Permanent steel-framed buildings suit established requirements where the site, operational use and investment plan are settled. The heavier frame can support larger-scale or more demanding applications and is designed as a lasting part of the estate. The final system is selected against the project brief and confirmed specification.
Start with the way you will use the space. This is a guide to typical applications, not a substitute for the specification of your selected system.
Swipe across the table to compare all three options →
| Your requirement | Temporary | Semi-permanent | Permanent steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Peaks, contracts and changing needs | Long-term operational space with flexibility | Established sites and permanent capacity |
| Designed for relocation | ✓ Typically | ✓ System-dependent | Not normally selected for relocation |
| Extension or adaptation | ✓ Subject to design | ✓ Subject to design | Possible if designed for it |
| Insulated or non-insulated options | ✓ Available | ✓ Available | ✓ Available |
| Hire and purchase considered | ✓ By quotation | ✓ By quotation | ✓ By quotation |
| Base and foundations | Suitable base and engineered anchorage | Base designed for the use and duration | Engineered permanent foundations |
Changes and relocation require structural, site and planning review. Permanent buildings can sometimes be extended, so they should not be ruled out simply because future growth is possible.
A founded structural-steel building suits an established site and a long-term capacity requirement. We specify the structure around the use, dimensions, loads and operational layout.
Permanent does not mean inflexible. Extensions and alterations can be considered in the original design, although relocation is not normally the reason for choosing this system.
Hire and purchase are considered across the range. The available terms depend on the building, site works and long-term requirement.
Which one suits is decided by the size, the location, the loadings, the intended use, the planning position and the specification you need. The figures below are for guidance; your own specification is confirmed at quotation.
| System | AluminiumTypically temporary | Galvanised steelTypically temporary and semi-permanent | Structural steelTypically permanent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Rapid, flexible additional space | Long-term flexible operational capacity | Permanent long-term infrastructure |
| Clear span | Up to 20 m | Up to 30 m | Flexible |
| Length | Modular, extendable in 5 m increments | Modular, extendable in 5 m increments | Bespoke |
| Eaves height | 3, 4, 5 or 6 m | 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 m | Bespoke |
| Roof | PVC or thermal insulated panels | Steel cladding or insulated sandwich panels | Architectural roof |
| Walls | PVC or insulated sandwich panels | Steel cladding or insulated sandwich panels | Architectural cladding |
| Insulation | Insulated or non-insulated | Insulated or non-insulated | Insulated |
| Windows | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Doors | Roller shutters and pedestrian doors | Roller shutters and pedestrian doors | Bespoke |
| Hire or purchase | Hire or purchase | Hire or purchase | Purchase |
| Finance | Available | Available | Available where applicable |
| Relocatable | Yes | Yes | Normally no |
| Extendable | Yes | Yes | Can be designed for future extension |
| Foundations | Level ground, concrete or hardcore | Level ground, concrete or hardcore | Engineered permanent foundations |
| Structural calculations | Included | Included | Included |
| Building Regulations | Where applicable | Can be specified accordingly | Designed to applicable requirements |
| Fire performance options | Available | Available | Available |
| Typical installation | 2 to 5 days | 2 to 5 days | Project programme dependent |
| Frame structure warranty | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
Clear spans are typical maximums. The span available to you depends on the building specification, the location and the structural requirements, and is confirmed at design stage. Where you need a wider span than the aluminium system offers, the galvanised steel system reaches up to 30 m; see semi-permanent buildings.
Every system carries a 10-year frame structure warranty. Hire availability, minimum periods and finance terms are confirmed per system at quotation.
Insulated and non-insulated finishes are available across the building range. For temperature-controlled use, we specify the envelope around the required internal conditions and identify the heating, cooling, ventilation and condensation-control requirements. Insulation alone does not control temperature; services and fit-out are agreed separately in your quotation.
The structure and specification are developed around the demands of your site.
Uninterrupted internal floor space with no intermediate columns, across the available span range of the selected system.
We check the required usable width, height and layout against the selected system before confirming the building.
Craneage, conveyors, heavy ductwork, extraction and suspended plant are all load cases in their own right. A founded steel frame is the sensible place to hang them, and they are designed in from the start rather than added to a structure that was calculated without them.
Cladding, glazing, roofline and detailing can be specified to match an existing estate, so a new unit looks like part of the site rather than an addition to it. Where the building fronts customers or staff, that matters more than any figure on the quote.
Wind and snow loadings are calculated for your postcode and your site, and the structural calculations and certification for the system you are quoted are issued with the building, ready for building control and for your insurer.
Industrial steel buildings cover most of what a business needs permanent space for. The frame changes very little between them; the specification inside changes a great deal.
Racked storage and distribution space where the capacity is permanent and the site is yours.
Industrial warehouses →
Production halls, machine shops and finishing space with the floor loadings, services and craneage a process needs.
Manufacturing & production →
Maintenance and workshop buildings with the height and door access to get vehicles and plant inside.
Workshop buildings →
Sports halls, covered courts and training facilities where the span is set by the game and the facility is there to stay.
Sports & padel →Both are ours, so this is a fit question rather than a sales one. The two sit at different points on the same scale.
The site is yours, the use is established, the capacity is not in question, and the building needs loadings or a permanence that a relocatable frame is not intended to provide. A founded steel frame is the better asset, and it is cheaper over a long enough horizon.
Where the site, contract or volume may change, a relocatable system can offer useful flexibility. We compare the appropriate building and commercial options, including hire and purchase, against your expected use.
Examples of the building type, to show the shape, cladding and door arrangements usually specified. Your building is designed around your own site, so the finished specification will differ.
Tell us the size, the site and what is going inside, and we will tell you which system fits before anyone talks about price. Noah Building Systems designs, engineers, supplies and manages the installation of permanent steel-framed buildings across the UK. Compare it against semi-permanent buildings, or see the full range of temporary industrial buildings.
Explore the building systems we supply, the main specification choices and what to expect from installation.
Send us the approximate dimensions, postcode, intended use and likely duration. We can prepare an initial figure without a site visit.
A permanent steel building is designed around an established site and founded for long-term use. Temporary and semi-permanent systems can prioritise flexibility and relocation. The correct choice still depends on the dimensions, use, loadings, site and specification.
We consider both commercial routes for permanent requirements. Availability, minimum terms, payment arrangements and responsibility for foundations and end-of-term works are confirmed for the selected system in your quotation.
The programme is confirmed for the project, including engineering, manufacture, foundations, services, installation and any required permissions. Larger or more complex projects can take longer than the indicative times shown for suitable stock or bespoke buildings.
Noah remains responsible for your project throughout. Our approved specialist installation partners work under Noah's project management, specification, programme and health and safety requirements. You have one point of accountability from quotation to handover.
This depends on the agreed project scope. Noah can identify the required base or foundation solution and, where agreed, can coordinate the associated groundworks through the project. In other cases the client may provide the slab or foundations to an agreed design before the building installation starts. Responsibility is made clear in the quotation and pre-installation information.
Where Building Regulations apply, the building and associated works need to be specified to meet the relevant requirements for the project. Noah can coordinate the structural and building information required within the agreed scope, but the exact compliance route depends on the selected system, intended use, site and Building Control requirements. The quotation and project documentation set out what compliance support is included.
The documentation supplied depends on the building system and project requirements. Where required, this can include structural calculations, drawings, design information, load criteria, installation documentation and manufacturer or product information. We agree the required technical package before order so it is suitable for the project, Building Control, insurer or other stakeholders as applicable.
Commercial finance may be available through an independent third-party finance broker. Options can include unsecured and secured business lending, subject to status, affordability, lender criteria and approval. Noah does not provide finance or make lending decisions. If spreading the capital cost is important, tell us at enquiry stage and we can introduce you to the broker to discuss the available options alongside outright purchase.
Floors are not included with our temporary, semi-permanent or permanent buildings. The surface beneath the building, such as existing concrete or hardcore, forms the floor. Its suitability depends on the intended use, loads and ground conditions; any necessary groundworks need to be arranged separately. Noah can include sports flooring for sports projects, with the scope agreed in the quotation.
