The building permit is where many self storage schedules slip. A site can be cleared, the financing closed, and the contractor ready to mobilize, while the permit sits in review waiting on the structural package. That package, the structural drawings and the structural calculations behind them, is what the building department reads to decide whether the building will stand up. This guide from Metal Engineers LLC, a structural engineering firm for steel buildings and multi-story self storage, explains what structural calculations and drawings are, what goes into a self storage permit submittal, and what keeps review moving.
What Structural Calculations Are
Structural calculations are the engineer's documented analysis of the building. They show the loads the structure has to carry, how those loads travel through the beams, columns, and connections to the foundations, and that each part is sized to carry them. On a self storage building, the calculations typically cover:
Design loads. The building's own weight, stored contents and foot traffic on each floor, roof loads, wind, and seismic forces where they apply.
Floor and roof framing. The sizing of beams, joists, decks, and slabs on every level.
Columns. The load each column carries from the floors and roof above.
The lateral system. The bracing, frames, or walls that keep the building stable against wind and other sideways forces.
Foundations. Footing and slab design based on the site's geotechnical report.
The calculations are not usually something the owner reads. They are what lets a plan reviewer confirm the drawings are backed by engineering.
What Structural Drawings Show
Structural drawings turn the calculations into instructions a contractor can build from. A typical structural set for self storage includes general notes listing the design loads and code basis, foundation plans and details, framing plans for each floor and the roof, sections and connection details, and the lateral system layout. On a multi-story building, the set also covers elevated floor framing and the openings for elevators and stairs.
The drawings are sealed by a structural engineer licensed in the state where the building is located. Metal Engineers LLC is registered in 34 states, including Georgia, Florida, and Texas.
Self Storage Building Plans With a Pre-Engineered Metal Building
When a self storage building uses a pre-engineered metal building, the structural package usually comes in two parts. The manufacturer supplies drawings and calculations for its building system. The project structural engineer supplies the foundations and anything outside the manufacturer's package, such as elevated floors, mezzanines, and connections to other structures.
Both parts go to the building department, and they have to agree. The foundation design has to match the forces the manufacturer's frames put on it. The guide to pre-engineered steel buildings for self storage covers how that split works.
Structural Drawings on Multi-Story Self Storage
A multi-story self storage building carries a larger structural package than a single-story one. Every elevated floor needs its own framing plan, the elevator and stair openings need framing details, and the columns and foundations carry the combined load of every level above. The lateral system also has more to do as the building gets taller. More sheets and more calculations mean more for a reviewer to check, which makes coordination between the structural and architectural drawings even more important on vertical projects.
Why Self Storage Permits Get Held Up
Plan review comments on the structural package usually come from a handful of causes:
Missing pieces. An elevated floor, stair, or mezzanine that no one designed, or a foundation that is not shown.
Mismatched documents. Manufacturer drawings and project drawings that disagree on loads or foundation reactions.
Wrong code basis. Design loads or code editions that do not match what the local building department has adopted.
Unclear design loads. General notes that do not state the floor, roof, and wind loads the reviewer needs to check.
Coordination gaps. Structural drawings that do not match the architectural layout, such as columns in the wrong place or door openings that were never framed.
Each round of comments adds time. A complete, coordinated structural package is the most reliable way to keep the permit on schedule.
What Keeps Structural Review Moving
Start the structure early. Settling the framing system and column grid alongside the unit layout avoids redesign late in the process. The guide to what a self storage structural engineer does walks through those stages.
Get the geotechnical report in hand. Foundation design depends on it, and a missing report holds up the whole set.
Assign every piece. Decide at the start who designs the foundations, elevated floors, stairs, and any structure outside a manufacturer's package.
Answer comments completely. A full response to each review comment avoids another round.
Working With Metal Engineers LLC
Metal Engineers LLC provides structural engineering for steel buildings and self storage, with multi-story self storage as its lead service. The firm's licensed structural engineers each bring 12 to 27 years of experience. Based in Georgia, Metal Engineers LLC is registered in 34 states.
Metal Engineers LLC designs the structure; construction is handled by the developer's chosen contractor. To talk through a project, contact Metal Engineers LLC or see recent projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are structural calculations?
Structural calculations are the engineer's documented analysis showing the loads on a building and that each beam, column, connection, and foundation is sized to carry them. They accompany the structural drawings in a permit submittal.
Who prepares structural drawings for a self storage building?
A structural engineer licensed in the state where the building is located. When a pre-engineered metal building is used, the manufacturer prepares drawings for its system and the project structural engineer prepares the rest.
Do I need structural calculations for a building permit?
Building departments commonly require structural calculations with the structural drawings for a commercial building like a self storage facility. Requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Why was my self storage permit sent back with structural comments?
The most common causes are missing elements, drawings that disagree with each other, an outdated code basis, or design loads that are not clearly stated. A complete response to each comment usually resolves it.
Can Metal Engineers LLC prepare drawings for projects outside Georgia?
Yes. Metal Engineers LLC is registered in 34 states. Contact the firm to confirm a specific project location.