Glossary

Apex

The apex is the highest point of the roof, where the rafters join.

Apex brace

An apex brace is an obtrusive steel bracket that cuts across the apex. Coresteel’s buildings do not need apex braces, due to the design of the Bracketless Portal System and DonoBeam system.

Bay

A bay is the space between the architectural elements in a building. For example, an American Barn typically has three bays.

Bird-resistant purlins

The angled shape of the purlin (see definition below) makes it impossible for a bird to perch on it. For larger bay widths we use a closed cover as opposed to a folded bottom lip.

BOM

This stands for Bill of Materials and is a list of all the parts of your building. The list details components right down to the quantities of screws and the sizes of your brackets.

Bracketless Portal System

The system offers a more cost-effective option to hot formed steel or wooden products for nearly every build, allowing sections to be simply bolted together, drastically reducing construction time and allowing for buildings of virtually any size, without compromising the structural integrity of the building. This exclusive system is similar to that which has been used extensively in the industrial market over a number of years, however redesigned for simplicity, efficiency and appeal. The system also ensures better use of raw materials and improved manufacturing and erection time, saving time and money.

Cold form steel

Is the term used for products that are made by rolling or pressing steel into shape at relatively low temperatures. This is in comparison to hot rolled steel (see definition below). All Coresteel’s structures (except DonoBeam structures) are made using cold form steel.

C-Section

A C-section is the shape of the beam used in the main structure. It is distinguished by having flanges on both sides of the web.

Cladding

Cladding is the material that covers your external walls and roof. Coresteel buildings are generally clad in 0.42 Trimrib ModnColour, but can incorporate Titan panel, weatherboard, Speedwall, precast, or basically any other material.

Column

A column is the vertical C-section of the portal frame.

Constructor

Constructor is our in-house software programme which provides a direct link between Coresteel’s designers/engineers and your local franchisee. Our franchisees use Constructor to quote pre-engineered and bespoke buildings in real-time. Then when your building project begins, the programme also allows our franchisees to follow the progress of the project online and inform you when milestones are reached along the way.

DonoBeam

DonoBeam is the latest Coresteel innovation, which is manufactured by folding two halves of steel plate and welding them together to form a box. It is tapered through its length, utilising only the amount of steel required for a given design. The amount of steel needed in the structure is reduced and subsequently the cost, all without affecting structural integrity.

Embedded splice plate

This is our strongest connection to the ground which is basically a C-section cast into the foundations with uplift tabs. The portal frame slips over the splice plate like a collar and is then fully bolted.

Footings

Footings are foundations formed with reinforced concrete and placed under each column and mullion. Footings are placed regardless of whether a slab is being installed.

Foundations

A foundation is what connects your building to the ground and helps spread the weight of the building. Your foundation will usually consist of a concrete pad tied into a floor slab.

Flashings

A flashing is typically a folded steel component that drains or deflects water back outside the cladding system.

Floor area

The length multiplied by the width of your building. This can also include extra floor area if your building has a mezzanine floor.

Fully bolted

Our structural connections are fully bolted, giving the strongest connection. We do not support the use of brackets which have multiple TEK screws through them. Our competitors provide a welded or TEK screwed connection.

Gable roof

A gable roof features two roof sections which come together to form a triangle.

Girt

A girt is a C-section that is fixed horizontally to the columns/mullions.

HERA

This stands for Heavy Engineering Research Association. HERA is recognised in both New Zealand and abroad as a leading authority in the design of steel structures.

Importance Level (IL)

The importance level rating is determined by the intended use of your building, its location and the risk it poses to human life and other structures around it.

Insulation

Various insulation products are able to be incorporated into your building to control the climate.

Knee brace

A knee brace is a steel bar that acts as a support strut between the wall and the roof.  Coresteel’s Bracketless Portal System means obtrusive knee braces are not required. A knee brace limits the usable space in a building especially when moving vehicles and also reduces the ability for storage/racking.

Knee height

The distance between the ground and the top of the wall.

Mono-pitch

A roof which slopes in a single direction. Also known as a skillion roof.

Mullions

Mullions are steel sections that roller doors /shutters are fixed to.

Nested wall girt

We use Exactor “C” Sections for our wall girts. These are nested between the portal legs allowing for more width in the building. Our competitors would typically position girts on the outside of the portal frame, which reduces the useable space in the building.

PA door

PA door stands for a Personal Access door. A PA door is a standard door, similar to the front door of a house. The door can be in steel or aluminum joinery.

Pinned connection

A pinned connection means exactly that. It is bolted to the concrete slab using ground brackets and hold-down bolts. A heavier/wider section is needed for a pinned connection, versus a fixed base connection (which is stronger).

Portal frame

A portal frame is the main steel skeleton of the building, made up of parts such as the rafters, columns brackets and fasteners.

PEB

This stands for Pre-engineered Building. A PEB is generated in our Constructor software to provide a fixed price in real time.

Purlin

A C-section that spans from rafter to rafter. Spacings are defined by cladding material.

Rafters

The main sections that span the width and connect to the portal leg/column.

Roof pitch

The slope or angle of your roof.

Span

The distance between the two sides of a building.

Vermin-resistant girt

Instead of using a bottom girt 300mm above the ground, we can incorporate a vermin girt to sit on top of the slab and tie into the structure. The cladding on the exterior wall will come over the face of the vermin girt. With this unique profile the vermin are unable to enter the building in this region.

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