In the 1960s, the term "prefabricated metal building" first entered the lexicon, as it referred to the new generation of steel buildings. It was based on standard engineering designs that were applied to a small number of "cookie-cutter" buildings with limited size and shape selection.

Why did this period of steel building undergo such important changes? New technology was available to widen the "clear-span" (no interior support column) capacity of the steel buildings. At the end of the 1940s, the initial metal rigid frame buildings could only expand a maximum of 40 feet. This expanded to 70 feet over the next few years.

At the end of the 1950s, 100-foot clear span capabilities were possible. Also, around this same time, ribbed panels were produced that were very attractive when compared to the metal corrugations used in the past. To make the metal building industry even more vibrant and progressive, colored panels were also introduced, along with cold formed Z purlins of high strength steel; these would become an important industry standard in today's construction processes.

The 1960s also saw the introduction of factory insulated steel panels and the appearance of a UL-approved metal roof.

The technology boom continued in the 60s with the advent of the first computer-design generated steel buildings. Computerization of the many design features allowed for a virtually limitless store of size and shape possibilities for general steel building projects.

The use of the term "pre-fabricated" has been previously applied to a steel building that was limited to certain non-deviating designs. With the introduction of present day custom steel building designs that fit the individual needs of the customer, the term "pre-fabricated metal building" actually became applicable to the processes applied to each individual order and not to the previous standard of confined design and size selections.

Overall, the steel building system is made up of the basic components of walls, roof, framing, bracing, and its foundation all working together to solidify and secure the structure. Inherent in this system is the specific engineering that allows all building components to participate in resistance to the elements and provide a safe and secure interior working or storage environment.

This is truly a functioning integrated system and defines the state-of-the-art in residential and commercial metal building technology today.