Metal building manufacturers usually offer multiple sales channels: through general contractors, dedicated metal building brokers, or straight to the consumer. Depending on how you approach your building project, you may or may not be choosing a metal building manufacturer directly.

One of the most important aspects of a metal building manufacturer to investigate is how seriously they approach building to code in your area. Every state has different building codes that will apply to your project. These will include things like snow load and wind load: how much of either your metal building must be able to stand up to. If you’re building a church or emergency vehicle garage, extra “importance factors” may apply that require push the code requirements even higher. Other legal requirements include local zoning laws, drainage requirements, and more.

Reputable metal building manufacturers won’t want to sell you substandard buildings, so they often maintain databases of current building codes nationwide. Most won’t even ship you a building that doesn’t meet basic codes in your area. However, you shouldn’t depend solely on their information.

While metal building manufacturers can often help you research these codes, the ultimate responsibility for meeting them is yours. The best way to proceed is to have the manufacturer list the codes your metal building is designed to meet in your contract, then verify those figures with your local officials before you sign anything. A supplier who wants you to sign a contract before you verify the specs independently isn't someone you should do business with. Make sure to carefully review the services of each metal building dealer before you work with one.