Steel Hangars & Warehouses

Clear span is the most expensive decision in the project

Floor area does not determine a hangar's cost — clear span does. As the distance between columns grows, beams must grow to carry themselves and the load, and cost rises faster than the span increases.

So our first question is not "how many square metres?" but "what moves inside?" If operations allow a central column line, that saves a large share. If the activity genuinely needs a fully open floor for equipment movement or long-run storage, then the wide span is a necessity rather than a luxury — and the extra cost has an operational justification.

Wind is the governing load

A hangar is a light building with a large surface area. Its self-weight is far lower than a concrete building, which makes wind uplift the critical load rather than downward pressure. Storms generate suction on the roof that tries to lift it, and foundations are designed to resist that uplift, not merely to carry weight.

That is why a hangar foundation differs from that of a conventional building of the same area, and why column pedestals and holding-down bolts are a significant item, not a detail.

Internal heat and ventilation

Bare metal roofing under UAE sun reaches very high temperatures and radiates that heat inwards. Hot air rises and collects under the roof, turning the upper volume into an oven.

The answer has two layers: insulated panels that reduce heat entering, and ridge or side ventilation that lets hot air leave at high level while cooler air enters low. Together they make a noticeable difference to workers and to heat-sensitive stock.

Corrosion in coastal areas

Salt-laden humidity accelerates steel corrosion substantially. An unprotected frame near the coast shows corrosion quickly, and later repair means cleaning and recoating in an operating facility — harder and more expensive than protecting it correctly at the start.

Galvanising or a multi-coat paint system is specified according to how close the site is to the sea and what activity happens inside.

Extension is planned from the start

Where future expansion is possible, the design leaves one defined direction extendable — the wall on that side is built so it can be removed and a new frame connected. Unplanned extension requires intervening in the existing structure and sometimes strengthening existing columns.