Wind Resistant
Hurricane-rated building in Texas
Tornado, Hurricane & Snow Protection From The Storm With Quonsets
If you live in a natural disaster zone, you want a building you can trust in the event a severe storm comes your way.
Snow Loads
Snowfall after blizzard in Whittier, Alaska
Tornado Resistant
Tornado aftermath in Jonesville, Virginia
Fire Resistant
Remains after fire in Hampton, Virginia
Earthquake Resistant
7.0 magnitude earthquake in Alaska
Hurricane Resistant
Hurricane Maria aftermath in Puerto Rico
Quonset Huts are well suited to withstand almost any natural disaster, including hurricanes, tornados, severe storms, hail storms, earthquakes, and snowstorms. But what is it about metal Quonset huts kits that make them strong enough to handle almost any natural disaster?
4 Things That Make Quonsets So Durable
| Low Gauge Steel | Wood, fabric, aluminum, tin and higher gauged steel are all weaker and prone to destruction |
| Corrugated Steel | Non-corrugated metal buildings are 5X weaker than corrugated |
| Arch Panels | Wind, snow and rain all glide off of arched building designs |
| Galvalume Plus | Corrosion and rust resistance makes maintenance and protection against the elements easy |
Many of our customers say purchasing a disaster-resistant Quonset building was one of the best decisions they made. This is because Quonset huts are designed to withstand all six major natural disasters in all 10 of FEMA’s Regions across the entire United States.
Literally the best company I’ve worked with when it comes to buying a building. They gave me the best quality Quonset Hut I could ask for, and it’s the best looking building in my neighborhood! Backed with a 40 year warranty? Maintenance free? The sales rep and the administration team took such good care of me. Shout out to Monica, she was so professional and helpful. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quality building that’ll stand for a lifetime.
Mike and SteelMaster Buildings are amazing! They were able to supply a building that meets my needs, permitting requirements and shipping time-line. Cost was much less than other Steel Buildings I had shopped and definitely more responsive to requests for information. Overall, a great experience and looking forward to putting it together.
Purchase experience was great, taking place over text giving me time to research info needed. Easy to work with and we were able to find the perfect solution (on sale!). Can’t wait for the building to arrive!
I recently purchased a 25'W x 26'L x 13'H building from SteelMaster Buildings to replace part of pole barn that roof collapsed in February.Everyone with this firm have been very helpful and continue providing me with updates.It has thus far been an extremely smooth transaction and I am very happy with mypurchase.I highly recommend this company if you arelooking for a steel building.
I would highly recommend SteelMaster Buildings for any of your steel building needs. From the start to the final steps SteelMaster was there to help, give any and all information, and offer their professional advice. The process was smooth, and they were very accommodating. If ever there is a time to expand our current building or build a new one, we will be using this company again!
An Answer To Every Natural Disaster Problem
There is no such thing as a “tornado-proof” or “hurricane-proof” building; however, steel Quonset huts can withstand some of the most severe tornadoes and hurricanes around.
Owners of prefabricated Quonset huts have survived disasters thanks to the unique engineering properties of arch-style buildings. While a typical building can succumb to wind or the impact of debris from hurricanes and tornadoes, the durability of Quonset huts can. As proof of this SteelMaster buildings have been tested and achieved the highest possible disaster rating for hurricanes with HVHZ certification.
Quonset Advantages:
- HVHZ Certified
- Florida Product Approved
- Up to 190 MPH winds or higher
- High steel tensile strength (82K – 65K KSI)
- Thick, commercial grade steel
“[The building] withstood all of the wind that I was told it would withstand. I would recommend one to anybody. I’m living proof that it will hold the wind.”
Sammy Allen, Florida
Blizzards & Hail
We sell buildings in the coldest of climates, even in the far northern reaches of Alaska, across the world because corrugated steel arches are simply stronger than traditional buildings. Plus they stand strong against the biggest and most intense hail storms with HVHZ impact ratings.
Our arches are created with commercial grade, high-quality steel that can be customized to accommodate extra heavy snow loads in areas that experience frequent, severe snowstorms or are concerned with hail damage, you can rely on a steel Quonset hut for protection from the elements.
Quonset Advantages:
- Commercial grade steel
- Pitched roofing options
- Rated for heavy snow loads
We have had the structure up through the first winter, with snow and wind and it has done it’s job great with no issues.”
Rebecca Z., Massachusetts
Wildfires
Every year, over a million fires occur all across the United States causing over $11.6 billion in losses, and thousands of injuries and deaths. Which is why many people choose the unmatched protection of owning a Quonset hut for fire-related disasters. Steel Quonsets are considered Type II (non-combustible) buildings giving you peace of mind should a wildfire threaten your building.
Quonset Advantages:
- Type II non-combustible building material
- Can withstand 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit
- Galvalume Plus coating
“California already requires that your entire exterior be non-combustible. All of these things happen naturally with the Quonset hut.”
Vern Sneed, Architect – Design Horizons
Earthquake
Because Quonset building walls and roof are all one piece they can better absorb seismic waves should your building be in an earthquake. Quonset hut kits’ engineering naturally makes them superior in earthquake resistance compared to buildings with separated walls and roofs.
Quonset Advantages:
- IRC Level E building
- Arch design absorbs waves
- Bolt tensile strength (76K PSI)
“[There was] not a bit of damage. The arches weren’t bent or twisted; bolts still intact. The best part—all of my husband’s tools stayed put on the shelving we built inside.”
Jana G., Alaska
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Wind Speed Ratings
Typical straight-walled buildings are especially vulnerable to the powerful winds characteristic of even the weaker storms. Winds as low as 65 – 75 MPH can cause catastrophic roof damage in traditional buildings. This is because the junctures of the walls and the edges of the roof are likely to fail and rip the roof right off of the building. This is especially true when pressure changes occur as windows are broken by flying debris.
Quonsets are challenging to remove from their foundations because it is almost impossible for strong winds to infiltrate the buildings’ overlapping joints so the wind can’t penetrate and cause destruction. This is one of the secrets to the arch’s super strength and why arched structures make very effective storm-proof buildings.
Heavy Snow Loads
Things like ground snow value, occupancy of the building, type of snow, wind exposure, roof slope, roof shape, roof obstructions, and the thermal condition of the building all need to be considered. With the average weight of a square foot of snow being 33lbs and most buildings can withstand about 20 pounds per square foot of snow if you live in an area that can accumulate almost a foot of snow you need to be aware of the risk of blizzards and overstressing a roof with the possibility of it collapsing otherwise.
Quonsets follow the snow load provisions required by the IBC as well as observing many localities and zip codes specific codes. We use the official map provided by the National Weather Service to help calculate ground snow loads and work with engineering to determine the steel building that can weather any blizzard.
Fire Resistant
Simple question: if the average house fire burns at about 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit and can spread in a matter of minutes under the right conditions and it takes almost double that amount of heat, 2,500 degrees, for steel to even begin to melt – where will your valuables be safer?
The International Building Code recognizes Quonset steel as fire-resistant and non-combustible which means our metal buildings meet the codes of every locality across the country and are considered to be both type 1 and type 2 buildings in fire codes. SteelMaster steel was exposed to heat at 1,382 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes and the maximum temperature didn’t rise beyond 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) and had a maximum loss of mass below 20%.
Impact Rated
The wind will not just rip the roof off of a traditional building but also hurdle debris at tremendous speeds causing punctures or catastrophic failure. A building made out of more traditional materials can’t provide the same protection a steel Quonset Hut, and we know because we tested it.
Unlike a typical building, Quonset Huts have been tested and are approved as Protocol 4 shelters. We propelled a 15 lb. wood 2”x4” at 100 mph for horizontal and 67 mph for vertical impacts, per FEMA protocols 320/361 and ICC-500. The tests on the .06-in. thick panel were successful for all listed impact speeds.
Seismic Wave Resistant
The weak point of any traditional building during an earthquake is the juncture between the walls and roof. When a tremor occurs, the ground moves, causing the foundation to move along with it. The roof tries to remain stationary because of inertia so by the time the roof starts to move in the direction of the foundation has been shaken, the foundation is then moving back to its original place which can lead to a complete building collapse.
When violent seismic waves ripple through a Quonset Hut, the walls and roof act as one allowing the waves to flow through, causing the least amount of damage possible. All of SteelMaster earthquake-resistant structures strictly follow the ICC’s seismic guidelines and provisions for a given geographic area.
Rapidly Deployable Emergency Relief Shelters
When a natural disaster occurs, emergency structures are important for those who have been displaced, plus medical teams responding to the area.
SteelMaster’s team of experts can assist in finding an emergency shelter building that fits your needs with a fast turnaround. Plus, our metal Quonset huts can be quickly assembled so emergency crews to get to work as soon as possible.
Our buildings are portable, making them perfect for temporary housing or medical clinic. However, they are also a great long-term solution due to their durability and low maintenance.
Quonset Disaster Certifications, HVHZ & More
If you want maximum protection from natural disasters, especially compared to traditional building types, you should choose a Quonset hut. Through years of engineering and research, SteelMaster Quonsets have disaster-resistant certifications, notably, HVHZ that provide our customers a good level of solace should a natural disaster strike.
HVHZ Certified
Primarily found in Florida but also up and down coastlines and in certain high wind areas throughout the United States, HVHZ Certification tests if a structure can stand up to both wind and impact from debris propelled through the wind in accordance with FEMA 320/361 and ICC-500 testing parameters.
Florida Product Approval (FPA)
Florida is now known as an international leader in storm preparation. Strict building codes were enacted to protect citizens from a powerful storm like Andrew. This prompted renovations of older buildings and new plans for future structures that adopt and add to top IBC standards.
Type-II Building Material
In accordance with IBC and NFPA standards, Quonset steel treated with Galvalume Plus is a Type II non-combustible building material. This means not only does it take an incredible amount of heat to damage (2,500 F) under typical building fire conditions of (around 1,500 F) it doesn’t lose mass or strength.
Seismic Design Category E
There are six seismic site classifications according to ASCE 7-05, A through F, with F being the strongest reserved for things like hospitals or emergency command centers. SteelMaster Quonsets are rated E meaning they can be next to a major fault line regardless of the soil or rock conditions.
GSA Certified
SteelMaster is GSA certified, so if you’re buying on behalf of a government agency and you need maximum protection from the elements, you can choose a SteelMaster Quonset hut.