Steel Structure Space Frames: Roofing Innovation for Industrial, Commercial, and Municipal Buildings

Steel structure space frame technology is an innovative solution that has gained prominence in a wide range of applications, including industrial, commercial, and municipal buildings. It has been widely adopted for roofing systems, offering outstanding design flexibility and durable solutions across these diverse sectors.

Applications in Industrial Buildings: In the realm of industrial buildings, steel structure space frame technology provides an ideal choice for large-span roof coverings. This technology finds extensive use in factories, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. It not only supports the storage and production demands of large-scale operations but also offers flexible interior space to accommodate evolving production processes. The application of steel structure space frame technology in industrial buildings reduces construction costs, enhances sustainability, and ensures the stability of the structures.

Applications in Commercial Buildings: The diversity of commercial buildings demands innovative roofing solutions. Steel structure space frame technology offers remarkable solutions for shopping centers, office buildings, and entertainment venues. It not only allows for striking designs but also provides flexible interior layouts to meet the varied needs of commercial operations. This technology enhances the visual appeal of commercial buildings, reduces energy consumption, and creates more versatile space usage.

Applications in Municipal Buildings: Municipal buildings encompass government offices, public libraries, cultural centers, and sports arenas, among others. Steel structure space frame technology offers excellent roofing solutions for these structures. It can cater to a variety of purposes, from accommodating government departments' office spaces to hosting large-scale cultural and entertainment events. In municipal buildings, this technology creates multifunctional public spaces that enhance a city's cultural and social life.

In summary, steel structure space frame technology exhibits its versatility and applicability across industrial, commercial, and municipal buildings. Whether providing support for production facilities in industrial construction, offering diverse designs in commercial buildings, or creating multifunctional public spaces in municipal buildings, this technology has brought revolutionary innovation to the construction field. It brings more sustainability, reliability, and design freedom to buildings in these sectors, and it is poised to continue playing a pivotal role in the future of the construction industry. With ongoing technological advancements, we can expect this innovative technology to bring even more possibilities to the field of construction.

Steel structure space frame dome installation steps

The installation process of a steel structure space frame dome involves several sequential steps. Here's an outline of the typical installation process:

1. Site Preparation:

- Clear the construction site of any debris or obstacles.

- Verify that the foundation is ready and meets design specifications.

2. Material Delivery and Inspection:

- Receive and inspect steel components, connectors, and other materials for quality and accuracy.

3. Scaffold Setup:

- Erect scaffolding or temporary support structures around the dome's perimeter to facilitate construction.

4. Component Assembly:

- Assemble the steel framework components off-site or on-site as needed.

- Weld or bolt together columns, beams, and connectors following the approved design and specifications.

5. Lifting and Positioning:

- Use cranes or lifting equipment to position and lift assembled framework components into place.

- Ensure precise alignment with the foundation and other components.

6. Connection and Welding:

- Securely connect framework components using welding, bolting, or other approved methods.

- Verify the strength and stability of connections.

7. Truss Installation:

- Install trusses or bracing elements that provide additional support and stability to the dome's structure.

8. Roofing and Cladding:

- Attach roofing and cladding materials to the steel framework to create the dome's outer skin.

- Ensure proper waterproofing and insulation as required.

9. Interior Finishing:

- If applicable, complete interior finishing work such as insulation, walls, and any necessary infrastructure.

10. Quality Control:

- Perform quality checks and inspections at various stages of construction to ensure compliance with design and safety standards.

11. Testing:

- Conduct load testing and structural integrity assessments to verify the dome's stability and safety.

12. Finishing Touches:

- Apply any final coatings, paint, or finishes to the steel components.

13. Clean-Up:

- Remove scaffolding and temporary support structures.

- Clean the construction site of debris and waste.

14. Final Inspection and Handover:

- Conduct a thorough inspection of the completed dome to ensure it meets all requirements.

- Obtain necessary approvals and permits.

- Hand over the completed dome to the owner or operator.

Remember that the installation steps might vary based on the specific design, size, and complexity of the steel structure spatial framework dome. It's crucial to collaborate closely with experienced engineers, architects, and construction professionals to ensure a successful and safe installation process.

Preparation before installation of steel structure space frame

 Preparation before installation

Before the construction of the space frame structure, all technical materials on the project should be provided in a timely manner, including: a full set of drawings, the mechanical performance test report of the space frame bolt, the mechanical performance test report of the steel pipe and the analysis report of the chemical composition of the material, the welding Certificate copy and other information. Before the installation of the space frame, the construction site should be set up on the site of the project and the life and preparation of the installation team should be set up. The processing of each component of the space frame before the space frame is completed. After the acceptance and the assembly of the small unit are completed, all enter the market.

1. Before installation, check the axis and elevation of the space frame support. The axis and elevation position of the space frame must meet the design requirements and relevant standards;

2. Check the strength of the supporting concrete before installation. The concrete strength must meet the design requirements and the current national relevant standards.

3. Put the scaffolding, and arrange the position and elevation of each fulcrum. And design the temporary fulcrum, the location and quantity of the temporary fulcrum are determined;

4. Temporary fulcrum is selected to gradually adjust the height of the space frame.

Steel structure space frame building - the pillar of future construction technology

       A new type of building system of steel structure building has the industry boundaries between the real estate industry, construction industry and metallurgical industry, and is integrated into a new industrial system. This is the steel structure building system that is generally optimistic about the industry.

Compared with traditional concrete buildings, steel structure buildings replace reinforced concrete with steel plates or profiled steels, which have higher strength and better earthquake resistance. And because the components can be manufactured in factories and installed on site. Therefore, the construction period is greatly reduced. Due to the reusability of steel, construction waste can be greatly reduced, and it is more green and environmentally friendly. Therefore, it is widely used by countries all over the world and is used in industrial buildings and civil buildings.

Take the stadium space frame as an example. The stadium refers to a 400-meter runway (including a football field in the center) with fixed road teeth. Outdoor track and field venues with more than 6 runways and fixed stands. The site area is huge, and the roof is usually a transparent semi-closed structure. The stadium space frame structure has good integrity, high rigidity and good seismic performance, and can create a large-span column-free space, which is widely used in small and medium-sized stadium projects. In large-scale stadium projects, it is necessary to form a composite structural system with other types of structures to play their respective advantages. After careful and strict anti-corrosion and fire-proof treatment, the space frame parts are basically maintenance-free within the service life, and the cost performance is very high.

At present, the application of steel structure buildings in high-rise buildings is becoming more and more mature, and it has gradually become the mainstream construction technology, which is the development direction of future buildings.

Maintenance of steel structure space frame industrial plant

The steel structure space frame industrial plant has the advantages of beautiful design, diversified body shapes, bright colors, high factory production of steel components, low engineering cost, short capital construction period, simple installation and construction, and flexible layout. Steel has the advantages of light weight, easy design and calculation, recyclability and other advantages, so that steel structures are used in large quantities in contemporary industrial plants. At the same time, the maintenance of the steel structure workshop is very important in the later use. SAFS briefly introduces the maintenance and maintenance methods of the steel structure workshop in the later period of use.

The picture project is selected from: https://www.safsteelstructure.com/application-center/

The following are three maintenance methods for steel structure space frame industrial plant maintenance:

1. The steel structure workshop is the entire connection of the structural parts. Electric lighting equipment and wires cannot be directly tied to the steel components. It is necessary to set up wire pipes or wire groove blocking devices to avoid electric shock;

2. The steel structure components should be repainted and maintained every 3 years to prolong the overall appearance and service life of the steel structure workshop;

3. After the installation of the steel structure space frame workshop is completed, the owner cannot change the structure without permission, cannot remove any bolt components, and cannot add or reduce partition walls.

If it is necessary to change, it should be negotiated and agreed with the steel structure manufacturing company before the change

Roof panel installation steps of steel structure space frame

1. Check whether the purlins are installed correctly, and whether the steel prefabricated components are sprayed or not;

2. Before installation, according to the layout diagram of corrugated steel plate, classify and stack according to the type and specification. The corrugated steel plate faces upwards, the lap edge faces the installed roof edge, and is placed along the steel roof truss beams and laid manually;

3. The steel structure grid roof panel is laid at the eaves of the roof. In the whole process of installation, the straightness of the cornice line is used as the benchmark, and the positioning of the pull line is checked. The dislocation difference between the ends of the two adjacent panels should not be greater than 8 mm, and the slope of the roof panel is perpendicular to the datum point of the cornice;

4. Start from one side of the roof,put the first piece of roof board installation and location line.Pave the first corrugated steel plate, and fix it with screws after inspection;

5. After the first corrugated steel plate is fixed in place, install the next corrugated steel plate. When installing, place its lap edge on the front corrugated steel plate accurately. In order to ensure the installation position is accurate, clamp it with the previous corrugated steel plate with a tooling fixture, fix both sides of the corrugated steel plate, and then fix it with screws;

6. The length of the longitudinal lap of the corrugated steel plate is not less than 250mm, the lap joint is located at the purlin of the roof, the lap joint is sealed with glue and a row of waterproof rivets, and then fixed with screws;

7. Install the corrugated steel plate in place using the above method. For every 4 pieces of corrugated steel plate installed, check the flatness on both sides of the profiled steel plate. If there is any deviation, adjust it immediately and accurately measure the total width of the fixed profiled steel plate. , measure it once on both the upper and lower sides to ensure that no fan shape appears in the installation part of the corrugated steel plate;

8. After installing a certain number of roof bottom plates, start the installation of roof panel supports, and fix the supports and steel purlins with screws. Then lay insulation cotton, and ensure that the insulation cotton is installed tightly;

9. The installation of the steel structure space frame roof panel is basically the same as that of the thermal insulation cotton. When a piece of thermal insulation cotton is installed, a roof panel is installed. The installation method of the roof panel is the same as that of the roof bottom plate.

Picture from: https://www.safsteelstructure.com/application-center/

The top chord assembly and welding steps of the space frame

The top chord assembly and electric welding of steel structure space frame work steps:

1.Put in the longitudinal bars of the upper chord plan space frame to check whether the longitudinal parts and specifications of the top chord ball are appropriate.

2.Put in the transverse bars of the top chord plan space frame to check whether the longitudinal parts and specifications of the top chord ball are appropriate.

3. According to the proper adjustment of the diagonal web member of the three-dimensional small assembly module, the longitudinal and transverse bars of the top chord and the electric welding ball are properly in place. The way to adjust the oblique web members to not only laser cut too long bars, but also to open the angle of view of the transverse bars with inverted chains, so that the rods are properly in place. Ensure the proper size of the top chord grid.

4. Adjust the gaps, and weld the upper chord members after the gap foundation reaches the standard.

5. After the upper chord is fixed, weld the lower chord ball and the transverse bar to make the connection strong.

6. Check space frame specifications and push forward gradually.

The installation of web member and upper chord should be carried out in coordination with each other.

7.After the completion of the installation of the space frame pavement, the project acceptance shall be carried out according to the general specifications of the strips or blocks for the installation of the space frame.

8. The space frame to be hoisted must be hoisted (lifted) after the welding process is finished, the welding appearance quality and the welding ultrasonic flaw detector are reported to reach the standard.