A
- Anchor Bolt
- Threaded steel bolts cast into the concrete foundation that the column base plates are bolted to. The anchor bolt pattern is specified by the building's structural engineer. Included in Superstructures building packages.See also:resourcesplanning guide
B
- Bay Spacing
- The distance between primary rigid frames along the length of a building. A 40×60 building with 5 bays has frames spaced at 12' intervals. Bay spacing affects the secondary framing design and the maximum spans between frames.
- Base Plate
- The flat steel plate welded to the bottom of a column that distributes the column load to the foundation and bolts to the anchor bolts. Base plate size and thickness are engineered based on column loads.
C
- Clear Span
- A building design with no interior structural columns — the roof load is carried entirely by the perimeter rigid frames. Clear span allows full floor-to-ceiling use anywhere inside the building. Superstructures builds clear-span buildings up to 300'+ wide.See also:applicationshangarsapplicationswarehouses
D
- Dead Load
- The permanent, stationary loads on a structure — the weight of the building materials themselves (steel framing, panels, insulation, etc.). Distinct from live loads (snow, wind, occupancy). Alaska snow loads are counted as roof live loads.
- Drift Load
- Accumulated snow loading caused by wind carrying snow from one area and depositing it against a wall or higher roof section. Drift loads can significantly exceed the general ground snow load. Critical in Alaska where prevailing winds interact with building geometry.See also:steel buildings alaska
E
- Eave Height
- The distance from the finished floor to the top of the eave strut — essentially the interior wall height. Common Alaska shop eave heights are 12'–16'. Aircraft hangars typically run 18'–30'+. Choose taller than your current minimum to preserve flexibility.See also:resourcesplanning guide
- Endwall
- The end walls of a pre-engineered steel building that run perpendicular to the ridge. Endwalls can be "expandable" (designed for future length extension) or fixed. Endwall columns are typically lighter than interior frame columns.
F
- Factory Insulated Panel (FIP)
- A steel sandwich panel with a factory-foamed rigid insulation core bonded between interior and exterior steel skins. FIP panels eliminate the need for separate batt insulation installation and provide superior vapor control. R-values range from R-13 to R-42.See also:steel buildingsinsulated panels
- Framed Opening
- A structural opening in a wall or roof specifically designed and engineered to accommodate a door, window, louver, or other penetration. Framed openings are specified in the building design and affect the secondary framing pattern around them.
G
- Galvalume
- A steel sheet product coated with an alloy of aluminum, zinc, and silicon — providing superior corrosion protection vs. galvanized steel. Galvalume is common on unpainted standing seam roofs and is well-suited to Alaska's wet coastal climates.
- Girt
- Horizontal secondary framing members that span between primary columns on the walls of a steel building. Girts support the wall panels and transfer lateral wind loads to the primary frames. Wall insulation batt is typically run between girts.
- Ground Snow Load (pg)
- The weight of snow on the ground at a specific location, expressed in pounds per square foot (psf). Alaska ground snow loads range from 20 psf (some Interior locations) to over 300 psf (coastal mountain areas). Every Superstructures building is engineered to the site-specific pg.See also:steel buildings alaska
H
- Hip Roof
- A roof style where all four sides slope down to the eave, without gable ends. Less common in pre-engineered steel buildings than gable roofs but available for aesthetic or wind-performance applications.
I
- IBC (International Building Code)
- The model building code adopted (with amendments) by Alaska. The IBC governs structural design requirements, occupancy classifications, egress requirements, fire separation, and other building safety standards. Pre-engineered steel buildings from Superstructures are designed to meet IBC requirements.
- IMP (Insulated Metal Panel)
- See Factory Insulated Panel (FIP). The terms are often used interchangeably. An IMP/FIP is a factory-assembled composite panel with steel faces and a rigid foam insulation core.See also:steel buildingsinsulated panels
L
- Live Load
- Temporary or movable loads on a structure — including snow, wind, occupancy, and equipment. In Alaska, roof live loads are often dominated by snow loads, which can be among the highest in North America.
M
- Moment Frame
- A structural frame where the connections between columns and rafters are designed to resist bending moments — providing lateral stability without diagonal bracing in that plane. Pre-engineered steel buildings use rigid moment frames as their primary structural system.
- Multi-Span
- A building configuration with two or more structural bays spanning side-by-side, connected at intermediate columns. Multi-span buildings can achieve very wide overall widths while keeping individual frame spans manageable.
P
- PBR Panel
- Purlin Bearing Rib panel — a common screw-down roof and wall panel profile used on pre-engineered steel buildings. PBR panels are cost-effective but have more fastener penetrations than standing seam systems, which can be leak points under heavy Alaska snow loads.
- PEMB
- Pre-Engineered Metal Building. A building system where the structural framing is designed and fabricated by a manufacturer to meet specified loads and configurations. Varco Pruden, Superstructures' manufacturing partner, is a leading PEMB manufacturer.See also:about
- Permafrost
- Permanently frozen ground present throughout much of Interior, Northern, and parts of Western Alaska. Building on permafrost requires specialized foundation engineering to prevent thaw-related settlement. Superstructures provides the structural load requirements; permafrost foundation design requires a geotechnical engineer.See also:steel buildings alaska
- Purlin
- Horizontal secondary framing members that span between primary frames on the roof. Purlins support the roof panels and transfer roof loads to the primary frames. Roof insulation batt is typically run between purlins.
R
- Ridge
- The highest horizontal line of a gable roof — where the two roof slopes meet. The ridge of a Superstructures building typically includes a ridge cap for weather sealing and may have ridge vents for ventilation.
- Rigid Frame
- The primary structural element of a pre-engineered steel building — a moment-resisting frame composed of columns and a rafter connected with rigid moment connections. Rigid frames carry the primary structural loads and create the clear-span capability of PEMB systems.
- Roof Pitch
- The slope of a roof, expressed as rise over run (e.g., 1:12 or 2:12). Pre-engineered steel buildings typically use low slopes (1:12 to 4:12). In Alaska, roof pitch affects snow accumulation and sliding — certain pitches can concentrate drift loads.
S
- Seismic Design Category (SDC)
- A classification (A through F) that indicates the seismic risk at a specific site and the corresponding design requirements. Much of Southcentral Alaska — including the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage area — falls in SDC D or higher due to the state's extreme seismic activity.See also:steel buildings alaska
- Single-Slope Roof
- A roof that slopes in one direction from a higher eave to a lower eave — also called a "shed roof" or "mono-slope." Single-slope buildings are useful for drainage control, aesthetic matching to adjacent buildings, or sites with specific clearance requirements on one side.
- Snow Load
- See Ground Snow Load (pg). The structural design load applied to a building's roof based on the weight of snow that can accumulate under design conditions. Alaska snow loads are among the highest in the US and must be site-specifically determined.See also:steel buildings alaska
- Standing Seam
- A roof system where the panels connect at raised seams that stand vertically above the roof surface, with no exposed fasteners. Standing seam roofs are more expensive than PBR screw-down systems but significantly more watertight — critical under Alaska's heavy snowpack where freeze-thaw cycling can cause leaks at screw fasteners.
T
- Thermal Break
- A material or design feature that reduces heat conduction through a building's structure. In steel buildings, girts and purlins conduct heat from the warm interior to the cold exterior — thermal break clips interrupt this conduction path, significantly improving the effective R-value of the wall or roof assembly.See also:steel buildingsinsulated panels
V
- Varco Pruden
- Superstructures' manufacturing partner — one of North America's leading pre-engineered steel building manufacturers, with over 75 years of experience. Varco Pruden provides engineering, manufacturing, and the 25-year structural warranty on every Superstructures building.See also:about
W
- Wainscot
- A secondary panel applied over the lower portion of a building's exterior walls, often in a contrasting color or heavier-gauge panel. Wainscot adds visual interest, protects the lower wall from impact damage, and allows the use of a more durable panel at ground level.
- Wind Uplift
- The upward force exerted on a roof by wind passing over the building. Wind uplift is a significant design consideration for Alaska's coastal and exposed sites. Standing seam roofs with concealed fasteners resist wind uplift better than screw-down systems.
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