are the manufacturer and distributor. Our steel framed buildings are in use by thousands of customers, including all branches of the U.S. military, commercial, governmental and private folks.

We at Absolute Steel are dedicated to constant improvement. Please take a moment to understand the technical aspects of our steel framed buildings. We’ve tried to keep this information simple to understand and when used, any explanations or pictures of similar products are furnished only for comparative evaluation.

Exterior Metal Panels

We think it important for you to know that Absolute Steel, and our metal roofing division Metal Roofing Source, are one of the largest independent distributors of metal panels in the USA. We know steel panels. Regardless of if they are being used for roofing or exterior metal building walls, our expertise has been substantiated from thousands of satisfied customers and through years of experience.

The Best Paint Finish:

A very important factor in your choice of paneling should be the paint finish. That panels that we will supply you have a paint finish is comprised of a ten layer process topped with Enduracote, which is a paint system that takes performance to the next level. This system offers unbeatable durability, superior color retention and resistance to dirt accumulation. Enduracote is the choice for low maintenance, lasting beauty and outstanding value.

You will be stress-free knowing that all our exterior metal panels are Made In America and come with the best guarantee in the industry:

• Standard galvanized coating
• 30-year non-prorated film integrity warranty for walls and roofs
• Up to a 30-year warranty against fade and chalk for walls and roofs

This paint system is then applied to structural steel panels having 80,000-psi minimum yield strength.

Highest Yield Strength:

"Highest Yield Strength" is a measurement of stress at which a material undergoes a permanent strain or where the material is said to “yield” or starts to “go plastic”. In this case, 80,000 pounds or 40 tons of pressure per square inch. Translation: This is some tough stuff!

Incredibly Durable and Strong Steel Frame System

There is a reason our steel framed building frame systems have been chosen for their corrosive resistant qualities by all the branches of the US Armed Forces, and for such unique situations as inside the Ohio salt mines of Cargill Salt.

Our Buildings are Tested Under the Toughest Conditions
United States Army	United States Marines	United States Navy	United States Border Patrol	Dept. of Homeland Security

The super structure of our steel framed building systems is comprised of 2” x 3” 14 and 15 gauge steel tube. On our gambrel buildings we use some 13 gauge. We apply a galvanized outer layer to the steel frame tube, and over that there is a patented clear coat for maximum corrosion protection. Varying degrees of steel strength are used, and that is based upon the level of stress that particular frame section requires.

Base Rails/Side Walls: 55000-psi minimum yield strength

Peaks/Eaves: 65000-psi minimum yield strength. The competition uses 50000-psi minimum yield strength or less.

Steel Framed Buildings Components

Let’s look at how the different components of our steel building system are made and why:

Steel Frame Base Rail System - a better foundation.

You know that the base of a steel framed building is made up of the most critical frame components. It is from the foundation of a building that its strength is derived.

This is why Absolute Steel uses an “insert system.” This means none of the frame's critical parts, which bear the weight of the structure, contain any connections that have been reduced by machines that crush, roll or bend the steel. Instead of using 15 gauge tube that has been stressed, fractured, or otherwise compromised in such a manner, we use a thicker 14 gauge insert that fits into the accompanying wall piece a full 8 inches.

This method requires a bit more labor but the benefits, in addition to strength, are obvious:

1. At the bottom, where water or condensation can collect, you have thick and uniform connections that are much better than swaged inserts (any mechanical reduction process accomplished by machine) that have “thinned walls”.
2. 8” inserts that extend upward give you more adjustment capability when dealing with any site irregularities and uncompromised steel gives you the strength to do so.
3. You will always have a consistent fit. You’ll never need a sledgehammer to pound parts together because someone’s swaging machine needs adjustment.

The Worst Connection (Crushed and bent)

A Better Connection (But still using stressed metal)

The BEST Connection (Ours) (No bends = uncompromised strength)

Side Wall Frame: One-peice sidewall studs make for easier assembly and stronger walls.

You know that a sidewall that’s made up of several parts cannot be as strong as one that’s a solid piece of steel.

1. Single one-connection pieces that run vertically from the base rails to the eave give you more strength on your sidewalls.

2. By using one-piece walls, we eliminate more parts for you to put together.

3. You get a straight wall every time and get a wall that can easily be adjusted to any custom height you want.

Here’s a picture of an insert system that uses different height extensions (another inserted piece) to accomplish varying sidewalls heights:

Their Multi-Piece Sidewall It stands to reason that the more parts you have, the less overall strength you'll have. Not to mention the extra work involved!

Our Single Piece Sidewall This is ours. There's no additional parts to mess with, and by virtue of there being no connections, you'll have a stonger sidewall!

Peaks/Eave Bend - Here’s where we excel with the “Power Bend”

Each of our peak and eave bend parts contain unsurpassed strength and exacting standards. We use only steel that has a minimum yield strength of 65000-psi and a superior technology.

You know why modern automobile bodies have some curves and angles on them, don’t you? It’s the same reason an L shaped channel (“angle iron”) is stronger than a straight piece of metal. The curves and angles add strength to the metal.

There’s several different technologies used to accomplish the bends required at peaks and eaves. One is by crushing which weakens the bend at the point of curvature and the other is by rolling the bends into the straight steel.

A rolled bend is vastly superior to a crushed bend (we won’t even discuss a crushed bend further since it is utter junk) but there are different and better ways to roll the bends into the steel for the peaks and eave bends. First, any rolling process that shapes the steel stretches it and this makes the steel thinner at the point(s) where it has been rolled/stretched.

This is why Absolute Steel’s Power Bend is rolled into the curvature at the same time that it is being rolled to create the required bend. The reason for the Power Bend is that strength is needed where some was taken away to make the transition on the peaks and eaves. In fact, the Power Bend adds more strength than was originally taken away! Our Power Bend adds six more surfaces with condensed angles and curves to strengthen the peaks and eave bends where they need it…remember the car body?

To illustrate our point, take a look at these pictures of the Mandrel Bend :

This system brags of a “smooth mandrel bend for a cleaner look and a stronger bend transition”. That’s a great claim but it doesn’t have much merit. Look at the lineal pattern on the inside of the bend and the marks on the outside—those are stress lines in the steel. You know what’s happening here: the steel has been stretched in the rolling process and it is thinner and weaker than it originally was.

Now here’s the Power Bend:

The Power Bend is accomplished by rolling over the excess steel (not just stretching it out into the part) at the same time that the curvature of the eave or peak is created. The result is that the rolled edges (much like a piece of angle iron does) enhance the integrity of the transition where it is needed most. This process not only retains the original integrity that the steel must have for these important structural components, it adds to the strength and durability.

Need more information? Feel free to call us toll-free at 1-877-833-3237