Anyone Framed a Pole Barn with Steel Pipe?

[Eagleview]

Strength is not in weight , but in fabrication . There is nothing wrong with using pipe for the portal frame as long as you incorperate common sense . If you add a horizontal pipe too your trusses and maybe an upright or two , your truss will be very strong and not be able to spread or sag . As for the uprights i would upsize or using the pipe you have fabricate a webbed column using the zig zag design using small tube or round bar for the web . Before fitting the cladding add X braces/straps between the columns where there are no doors to finish off the design . The cladding will do the rest .

 

[mocassincreekranch]

I built a 40x60x16 barn using 2 3/8 heavy gauge drillstem pipe for the post and the trusses. I used the 2 3/8 fence rail brackets to hold the 2x6 boards to screw my metal to. Used these for the side's and used 2x4s and the brackets for the roof truss lathing. I have support poles in the center at the 20ft centerline. Welded 2 pipes together for the post. Have to slip the brackets on before you weld everything up or you cant slip them on. This has been up for 10yrs and has held up through wind,hail,and rain. Using heavy wall drillstem pipe is the only pipe I would build with. Welded studs on the post before I poured the floor,which was poured after barn was finished. The post on the outside walls are on 6ft centers. The trusses are also on 6ft centers setting over all the post. Only have 2 post in the centerline of the barn with 4in pipe spanning between these post,that the trusses set on. Have 2-12 ft doors on both ends.

 

[cdhd2001]

I built a 40x60x16 barn using 2 3/8 heavy gauge drillstem pipe for the post and the trusses. I used the 2 3/8 fence rail brackets to hold the 2x6 boards to screw my metal to. Used these for the side's and used 2x4s and the brackets for the roof truss lathing. I have support poles in the center at the 20ft centerline. Welded 2 pipes together for the post. Have to slip the brackets on before you weld everything up or you cant slip them on. This has been up for 10yrs and has held up through wind,hail,and rain. Using heavy wall drillstem pipe is the only pipe I would build with. Welded studs on the post before I poured the floor,which was poured after barn was finished. The post on the outside walls are on 6ft centers. The trusses are also on 6ft centers setting over all the post. Only have 2 post in the centerline of the barn with 4in pipe spanning between these post,that the trusses set on. Have 2-12 ft doors on both ends.

Do you have any pictures you can post?

 

[davkir]

Maybe this isn't what you're talking about, but there are companies that make pipe barn kits.

 

[mocassincreekranch]

Do you have any pictures you can post?

I have insulated the side walls and put up OSB board and put a suspended ceiling in with lights. Pictures would not show the framing or trusses,its all covered up. If you have any question I will be glad to help. Sorry about not taking any picture's,its was built before I joined here and I know everybody loves picture's.

 

[Bill Barrett]

I went to this company, they build with 18 ga, galvanized sheet metal formed in a brake to make light gage beams. I little truss work you can make anything.
http://www.sullivanbuildingsystems.com/commercialbldgsystems.htm
Heck new commercial buildings are just metal studs, glue and drywall, ever look and feel a metal stud?