CSSBI - Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute

What is a Steel Building System?

One definition of the term system is "a group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements forming a collective entity". This is a very good description of the way all the elements in a steel building system work together, mutually supporting each other, to form a structure capable of resisting design loads, keeping out the weather, and limiting heat transfer.

A steel building system features structural steel and cladding components, plus related accessories, engineered and designed to act as an integrated building system. The building system utilizes rigid frames or columns and beams as the primary structural elements; alternatively, it may be a "self-framing" type, using the cladding as the primary load bearing roof and/or wall elements in addition to functioning as a weather barrier.

These buildings are fabricated by the manufacturer at a central location and shipped to builders across Canada. The manufacturer is responsible for the structural design and fabrication of the building system, and the builder is responsible for the erection and related work (e.g. concrete foundations, interior finishing, HVAC systems, etc.).