STEELMASTER® BUILDINGS WITHSTAND THREE HURRICANES

Recent Hurricanes in Florida puts Steel Building Manufacturer through Test of Strength
Virginia Beach, VA – September 21, 2004

SteelMaster® Buildings, the manufacturer of functional steel buildings, recently proved that they manufacture “one of the strongest steel buildings on the market.” Several SteelMaster buildings survived the recent hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan that made landfall along the Florida Coast.

Hurricane Charley, a category 4 hurricane, had 145 mph winds when it made landfall in Punta Gorda on the West Coast of Florida August 13, 2004. Withstanding the battering rain and winds of that magnitude is proof to the strength of SteelMaster buildings. While other structures in Florida were victim to the intense winds that blew steady for hours, several SteelMaster buildings weathered the storms unharmed.

“Our SteelMaster made it through Charley with flying colors,” said Scott Rambo, a Punta Gorda resident and SteelMaster customer. “Our building made it through a category 4 hurricane without even a wrinkle in the panels.”

The Rambo’s use their SteelMaster to rebuild cars. Protection of personal property is a high concern among SteelMaster customers. Withstanding a category 4 hurricane with 145 mph winds is proof of the durability and engineering that makes a SteelMaster building. “A lighter gauge flat roofed building down the street from ours had a collapsed roof, I would recommend SteelMaster to anyone looking for a building,” said Rambo.

Less than a month after Charley, Hurricane Frances set its sites on Florida. Frances, a Category 2 hurricane with a 105 mph wind speed was weaker than Charley but was a lot larger. Frances was roughly the size of Texas, engulfing the entire state of Florida when it made landfall around the Palm Beach area on September 5, 2004.

NASA has several SteelMaster buildings at the Kennedy Space Center in Canaveral Florida, just north of where the eye of Hurricane Frances made landfall, that store shuttle sensitive materials; the largest building being 100-feet wide by 40-feet high by 200- feet long. “Buildings of this size have to be designed very specific and carefully,” said Pope Woodard, a Senior Design Specialist at SteelMaster. “NASA has some of the strictest requirements on what they can and can not build. When a building is used to store equipment crucial to the launch of a Space Shuttle you have to be able to rely on the materials.”

The SteelMaster buildings used by NASA have survived three hurricanes this year as well as Hurricane Floyd back in 1999. “We were confident that our buildings would survive the hurricanes, they are rated for 150 mph wind loads. However, we were a little nervous about three major storms over the course of one month. When we got word that they made it we were relieved, but we knew they would,” said SteelMaster Senior Design Specialist Troy Cupp.

To ensure the strength of each building sold, SteelMaster engineers them to the highest of standards. By employing a talented and conservative engineering staff, each SteelMaster building will exceed the local and state building code requirements for the area the building is going to be constructed. “Customers trust us to provide them with protection of their possessions and livelihood. We pride ourselves in manufacturing some of the best steel buildings on the market,” said Rhae Adams, President of SteelMaster Buildings. “It is unfortunate that it takes a natural disaster like Charley to realize that there is always a danger of the elements ruining everything you have. Our hearts and prayers are with those in Florida.”

August and September are the peak months of hurricane season in the North Atlantic Basin. Extra attention is placed on protecting personal property during this time of year. No one can predict the course of a hurricane, however, it pays to be prepared if you happen to lie in the path of a dangerous and destructive tropical cyclone. The Rambo’s and others who weathered Charley is confirmation to the importance of protecting your property with a SteelMaster building.

About SteelMaster® Buildings
Founded in 1979, SteelMaster® Buildings is the leading manufacturer of clear span building kits and roofing systems for farm, industry and home. SteelMaster, utilizing the highest grade steel with a Galvalume PlusTM coating, has delivered over 30,000 professionally engineered buildings on six continents over the last 25 years. For further information or questions regarding the SteelMaster brand of building kits, please visit SteelMaster on the web at www.SteelMasterUSA.com.