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Kemko has been in business continuously for over forty-five years. A high percentage of our employees have worked here for over 20 years. Our building components are made from the highest quality first-run steel. We never use “seconds” in our buildings. Our engineering software is state-of-the-art and is updated continuously to reflect the latest changes in building codes. Kemko buildings are fabricated in our 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in Daphne, Alabama. All of Kemko’s buildings are custom engineered for each customer’s intended purpose. We do not treat metal buildings as generic commodities. In the overwhelming majority of the cases, a buyer is not going to get what he or she wants or needs by simply selecting a building from a list of pre-priced kits. Kemko’s experienced sales staff works with each customer to make sure the finished building will meet the customer’s requirements Even when exactly the same information is given to different metal building suppliers, there are almost always some differences in the actual building being quoted. These differences can materially affect the price. A buyer should check a number of items when a building is quoted.
- Building Code and Edition – Building codes in Kemko’s local
market area include several editions of the International Building
Code and the latest edition of the Florida Building Code. It is
important to know that your building complies in all respects with
the ever increasing complexity of the building code requirements.
- Wind Speed – Kemko is able to design your building to exact wind
loads, even down to 1 mph increments as required by one jurisdiction.
- Open/Enclosed/Partially Enclosed Building – Current codes
require that each building be classified as one of these three types.
A partially enclosed building, because of a “windsock” effect, must
necessarily be built heavier to withstand the design wind loads
than enclosed or open buildings.
- Exposure Categories – Each building must be assigned an
exposure classification depending upon the terrain surrounding
the building. Exposure “B” calls for numerous closely spaced
structures or trees around the building. Exposure “C” contemplates
that the terrain is flat and open. Because an Exposure “C” building
has greater exposure to the wind, it must incorporate more steel
than an Exposure “B” building.
- Occupancy Categories – The building codes require that each
building be assigned a wind load importance factor based on the
intended use of the building. Buildings that represent a substantial
hazard to human and buildings that will be used as fire, rescue
and police stations must be assigned higher load factors than
agricultural or general-use residential and commercial buildings.
- Dead, Live, Collateral and Variable Loads – These represent the
weight of the building envelope, construction loads, and other
loads such as interior lighting fixtures, ceilings, HVAC components,
facades, cranes, electrical, mechanical and sprinkler systems.
Your building must be designed for these loads if they are present.
- Deflection and Drift Limits – This is the allowed movement of the
building components in high loading conditions. A building that
incorporates stucco, masonry, glass walls and other “brittle”
components must not be allowed to move as much as a building
that incorporates only metal panels. Reduced allowed movement
results in higher building costs because of the additional steel that
is used to stiffen the building structure.
- Edge Strip Loading – Because the edges of the building envelope
are subject to greater wind loading than the center areas of the
walls and roof, current codes require that greater edge strip loading
be incorporated into the design.
- Rigid Frames – These frames form the backbone of the building
and are generally spaced every 20 to 30 feet along the length of
the building. The columns and rafters can be tapered, constant
depth or a combination of the two. Tapered members are “built up”
from steel plates. Constant depth members can be either “built-up”
members or hot-rolled wide flange shapes. If inside clearances
or shapes of the columns and rafters are important, then the
metal building supplier must incorporate this into the quote.
Tapered members are generally more economical in our local
market when the building width exceeds 40 feet.
- Endwall Frames – Among the different types of endwall frames,
in order of lowest to highest cost, are: (1) cold-formed post-and
beam, (2) hot-rolled or “built-up” post-and-beam, (3) half-load rigid,
and (4) full-load (expandable) rigid frames. Kemko has elected
not to use cold-formed post-and-beam frames because they are
more susceptible to damage and early failure. The difference in
cost between the other frames types can be considerable.
- Purlins – These are medium gauge secondary structural members
that, among other things, tie the rafters together, serve as mounting
points for the roof system and transfer roof loads to the rigid frames.
Generally, Kemko uses “Z” shaped purlins in depths from 8 inches
up to 12 inches in gauges from 16 up to 12, depending on the
specific application. Minimum yield strength of the purlins used
by Kemko is 55,000 psi.
- Girts – These are medium gauge secondary structural members
that, among other things, tie the columns together, serve as
mounting points for the wall system and transfer wall loads
to the rigid frames. Generally, Kemko uses “Z” shaped girts
in depths from 8 inches up to 12 inches in gauges from 16 up
to 12, depending on the specific application. Minimum yield
strength of girts used by Kemko is 55,000 psi. Kemko generally
uses bypass (lapped) girts in the endwalls and sidewalls. This
is more economical because lapping of the members at the
columns adds to their strength. Occasionally, a customer will
need a building with flush mounted girts. Flush mounted girts
are inherently weaker, and more are required to meet code.
- Roof Panels – Kemko’s standard roof panels are roll-formed
in the “PBR” profile, which are through-fastened to the secondary
roof structure with long-life ZAC (zinc-aluminum alloy cast head)
screws. The “PBR” (purlin-bearing leg) panels are stronger than
other suppliers’ standard “R” panels. The standard thickness that
Kemko uses is 26 gauge. Heavier gauges are available. Kemko
also offers a number of hidden fastener standing seam roof panels.
Because of the high wind loads in our local market area, we
generally recommend machine seaming when a standing seam
system is used. Standing seam panels are more costly, more
expensive to install, and require more secondary structure in
the building than “PBR” panels.
- Wall Panels – Kemko utilizes 26 gauge “PBR” panels as our
standard. Kemko also offers a number of other wall panels systems
to fit our customers’ needs.
- Roll-Up Doors – Kemko’s standard roll-up doors are Overhead
Door Corporation Model 790CW Commercial Windlock doors.
Windlock doors feature metal hooks on the vertical edges of the
doors that lock onto the door guides and help keep the doors
from failing in high wind load conditions. In our local market area,
this type door is necessary to meet code requirements.
- Roll-Up Door Frames – Because roll-up door frames are exposed
to the weather and subject to rust, Kemko uses galvanized
jambs and headers. Each door frame is individually engineered
to insure that it is strong enough to meet the high wind loading
requirements of our local market.
- Insulation – Kemko’s standard roof and wall insulation is a 3 inch
thick fiberglass blanket with reinforced white vinyl facing to resist
tearing. Other insulation systems are available to meet
customers’ needs.
We hope that you will use a Kemko building for your next project. Our buildings are of the highest quality and are competitively priced. We have the desire and experience to meet your needs, give you the customer service you deserve, and the customer support you need after the sale.
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