Will the Use of Your Building Affect the Design and Compliance in 2025?

Will the Use of Your Building Critically Affect the Design?

Designing any structure from scratch is a significant technical undertaking, especially when aiming for longevity and full compliance. Here at Atlantic Steel Buildings, we have been designing, manufacturing, and erecting steel frame buildings across the UK for decades, and we prioritize key considerations long before the first piece of steel is cut.

For instance, will the intended use of the building affect the structural design?

The simple answer is a resounding: Yes.

When designing bespoke steel buildings, the first and most fundamental question we ask is, "What is the building going to be used for?" Not all steel frame buildings are designed alike; depending on its purpose, specific internal requirements must be integrated into the fundamental structural calculations to ensure the building is truly fit-for-purpose and compliant with all relevant 2025 Building Regulations.

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Key Ways Building Use Influences Structural Design

While external appearances—such as a large warehouse and a heavy industrial unit—may look similar, their unique operational requirements mean there are often significant differences going on within the structure:

1. Internal Environment Control (Thermal & Ventilation)

If the building is intended for permanent occupation, commercial offices, or storing sensitive materials (like archives or certain chemicals), it must be temperature and humidity-controlled.

• Insulation Requirements: This necessitates the inclusion of high-performance insulation (e.g., composite panels) to meet Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) Building Regulations. The frame design must accommodate the specific thickness and method of cladding installation.

• Ventilation and Apertures: Natural light apertures (windows, skylights) and specific ventilation systems must be incorporated into the cladding and frame design to ensure health and safety compliance and control internal conditions.

2. Load Bearing and Structural Reinforcement

The internal weight and stress placed on the structure are major design factors. Failing to account for this at the design stage can be structurally disastrous.

• Integrated Cranage Systems: An industrial facility designed to house overhead gantry cranes requires significant structural reinforcement in the frame's columns and rafters to safely bear the dynamic loads of the crane and its payload.

• Mezzanine Floors: If the design includes a mezzanine for storage or office space, the foundation and main frame must be engineered to withstand the added point loads and floor live loads, requiring specific beam placement and heavier section sizes.

• High-Bay Racking: Warehouses designed for extremely high or dense racking systems require different floor and frame specifications than simple open storage.

3. Compliance and Fire Safety

The building's use dictates the necessary fire safety measures, which directly influence the choice of cladding and the proximity to boundaries.

• Fire Rating: A building used for processing chemicals or housing public offices will require different fire-resistant cladding and potential fire breaks than a cold-storage barn. This directly affects material choice (e.g., mineral wool core panels).

• Boundary Regulations: The building's purpose and location relative to site boundaries affect the required fire wall rating, which must be engineered into the structure from the outset.

4. Access and Operational Flow

The function dictates how people and goods need to move in and out of the building.

• Door Openings: Aircraft hangars require massive clear-span door openings, while commercial warehouses require multiple large roller shutter doors, each demanding specific frame support around the aperture.

• Security: High-value storage facilities (e.g., data centres, secure storage units) may require design elements that accommodate enhanced security features, robust cladding, and restricted access points.

Our Guarantee: Fit-for-Purpose Steel Structures

Here at Atlantic Steel Buildings, we don't just supply steel; we supply certainty. We work with you from the initial concept to understand the demands of your operation.

We provide full and detailed structural calculations and engineering drawings as standard, ensuring that your building is legally compliant, safe, and perfectly fit for purpose—whatever that purpose may be.

For more information, or to discuss your own specialized steel frame building requirements, give Atlantic Steel Buildings a call today on 01872 560488.