During the last two decades, metal building systems have become an important part of the building construction industry. Today, almost 50% of the low-rise non-residential buildings under 150,000 square feet constructed in the United States, are metal building systems. Low-rise non-residential buildings include, one to two story, manufacturing, commercial, community and agriculture buildings. Historically, metal buildings were typically found only in industrial parks and agricultural areas, but with recent advances in materials, architectural treatments and design methods, they are now evident almost everywhere in the community. (jes)