CBC Steel Structure Warehouse Design For Cebu, Philippines (Irregular Shape)

CBC Steel Structure Warehouse Design for Cebu, Philippines (Irregular Shape) - Q&A with Material List and Market Analysis

This is a design of an irregular steel structure warehouse using the CBC steel structure building system for a Cebu, Philippines client. It includes structural design analysis, detailed material lists and consumption for two types of cladding materials, and an analysis of the applicability of the design in different Philippine markets.

1. General Design Overview

 

A1: The warehouse adopts the CBC steel structure building system and features an irregular trapezoidal plane. Its key parameters are as follows: South width is 27.5 meters, north width is 32.6 meters, and total length is 34.5 meters. The steel column spacing is arranged as 8.4m + 8.4m + 8.4m + 9.2m = 34.5m (total length). A 4-meter-high mezzanine is set in the southernmost 8.4m section as an office. The clear height of the warehouse is 8 meters, the ridge is equipped with wind louvers, and the ridge height is 12.8 meters.

 

 

A2: The CBC (Customized Building Company) steel structure building system is a lightweight, high-strength, and efficient structural system that integrates steel columns, composite beams, and lightweight cladding materials. It is characterized by strong load-bearing capacity, good seismic performance, fast construction speed, and high space utilization. It is selected for this design mainly due to three reasons:

First, it can effectively adapt to the irregular trapezoidal plane of the warehouse (south width 27.5m, north width 32.6m) by flexibly adjusting the connection nodes of steel columns and beams;

Second, it can meet the load-bearing requirements of the 4-meter-high mezzanine office in the southern section;

Third, its lightweight characteristics can reduce the foundation cost, which is suitable for the construction conditions in Cebu, Philippines.

In addition, the CBC system has good compatibility with various cladding materials (color steel single sheet and 50mm EPS sandwich panel), which can meet the different needs of the client.

2. Structural Design Analysis

 

A3: For the irregular trapezoidal plane (south width 27.5m, north width 32.6m), the following measures are adopted in the structural design to ensure structural stability:

First, the steel columns are arranged along the length direction (34.5m) according to the spacing of 8.4m + 8.4m + 8.4m + 9.2m, and the column feet are designed as fixed supports to enhance the lateral stiffness of the structure.

Second, the beam-column connection nodes adopt rigid connections (CBC system's core node design), which can effectively transfer bending moment and shear force, and coordinate the deformation of the irregular plane.

Third, horizontal bracings are set in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the warehouse: longitudinal bracings are arranged at both ends of the warehouse (south and north sides) and between the middle steel columns to resist longitudinal wind load and seismic force; transverse bracings are arranged in each span to solve the problem of uneven stress caused by the trapezoidal plane.

Fourth, the roof truss is designed as a sloped truss (ridge height 12.8m, warehouse clear height 8m), and the truss spacing is consistent with the steel column spacing, which not only ensures the drainage of the roof but also balances the stress of the irregular plane.

 

 

A4: The mezzanine office is set in the southernmost 8.4m span, with a height of 4 meters (from the ground to the mezzanine floor). The structural design of the mezzanine is integrated with the CBC steel structure system:

First, the steel columns in this span are extended upward to 4 meters to support the mezzanine beam, and the column section is slightly increased (compared with other spans) to bear the additional load of the mezzanine.

Second, the mezzanine beam adopts composite beams (CBC customized beams), which are composed of steel beams and concrete slabs. The steel beam is connected with the steel column through rigid nodes, and the concrete slab is cast on the steel beam to improve the bearing capacity and stiffness of the mezzanine.

Third, the mezzanine floor is paved with concrete slabs (thickness 120mm), which can meet the office use requirements (load-bearing capacity ≥ 2.5kN/m²).

Fourth, the railing is set around the mezzanine (height 1.1m), and the railing is made of steel pipes, which is connected with the mezzanine beam to ensure safety.

In addition, the mezzanine is separated from the warehouse area by light steel partitions (consistent with the cladding material selected by the client), which ensures the independence of the office and does not affect the use of the warehouse.

 

A5: The wind louvers are set on the ridge of the warehouse (ridge height 12.8m), with a length consistent with the total length of the warehouse (34.5m) and a width of 1.2m. The main functions of the wind louvers are ventilation and heat dissipation of the warehouse. The structural design of the wind louvers is as follows:

First, the frame of the wind louvers is made of steel profiles (angle steel and channel steel), which are connected with the roof truss through welding and bolts to ensure firm connection.

Second, the louvers are made of aluminum alloy (corrosion-resistant, suitable for the marine climate in Cebu), and the louvers are installed on the steel frame with hinges to facilitate opening and closing.

Third, the wind load resistance design of the wind louvers is strengthened: considering the frequent typhoons in the Philippines, the wind load of the wind louvers is calculated according to the local wind load standard (Philippine National Building Code, PNBC), and the steel frame section is optimized to ensure that the wind louvers can resist the maximum wind speed in Cebu (up to 250km/h).

Fourth, waterproof measures are taken at the connection between the wind louvers and the roof: waterproof sealant is filled between the steel frame of the wind louvers and the roof cladding, and a waterproof apron is added to prevent rainwater leakage.

 

 

A6: Combined with the location of Cebu, Philippines (maritime climate, frequent typhoons, moderate seismic activity) and the use of the warehouse, the following load calculations are considered in the structural design:

1. Dead load: including the weight of steel structure components (columns, beams, trusses), cladding materials, mezzanine floor, wind louvers, and other permanent loads;

2. Live load: including the live load of the warehouse floor (≥ 5kN/m², suitable for general goods storage), the live load of the mezzanine office (≥ 2.5kN/m²), and the live load of the roof (≥ 0.5kN/m²);

3. Wind load: according to PNBC, the basic wind pressure in Cebu is 0.7kPa, and the wind load is calculated according to the height of the structure (ridge height 12.8m, warehouse height 8m) and the irregular plane, and wind-resistant measures (bracings, rigid nodes) are taken to ensure structural stability;

4. Seismic load: Cebu is located in a moderate seismic zone, the seismic intensity is designed according to 7 degrees, and the CBC steel structure system's good ductility and seismic performance are used to reduce the impact of earthquakes;

5. Other loads: including the snow load (negligible in Cebu, Philippines) and the wind load of the wind louvers.

 

 

A7: Combined with the load calculation and structural layout, the section designs of the main steel components are as follows:

1. Steel columns: H-shaped steel columns are adopted, and the section size is adjusted according to the span and load: the column section in the mezzanine span (southernmost 8.4m) is H350×175×7×11 (to bear the mezzanine load), and the column section in other spans is H300×150×6×10; the column height is 8m (warehouse height), and the column feet are fixed supports.

2. Steel beams: CBC customized beams are adopted, and the section size is H300×150×6×10 (span 8.4m) and H350×175×7×11 (span 9.2m); the beams are connected with the columns through rigid nodes, and the mezzanine beams are connected with the columns and the warehouse beams to form a stable frame system.

3. Roof trusses: Triangular steel trusses are adopted, with a span consistent with the steel column spacing (8.4m and 9.2m), and the truss height is 2.8m (from the top of the column to the ridge); the truss members are made of angle steel (L140×90×10, L125×80×8) and channel steel (C160×63×6), and the truss nodes are connected by welding to ensure the load-bearing capacity of the roof.

3. Material List and Consumption (Two Types of Cladding Materials)

 

A8: The color steel single sheets (thickness 0.6mm, color: white for roof, gray for wall) are used as roof and wall cladding materials, and the detailed material list and consumption are shown in the following table (excluding steel structure main components, only cladding materials and accessories):

Material Name	Specification	Application Position	Consumption Calculation Basis	Total Consumption	Unit
Color Steel Single Sheet	0.6mm, width 1000mm, wave height 35mm	Roof (excluding wind louvers)	Roof area = trapezoidal area = (south width + north width) × total length / 2 = (27.5 + 32.6) × 34.5 / 2 ≈ 1036.95 ㎡; add 5% loss for cutting and installation	1088.80	㎡
Color Steel Single Sheet	0.6mm, width 1000mm, wave height 35mm	Warehouse Wall (excluding mezzanine wall)	Wall area = (south wall area + north wall area + east wall area + west wall area) - door and window area; south wall: 27.5m × 8m = 220 ㎡; north wall: 32.6m × 8m = 260.8 ㎡; east/west wall: average width (27.5+32.6)/2 × 8m = 240.4 ㎡ each, total 480.8 ㎡; door/window: 40 ㎡ (assumed); total wall area: 220+260.8+480.8-40=921.6 ㎡; add 5% loss	967.68	㎡
Color Steel Single Sheet	0.6mm, width 1000mm, wave height 25mm	Mezzanine Office Wall	Mezzanine wall area: 8.4m × 4m × 2 (east/west) + 27.5m × 4m (south) - 15 ㎡ (office door/window, assumed) = 67.2 + 110 - 15 = 162.2 ㎡; add 5% loss	170.31	㎡
Color Steel Single Sheet	0.6mm, width 1000mm, wave height 25mm	Mezzanine Office Ceiling	Ceiling area = 8.4m × 27.5m = 231 ㎡; add 5% loss	242.55	㎡
Steel Purlin	C140×60×2.5	Roof Purlin	Purlin spacing 1.2m; total length of roof purlins = (number of purlins × span length); number of purlins = total roof length / purlin spacing + 1 = 34.5 / 1.2 + 1 ≈ 30; span length average (27.5+32.6)/2 ≈ 30.05m; total length: 30 × 30.05 = 901.5m; add 3% loss	928.55	m
Steel Purlin	C120×50×2.5	Wall Purlin	Purlin spacing 1.5m; total length of wall purlins = (south wall + north wall + east wall + west wall) × (height / purlin spacing + 1); south wall: 27.5 × (8/1.5 + 1) ≈ 27.5×6.33≈174.08m; north wall: 32.6×6.33≈206.36m; east/west wall: 34.5×6.33≈218.39m each, total 436.78m; total length: 174.08+206.36+436.78≈817.22m; add 3% loss	841.74	m
Waterproof Sealant	Neutral silicone, black	Roof, wall, wind louvers joints	Based on joint length: total joint length ≈ 1200m; consumption 0.1kg/m	120.00	kg
Self-tapping Screw	M5×25, galvanized	Fix color steel sheet to purlin	Consumption 8 pieces/㎡; total cladding area ≈ 1088.8+967.68+170.31+242.55≈2469.34 ㎡; total pieces: 2469.34×8≈19754.72; add 5% loss	20742.46	piece
Aluminum Alloy Louver	Thickness 1.0mm, width 100mm	Ridge Wind Louvers	Wind louvers area = 34.5m × 1.2m = 41.4 ㎡; add 5% loss	43.47	㎡
Steel Frame for Wind Louvers	Angle Steel L50×50×5, Channel Steel C100×50×5	Ridge Wind Louvers Frame	Frame length = 34.5m (longitudinal) × 2 + 1.2m (transverse) × 30 (spacing 1.2m) = 69 + 36 = 105m; add 3% loss	108.15	m
Door and Window	Steel Door (3m×2.5m), Aluminum Alloy Window (1.5m×1.2m)	Warehouse and Office	Warehouse: 2 steel doors, 4 aluminum alloy windows; Office: 1 steel door, 3 aluminum alloy windows	Doors:3, Windows:7	piece

 

A9: The 50mm EPS sandwich panels (thickness 50mm, color: white for roof, gray for wall; surface color steel sheet thickness 0.5mm, core material density 18kg/m³) are used as roof and wall cladding materials, and the detailed material list and consumption are shown in the following table (excluding steel structure main components, only cladding materials and accessories):

Material Name	Specification	Application Position	Consumption Calculation Basis	Total Consumption	Unit
50mm EPS Sandwich Panel	Total thickness 50mm, surface color steel 0.5mm, core density 18kg/m³, width 1000mm	Roof (excluding wind louvers)	Same as color steel single sheet: roof area ≈ 1036.95 ㎡; add 5% loss for cutting and installation	1088.80	㎡
50mm EPS Sandwich Panel	Total thickness 50mm, surface color steel 0.5mm, core density 18kg/m³, width 1000mm	Warehouse Wall (excluding mezzanine wall)	Same as color steel single sheet: wall area ≈ 921.6 ㎡; add 5% loss	967.68	㎡
50mm EPS Sandwich Panel	Total thickness 50mm, surface color steel 0.5mm, core density 18kg/m³, width 1000mm	Mezzanine Office Wall	Same as color steel single sheet: mezzanine wall area ≈ 162.2 ㎡; add 5% loss	170.31	㎡
50mm EPS Sandwich Panel	Total thickness 50mm, surface color steel 0.5mm, core density 18kg/m³, width 1000mm	Mezzanine Office Ceiling	Same as color steel single sheet: ceiling area = 231 ㎡; add 5% loss	242.55	㎡
Steel Purlin	C160×70×3.0	Roof Purlin	EPS sandwich panel is heavier than color steel single sheet; purlin spacing 1.0m; number of purlins = 34.5 / 1.0 + 1 = 35.5 ≈ 36; span length average 30.05m; total length: 36 × 30.05 = 1081.8m; add 3% loss	1114.25	m
Steel Purlin	C140×60×3.0	Wall Purlin	Purlin spacing 1.2m; total length of wall purlins = (south wall + north wall + east wall + west wall) × (height / purlin spacing + 1); south wall: 27.5 × (8/1.2 + 1) ≈ 174.08m; north wall: 32.6×6.33≈206.36m; east/west wall: 34.5×6.33≈218.39m each, total 436.78m; total length: 817.22m; add 3% loss	841.74	m
Waterproof Sealant	Neutral silicone, black	Roof, wall, wind louvers joints	Same as color steel single sheet: total joint length ≈ 1200m; consumption 0.15kg/m (EPS panel joints need more sealant)	180.00	kg
Self-tapping Screw	M5×35, galvanized (with waterproof gasket)	Fix EPS sandwich panel to purlin	Consumption 10 pieces/㎡; total cladding area ≈ 2469.34 ㎡; total pieces: 2469.34×10≈24693.4; add 5% loss	25928.07	piece
Aluminum Alloy Louver	Thickness 1.0mm, width 100mm	Ridge Wind Louvers	Same as color steel single sheet: wind louvers area ≈ 41.4 ㎡; add 5% loss	43.47	㎡
Steel Frame for Wind Louvers	Angle Steel L50×50×5, Channel Steel C100×50×5	Ridge Wind Louvers Frame	Same as color steel single sheet: frame length ≈ 105m; add 3% loss	108.15	m
Door and Window	Steel Door (3m×2.5m), Aluminum Alloy Window (1.5m×1.2m)	Warehouse and Office	Same as color steel single sheet: Warehouse: 2 steel doors, 4 aluminum alloy windows; Office: 1 steel door, 3 aluminum alloy windows	Doors:3, Windows:7	piece
EPS Panel Connector	Aluminum alloy, length 1000mm	EPS sandwich panel joints	Consumption 1m/㎡; total cladding area ≈ 2469.34 ㎡; add 5% loss	2592.81	m

4. Philippine Market Differences and Design Applicability

 

A10: The main differences between Manila, Davao, and Cebu in steel structure warehouse construction are reflected in four aspects:

1. Climate and environmental conditions: Manila is located in the northern part of the Philippines, with frequent typhoons (basic wind pressure 0.8kPa) and high temperature and humidity; Cebu is located in the central Visayas region, with a marine climate, moderate typhoon intensity (basic wind pressure 0.7kPa), and relatively balanced temperature and humidity; Davao is located in the southern part of the Philippines, with few typhoons (basic wind pressure 0.6kPa), high temperature, and high rainfall.

2. Construction specifications and requirements: Manila, as the capital, has stricter building code requirements (strictly implementing PNBC 2015), higher requirements for structural safety (especially wind resistance and seismic resistance), and stricter environmental protection requirements for cladding materials; Cebu and Davao have relatively loose specifications, but Cebu, as a major port city, has higher requirements for warehouse durability (corrosion resistance) due to the marine climate; Davao has lower requirements for wind resistance but higher requirements for heat insulation of warehouses due to high temperature.

3. Market demand and application scenarios: Manila has a large demand for high-standard warehouses (such as logistics centers, cold storage), and the warehouse scale is generally large, requiring high space utilization and supporting facilities; Cebu's warehouse demand is mainly for port-related storage (such as goods transshipment, raw material storage), with moderate scale and high requirements for structural adaptability (irregular shape is common); Davao's warehouse demand is mainly for agricultural and mining product storage, with small to medium scale and emphasis on cost control.

4. Construction cost and material supply: Manila has high construction costs (labor, materials, land), and the supply of high-quality steel and cladding materials is sufficient; Cebu's construction cost is moderate, and the supply of common steel and cladding materials is sufficient, but high-end materials need to be imported from Manila; Davao's construction cost is the lowest, but the material supply is limited, and most materials need to be transported from other regions, resulting in longer construction cycles.

 

A11: The designed irregular steel structure warehouse is highly applicable to Cebu, and its applicability in Manila and Davao is as follows:

1. Applicability in Cebu: The design is fully adapted to Cebu's market characteristics and construction conditions:

First, the CBC steel structure system's flexible node design can effectively adapt to the irregular trapezoidal plane of the warehouse, which is consistent with Cebu's port-related warehouse demand (irregular shape is common due to land constraints);

Second, the wind load design (0.7kPa) is consistent with Cebu's basic wind pressure, and the wind-resistant measures (bracings, rigid nodes, wind louvers) can resist local typhoons;

Third, the two optional cladding materials (color steel single sheet and 50mm EPS sandwich panel) can meet different cost and functional needs of Cebu clients: color steel single sheet is suitable for clients with strict cost control, and 50mm EPS sandwich panel is suitable for clients with heat insulation needs (Cebu's high temperature);

Fourth, the mezzanine office design integrates office and storage functions, improving space utilization, which is suitable for small and medium-sized warehouses in Cebu;

Fifth, the CBC system's fast construction speed can adapt to Cebu's port construction schedule requirements.

 

2. Applicability in Manila: The design is basically applicable to Manila, but needs to be optimized:

First, the wind load design needs to be increased to 0.8kPa to meet Manila's stricter typhoon resistance requirements;

Second, the steel component section needs to be slightly increased to meet Manila's higher structural safety standards;

Third, the cladding materials need to meet Manila's environmental protection requirements (such as using environmentally friendly EPS core material);

Fourth, the mezzanine office can be expanded according to Manila's logistics center demand (increasing the mezzanine area). After optimization, it can be used for Manila's medium-sized logistics warehouses.

 

3. Applicability in Davao: The design is highly applicable to Davao, and the cost can be reduced:

First, Davao has few typhoons, so the wind-resistant measures can be simplified (reducing the number of bracings), and the steel component section can be reduced to reduce cost;

Second, Davao's high temperature requires better heat insulation, so 50mm EPS sandwich panel is more suitable as cladding material;

Third, Davao's warehouse demand is mainly for agricultural and mining product storage, so the mezzanine office can be simplified (reducing the mezzanine area) to save cost;

Fourth, the CBC system's lightweight characteristics can reduce the foundation cost, which is suitable for Davao's construction conditions (limited foundation construction capacity). After cost optimization, it is very suitable for Davao's small and medium-sized agricultural and mining warehouses.

 

A12: Compared with traditional steel structure warehouses in the Philippine market, the designed warehouse has four obvious advantages:

1. Strong adaptability to irregular planes: The CBC steel structure system's flexible node design can effectively solve the problem of uneven stress in irregular trapezoidal warehouses, which is more suitable for the Philippine market (land constraints often lead to irregular warehouse shapes) than traditional steel structure warehouses (poor adaptability to irregular planes).

2. Balanced cost and performance: The two optional cladding materials can meet different client needs, and the CBC system's lightweight characteristics reduce the foundation and material costs, which is more in line with the Philippine market's pursuit of cost-effectiveness.

3. Integrated functions: The mezzanine office design integrates office and storage functions, improving space utilization, avoiding the need for separate office buildings, and reducing overall investment, which is suitable for small and medium-sized clients in the Philippines.

4. Good durability and adaptability to local climate: The steel components are galvanized (anti-corrosion, suitable for the marine climate in Cebu and Manila) and the wind louvers are made of aluminum alloy (anti-corrosion), which can extend the service life of the warehouse; the 50mm EPS sandwich panel has good heat insulation performance, which is suitable for the high-temperature climate in the Philippines.

In addition, the fast construction speed of the CBC system can shorten the construction cycle, which is conducive to clients putting the warehouse into use as soon as possible.