PRODUCTION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD STEEL STRUCTURES: PROCESS, INSPECTION & APPLICATION

Steel structures are increasingly becoming the top choice in modern construction projects thanks to their durability, superior load-bearing capacity and flexibility in design. However, to ensure the quality and longevity of the project, compliance with the steel structure manufacturing process according to international standards is a key factor that any business or investor needs to pay attention to. So what are the steps to produce steel structures according to international standards? Which standards are commonly applied today? Let's explore the details in the article below to better understand the process, benefits and importance of producing steel structures according to international standards.

I. General introduction to steel structures

Steel structure is load-bearing structure of construction works designed and constructed by steel. This type of structure is widely used in the construction industry, especially in large-scale construction works (Pre-engineered Steel Buildings) because of the useful properties of steel. Thanks to the high tensile strength of steel, this structure is very sturdy and requires less material than other types of structures such as concrete or wood.

In modern construction, steel frame structures are commonly used for all kinds of structures such as industrial buildings, offices, fences, bridges, conveyors, etc.

Compliance with international standard production processes is essential to ensure product quality, consumer safety, enhance product durability and build a solid reputation for businesses in the market.

What is steel structure? — ***Steel structure is the load-bearing structure of construction works designed and constructed from steel.***

II. International standards

1/ American standard: AISC (design, fabrication, erection), AWS (welding), ASTM (materials)

AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction): Regulations on design, manufacture and erection of steel structures.
AWS (American Welding Society): Welding standards in steel structure manufacturing, ensuring durability and safety.
ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials): Provide standards for steel materials, helping to control quality from input materials.

2/ European standards: EN 1090-1, EN 1090-2 (manufacturing process, tensile test), ISO 3834 (welding quality control)

EN 1090-1 & EN 1090-2: Standards for assessing load-bearing capacity and steel structure manufacturing processes in Europe.
ISO 3834: Standards for welding quality control, helping to ensure the durability of steel structures in harsh working environments.

3/ Vietnamese standards: TCVN 170:2007 (acceptance, quality control)

Before leaving the factory, the entire structure must be supervised by the manufacturer's technical specialist.
During acceptance, the assembly parameters must comply with the provisions of this standard, as well as the standards or technical instructions related to each specific part and the design documentation.
For mass-produced structures, the quantity, method and schedule of inspection (including sample selection) shall be established based on the standards or technical instructions corresponding to each type of structure.
For single or limited quantity production structures, inspection measures and plans (including sampling) should be detailed in the design documentation.
Based on the quality requirements of the assembly and the parameters of the specified operating conditions, the inspection of input materials, the manufacturing process and the acceptance of the product should be carried out according to the list of criteria and measurements summarized in Table 1 below.
The results of incoming material inspection, processing and product acceptance must be stored in the technical inspection logbook, test reports or other relevant records. The inspection results must be fully recorded in these documents and must comply with the technical requirements of the design documents for the structure.

III. Steel structure manufacturing process meets international standards

1. Design & planning

Start by analyzing the project requirements, creating and designing detailed drawings using specialized software such as CAD software. These drawings should show all aspects of the structure. In addition, these designs should consider the load-bearing requirements, material properties and intended use. For industrial projects, accuracy is key, especially when integrating measuring and control devices.

Choosing the right type of steel is crucial to the success of your project. Different grades of steel, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, or alloy steel, need to be carefully selected based on the specific requirements of the project.

Next, it is necessary to prepare the steel, plates, bolts as well as the necessary welding materials and tools.

2. Prepare materials

Check and evaluate the quality of input materials according to standards:

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials): Provide standards for steel materials, helping to control quality from input materials.
EN 1090-1 & EN 1090-2: Standards for assessing load-bearing capacity and steel structure manufacturing processes in Europe.
TCVN 170:2007: Vietnam Construction Standards on Steel Structures – Technical Requirements.

In addition, strict compliance with regulations on storage and preservation of steel materials is an important step, ensuring that materials are of the highest quality, not degraded by external environmental impacts such as humidity, temperature, or other corrosive agents, thereby affecting the quality of finished product structures.

Steel cutting: Based on the designed drawings, the steel plates will be cut into individual steel billets to prepare for the welding process.

Hole making, bending and shaping: After being cut to size and shape, the steel plate will be punched with holes on the plate and the necessary position to install bolts, bending the steel bars into shapes according to design requirements, ensuring the correct size.

Temporary assembly: Temporary assembly of parts to ensure fit, before that it is necessary to straighten and round the corners of the steel components together.

Weld: Welding is performed according to AWS, ISO 3834 standards, welds are inspected by non-destructive testing methods (UT, MT). The weld must be performed correctly and of good quality, and the surface can be inspected with the naked eye.

Edit, complete: High temperatures during welding can cause warping and deformation of structures. Therefore, they need to be adjusted, straightened and checked carefully before proceeding to the next steps.

Need surface cleaning for the components after processing to make the paint adhere more firmly. The type of paint here is understood as anti-rust paint, finishing paint according to international standards for corrosion protection, three-layer paint (one anti-rust layer and two topcoat layers) to increase the durability of the steel structure.

The contractor organizes the internal acceptance process and then creates an acceptance request form to send to the investor. The investor conducts acceptance based on the request form from the contractor. Contents that need to be done during the acceptance process include:

Review the documents provided by the contractor to support the work acceptance process.
Inspect objects for acceptance at the field or at the factory.
Evaluate the conformity of details, parts or structures against designs, construction standards and technical guidance documents.
When acceptance is completed, it is allowed to proceed with the next work.

Acceptance work should be recorded in the acceptance record. Those directly involved in the acceptance process must sign and clearly state their personal information in the acceptance record.

II. Benefits of complying with international standard steel structure manufacturing process

Compliance with the steel structure manufacturing process is an important factor determining the success of a construction project. The precision manufacturing unit will affect the quality, performance and safety of the project. Because steel structures are considered the "backbone" of large-scale projects such as factories, prefabricated houses, high-rise buildings, and traffic bridge systems.

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE HAI LONG CONSTRUCTION AS A STEEL STRUCTURE PRODUCTION AND INSTALLATION UNIT?

With more than 25 years of experience in the field of manufacturing & erecting steel structures, Hai Long Construction is proud to be Leading reputable unit, providing customers with complete construction solutions, meeting all needs and requirements.

Team experienced engineers, architects and experts, knowledgeable about the design and construction of warehouse factories according to international standards.
Diverse construction capacity, meeting all project sizes and requirements, from simple to complex factories.
Possessing a system of modern machinery and equipment, three steel structure factories with a productivity of nearly 50.000 tons/year, ensuring quick, accurate and safe construction.
Professional construction process, is strictly managed.

You are looking for one Prestigious and professional steel structure manufacturing and erection unit? Please contact Hai Long Construction for free consultation and quote:

HAI LONG CONSTRUCTION JOINT STOCK COMPANY – MEMBER OF TAIYO GROUP
Address: Taiyo Building, 97 Bach Dang, Thuong Ly Ward, Hong Bang District, Hai Phong City, Vietnam.
Hotline: 084 6625 888
Email: info@hailongjsc.vn