Everybody knows about pre-engineered buildings—they now account for almost 70 percent of all new low-rise construction in the United States. But few architects, engineers, or buyers know enough about them. Full of essential features, tips, and advice, this new Second Edition includes nearly twice the amount of material and illustrations that was in the first edition.

This new edition:

• Goes beyond manufacturer-supplied information in pinpointing potential design pitfalls
• Points out specific recurring problems of metal building systems and explains how failures can occur
• Updates recent changes in the building codes and the MBMA manual
• Offers practical information on the design of cold-formed purlins and girts, exposing questionable methods used by some manufacturers
• Includes greatly expanded coverage of purlin bracing
• Supplies a wealth of hard-to-find information on selecting and specifying walls (including problems with specific wall systems)
• Explains critical considerations for MBS foundations not covered in manufacturers specifications
• Includes several new design examples dealing with selection of primary framing, preliminary design of purlins, girts, and eave struts, design of moment-resisting building foundations, plus a comprehensive case study of additions to existing buildings
• Lays out new information on renovation of primary frames, secondary members, roofing, and walls
• Adds a wealth of information on metal roofing, including best-practice design details
• Supplies new end-of-chapter review questions
• Provides roof-to-foundation understanding of all metal building design tasks involved in specifying or evaluating metal building systems

Excerpt from the Preface
The principal objective of Metal Building Systems is to present architects, engineers, construction specifiers, facility managers, and building officials with enough information to enable them to make intelligent decisions in their design and evaluation activities. It contains plenty of data to help design professionals accomplish tasks ranging from feasibility studies to preparation of construction documents. It should also prove helpful to contractors seeking to undertake construction utilizing metal building systems.

The book is arranged by chapters dealing with various design aspects of metal building systems. Although some chapters are devoted to rather technical matters intended mainly for structural engineers, every attempt has been made to keep the presentation readable and enjoyable.

In addition to explanatory reference data, the book contains a wealth of tips on how to avoid potential pitfalls when specifying these deceptively simple structures. Most of the tips are distilled from "learning experiences" that caused some embarrassment for the designers, claims for "extras," and even litigation. The readers are invited to learn from these mistakes to be better prepared to participate in the success of this extraordinary industry.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Metal Building Systems: Yesterday and Today. Chapter 2. Industry Groups, Publications, and Websites. Chapter 3. The Basics. Chapter 4. Primary Framing. Chapter 5. Secondary Framing: Girts and Purlins. Chapter 6. Metal Roofing. Chapter 7. Wall Materials. Chapter 8. Insulation. Chapter 9. The Process of Buying a Metal Building. Chapter 10. Some Common Problems and Failures. Chapter 11. Lateral Drift and Vertical Deflections. Chapter 12. Foundation Design for Metal Building Systems. Chapter 13. Some Current Design Trends. Chapter 14. Reroofing and Renovations of Metal Building Systems. Chapter 15. Specifying Crane Buildings. Chapter 16. Avoiding Construction Problems. Appendix A. Information about some Pre-engineered Building Manufacturers. Appendix B. Properties of Cold-Formed Girts and Purlins. Appendix C. Typical Specification for Metal Building Systems. Appendix D: Frame Reaction Tables. Index

About the Author
Alexander Newman, P.E., F.ASCE, is managing engineer in the Natick, Massachusetts, office of Exponent Failure Analysis Associates, a nationwide company involved in accident and collapse investigations. He has more than 25 years of experience in building design, construction, and failure investigation. His areas of expertise include design and failure analysis of pre-engineered metal buildings, metal roofs, and other structures. Immediately prior to joining Exponent, he was principal structural engineer with Maguire Group Inc., an architectural, engineering, and planning firm with the offices throughout the Northeast. His earlier experience includes engineering positions with a consulting engineering firm, a light-gauge steel contractor, and a precast concrete manufacturer. He has also served as manager of the fabrication division with a steel fabricator. Mr. Newman has been responsible for structural design of many projects throughout the country utilizing metal building systems and conventional structures. His experience includes both new building construction and renovation projects ranging from residential to multistory industrial facilities, including a Boston Edison switching and conversion station that won the 1990 American Consulting Engineers Council of New England Award for Engineering Excellence. Mr. Newman holds an advanced degree in structural engineering from the Moscow Civil Engineering Institute in Russia and a master's degree in business administration with high honors from Boston University. The first edition of this book received wide acclaim and was translated into Chinese. His other popular engineering textbook, Structural Renovation of Buildings, was published by McGraw-Hill in 2001. Mr. Newman regularly conducts educational seminars on metal building systems and other topics for design professionals and governmental agencies around the country. He has served as expert consultant in litigation involving metal building systems and other structures.