What is a Clear Span Metal Building?

The “clear span” is an architectural term to describe the distance between the two inside surfaces of the span supports; the distance that is unsupported, if you will.

Clear span rigid frames, with their lack of interior supports, provide unparalleled space ideal for maximizing storage space and utility. There are, however, size limitations. As the width of the building increases, so the frames must become larger and stronger (and subsequently more expensive) to bear the increased weight. The optimum size before cost begins to outweigh benefit can be as wide as 150 feet or more, depending, of course, on the purpose of the building. Columns would not, for example, be an ideal if the building was to be used as an aircraft hanger, riding arena or sports complexes and warehouses.

Additionally, if interior supporting columns would seriously interfere with the commercial function of the building to the detriment of profits, vigorous number-crunching is recommended to array the cost/benefit ratio of building a broad structure with this specification.

We hope this information helps answer the question of 'What is a clear span metal building?'

For more information on building configurations see: Rigid Frame Designs