Steel structures last a long time, but not forever without care. In Dubai, heat, humidity, salt air, and changing uses take their toll. Many warehouses and buildings in older industrial areas are decades old. Knowing when to call a steel structure specialist can prevent an expensive or dangerous failure.
Warning signs to look for
- Corrosion at column bases. Base plates and the bottom of columns are where water and dirt collect. Flaking rust and section loss here are serious.
- Rust on roof purlins and sheeting fixings, often from leaks or condensation.
- Visible deflection: sagging beams, purlins, or mezzanine floors.
- Cracks in welds or at connections.
- Loose or missing bolts and bracing.
- Vibration or bounce in mezzanines and platforms.
- Impact damage from forklifts or trucks on columns and racks.
When a change needs a specialist
Even a healthy structure needs checking when you change what it does:
- Adding heavy racking, equipment, or roof-mounted solar panels
- Adding a mezzanine or hanging services from the roof
- Removing a column or bracing to open up space
- Changing the building’s use
- Extending the building
How a structural inspection works
- Visual survey of members, connections, and coatings.
- Measurements of section loss, deflection, and alignment.
- Testing where needed, such as coating thickness or weld testing.
- Assessment by a structural engineer against current and proposed loads.
- Report with recommended repairs or strengthening.
Common repairs and strengthening methods
- Cleaning and recoating where corrosion is only on the surface
- Plating: welding or bolting plates to restore lost section
- Replacing members that are too far gone, such as purlins or bracing
- New base plates and column base repairs
- Adding members, such as extra beams, columns, or bracing, for new loads
- Impact protection: bollards and column guards in warehouses
Repairs to primary structure should follow an engineer’s design and may need authority approval.
Prevention is cheaper
- Fix roof leaks quickly
- Keep column bases clean and dry
- Touch up damaged paint
- Protect columns from forklift impact
- Have older structures inspected periodically
A steel structure specialist near you
DPSC repairs, strengthens, and modifies steel structures across Dubai, working with structural engineers where design is needed. Being based in Al Quoz, we reach most industrial areas quickly, including Ras Al Khor and Jebel Ali. See our structural steel service or book a site visit.
Need steel fabricated in Dubai? DPSC designs, fabricates, and erects structural steel from our Al Quoz workshop. Send your drawings for a quote or call +971 56 889 7671.
