Clear Span Framing Systems for Warehouses, Hangars & Industrial Facilities
At Kammerer Dynamics, we design and fabricate custom clear span framing systems built for the structural demands of industrial, commercial, and specialty building construction. As a third-generation, family-owned metal fabricator based in Kendallville, Indiana, we've delivered precision-fabricated structural steel framing components to manufacturers, warehouse builders, OEM operations, and construction projects across the country.
A clear span framing system is specifically engineered to eliminate all interior columns across the full width of a building—delivering completely unobstructed floor space from wall to wall. That makes it the framing solution of choice for applications where interior columns simply aren't an option: aircraft hangars, arenas, large-format distribution centers, and industrial facilities where overhead equipment, wide machinery, or unrestricted operational clearance is a hard requirement. Our clear span steel framing components are custom-fabricated to your engineering specifications and built for long-term structural performance.
Explore our full line of steel building framing systems, or keep reading to learn how a clear span framing system can work for your project.
What Is a Clear Span Framing System?
A clear span framing system is a structural steel framing configuration engineered to carry all loads across the full building width without any interior support columns. Primary structural members—typically deeper or heavier than those used in standard rigid frame configurations—span the entire building from eave to eave, delivering a completely unobstructed interior from floor to roof peak.
Key advantages of clear span steel building systems include:
- Fully Unobstructed Interior – No interior columns across the full building width, maximizing usable floor space and operational flexibility
- Unrestricted Equipment Clearance – Ideal for overhead cranes, wide aircraft, large machinery, and any application where column placement would create interference
- Maximum Layout Flexibility – Column-free interiors allow floor plans, equipment placement, and workflows to be configured and reconfigured without structural constraints
- Structural Efficiency – Primary members are engineered to the exact span and load conditions of your building, optimizing steel usage across the full width
- Long-Term Durability – Steel clear span frames are engineered for decades of structural performance under demanding industrial and commercial loading conditions
Clear span framing systems are the preferred structural choice for applications where unobstructed interior space is a non-negotiable operational requirement—delivering the widest possible open span without compromise.
Built for Maximum Clear Span. Engineered for Your Project
When you partner with Kammerer Dynamics, you're not getting a standard structural package adapted to fit your building—you're getting clear span framing components engineered specifically around your required span, your load conditions, and your project specifications. Our in-house fabrication capabilities mean we handle the full scope—from design drawings to finished structural members—under one roof.
Our capabilities include:
- Laser cutting and CNC plasma cutting for precision structural components
- MIG, TIG, and robotic welding for structural-grade integrity
- Custom steel forming, bending, and rolling
- Design support using advanced 3D modeling software
- Finishing options including powder coating
- Delivery and installation coordination across the U.S.
Whether you need clear span framing components for a single large-format building project or repeat structural fabrication across a multi-site build, we have the experience, equipment, and capacity to deliver consistently.
Types of Steel Building Framing Systems We Build
At Kammerer Dynamics, clear span framing systems are one part of our broader steel building framing systems offering. We fabricate multiple types of structural framing configurations, each suited to different building applications, span requirements, and site conditions:
Rigid Frame Systems
The most common and widely used structural framing configuration for industrial and commercial buildings. Moment-resisting column-to-rafter connections create structural rigidity and allow for clear interior spans without the need for interior columns or bracing walls in many configurations. Learn more about Rigid Frame Systems.
Clear Span Framing Systems
Structural framing systems engineered to eliminate all interior columns across a building's full width—ideal for applications requiring completely unobstructed interior floor space such as hangars, arenas, and large-format warehouse and industrial facilities.
Multi-Span Frame Systems
Multi-bay framing configurations that use interior columns to support multiple structural bays side by side—a cost-effective solution for large-footprint industrial and commercial buildings where interior columns are operationally acceptable.
Not sure which framing system fits your project? Contact our team and we'll help you evaluate the right structural approach based on your building dimensions, span requirements, and budget.
Clear Span Engineering & Load Considerations
Achieving a true clear span requires more than wide structural members—it requires precise engineering of every load condition acting on the frame from day one of the building's life. Because clear span frames must carry all loads without interior column relief, member sizing, connection design, and load path engineering are especially critical. Our team works with you to ensure every component is fabricated to the right specification. Key engineering considerations include:
- Dead loads – The weight of the structural frame itself, roofing, wall panels, and any permanently attached building components across the full unsupported span
- Live loads – Occupancy loads, roof loads from snow accumulation or rooftop equipment, and any operational loads imposed on the structure
- Wind loads – Lateral and uplift forces are particularly significant at wider clear spans; determined by geographic location, building exposure category, and local code requirements
- Seismic loads – Ground motion forces applicable to the building's seismic design category and jurisdiction
- Collateral loads – Hanging loads such as overhead cranes, conveyors, HVAC equipment, lighting systems, and fire suppression—often higher in clear span applications due to the absence of interior column support points
- Span depth and member sizing – Wider clear spans require deeper primary members to maintain structural performance and deflection control; frame geometry is optimized for your exact building width and loading profile
All clear span framing components are engineered to applicable building codes—including IBC, AISC, and ASCE 7 load standards—and you'll review all structural drawings before a single piece of steel is cut.
Precision Fabrication. Code-Compliant by Design
Structural steel framing components for large clear span buildings must be fabricated to exacting tolerances and engineered to meet applicable structural codes. At Kammerer Dynamics, code compliance and fabrication precision are built into every clear span framing component we produce from the start—not addressed after the fact.
Our clear span framing fabrication is designed to meet:
- International Building Code (IBC) structural requirements
- AISC steel construction standards for structural members and connections
- ASCE 7 load standards for dead, live, wind, snow, and seismic loading
- AWS welding standards for structural weld quality and inspection
- Local jurisdiction building permit and plan review requirements
Need documentation support for your building permit or engineering review? Our team can support the process from day one.
Industries We Serve
Our clear span framing systems support structural projects across a broad range of industrial, commercial, and specialty applications where unobstructed interior space is essential. If your project requires column-free structural steel framing, we can build the components to make it happen.
- Manufacturing – Clear span frames for production facilities and fabrication shops requiring unrestricted floor layouts, overhead crane clearance, and wide equipment access
- Warehouse & Distribution – Column-free interiors for large-format storage, fulfillment, and distribution buildings where racking and material handling equipment require maximum layout flexibility
- Aviation & Transportation – Structural framing for aircraft hangars, maintenance facilities, and fleet operations where wide, unobstructed interior clearance is a hard operational requirement
- Agriculture – Wide clear span frames for grain storage, equipment storage, and processing facilities where large machinery requires unobstructed floor access
- Construction – Structural steel framing components for commercial, institutional, and specialty building projects requiring long clear spans
- Military & Defense – Mission-critical clear span structural framing fabricated to meet demanding load, clearance, and specification requirements
Why Choose Kammerer Dynamics?
As a third-generation, family-owned fabricator, we've built our reputation on relationships, precision manufacturing, and the ability to deliver on complex structural projects. Sourcing clear span framing components from Kammerer Dynamics means working with a team that:
- Invests in capability – We continuously grow our people, equipment, and technology to take on more complex structural work
- Operates with transparency – You see every print before production starts. No hidden changes, no late surprises
- Finds a way to win – If a structural solution exists, we'll engineer it and fabricate it
- Delivers consistently – Whether it's a single large-format building project or repeat structural fabrication across a multi-site program, your specs and timeline are our priority
Our customers are manufacturers, OEMs, construction firms, and industrial operations who need structural components done right. We earn their trust on the first project—and keep it on every one that follows.
Clear Span Framing Components We Fabricate
A clear span framing system is made up of precision-fabricated structural members and connection components that must perform as a unified structural system across the full building width—with no interior columns to share the load. We fabricate and coordinate all of the primary structural components needed to complete your frame:
- Primary Columns – Tapered or straight structural steel columns fabricated to your building height, eave elevation, and load requirements
- Primary Rafters – Deep-section tapered structural steel rafter members spanning the full building width without interior support
- Moment Connections – Engineered end plates, bolted connections, and welded joints designed to transfer moment forces at column-to-rafter junctions and ridge connections
- Base Plates & Anchor Assemblies – Column base plates and anchor bolt assemblies for foundation-to-frame structural connections
- Flange Braces – Lateral bracing components that stabilize primary frame members against out-of-plane buckling over long unsupported spans
- Eave Struts & Ridge Members – Structural members at eave and ridge lines that tie frames together longitudinally and carry secondary framing loads
- Custom Connection Hardware – Fabricated gussets, stiffeners, and connection plates for specialized load conditions, overhead crane integration, or complex geometry requirements
All components are fabricated in-house at our Kendallville, Indiana facility—giving us full quality control from raw steel to finished, delivered structural members.
Our Clear Span Framing Fabrication Process
Here's what to expect when you work with Kammerer Dynamics on a clear span framing project:
- Discovery & Requirements – We start by learning your building dimensions, required clear span width, load conditions, collateral load requirements, local code requirements, and project timeline
- Engineering & Design – Our team develops structural drawings and 3D models—including full-span member sizing and connection details—for review before anything moves to production
- Customer Approval – You get the final look at all prints before fabrication begins. If something doesn't work for your project, we adjust—or you can cancel the PO. No surprises, ever
- In-House Fabrication – All cutting, welding, forming, and finishing is completed at our Kendallville, Indiana facility
- Delivery & Coordination – We coordinate shipping and delivery to your project site and can support erection planning
- Ongoing Support – We stand behind what we build and maintain long-term relationships with our customers after the project closes
Request a Quote for a Custom Clear Span Framing System
If your project requires precision-fabricated clear span steel framing components built to your exact span, load, and structural specifications, Kammerer Dynamics is ready to help. Tell us about your project and we'll provide a fast, accurate quote—backed by real engineering support and a fabrication team that delivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a clear span framing system?
A clear span framing system is a structural steel framing configuration engineered to carry all loads across the full building width without any interior support columns. Primary structural members span the entire building from eave to eave, delivering a completely unobstructed interior floor area from wall to wall. Clear span systems are the preferred framing choice for hangars, arenas, large warehouses, and any application where interior columns cannot be accommodated.
What is the difference between a clear span framing system and a rigid frame system?
Clear span framing systems and rigid frame systems share many of the same structural principles—both use moment-resisting connections between columns and rafters. The key distinction is interior column configuration: a clear span system is specifically engineered to eliminate every interior column across the full building width, while a rigid frame system may incorporate interior columns in wider buildings where a fully unobstructed span is not required. Clear span systems typically require deeper or heavier primary members to achieve full-width performance.
What is the difference between a clear span and a multi-span framing system?
A clear span framing system eliminates all interior columns to deliver fully unobstructed floor space across the entire building width. A multi-span framing system uses interior columns to divide the building width into multiple structural bays—a more material-efficient approach for very large footprint buildings where interior columns are operationally acceptable. We'll be expanding on multi-span framing systems in an upcoming dedicated page.
What loads must a clear span framing system be designed for?
Clear span framing systems are designed to handle dead loads (structure and cladding weight), live loads (occupancy and roof loads), wind loads, seismic loads, and collateral loads such as overhead cranes, conveyors, or HVAC equipment. Because no interior columns share the load, clear span members carry the full structural demand across the entire width—making accurate load engineering especially critical. Our team works through all applicable load conditions as part of the design and fabrication process.
How wide can a clear span framing system be?
Clear span framing systems can be engineered across a wide range of building widths depending on load requirements, roof slope, and member depth. There is no fixed maximum width—span capability is a function of engineering, member sizing, and load conditions. Tell us your required clear span width and load profile, and we'll engineer the framing system to meet it.
Do clear span steel building projects require permits?
Yes. Structural steel buildings are subject to local building permits, plan review, and inspection requirements. The scope of permitting review depends on your jurisdiction, building use, and occupancy classification. Our team can support the documentation and engineering review process to help you navigate permitting requirements from the start.
What size clear span framing system can Kammerer Dynamics fabricate?
We fabricate clear span structural steel framing components across a wide range of building widths, eave heights, bay spacings, and load configurations. Tell us your required clear span width, building height, collateral loads, and applicable code jurisdiction, and we'll engineer and fabricate the components to fit.
Why Choose KDi?
Build your next project with custom clear span framing systems from Kammerer Dynamics. Our team designs and fabricates precision structural steel framing engineered to deliver unobstructed interior space, long-term structural performance, and full code compliance. Contact us today to discuss your project requirements and request a customized quote.
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Ready to start your metal fabrication project? Contact us now to discuss your requirements, get a quote, and experience the Kammerer Dynamics, Inc. difference. We look forward to becoming your trusted partner for all your metal fabrication needs.
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