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Mobile crane lifting on a CHARMETAL structural steelwork site

Structural steelwork

Structural steelwork in Morocco

Portal frames, trusses and purlins for industrial buildings, warehouses and mezzanines. We take the structure from load take-off to the final bolt.

Request a quotation +212 661 25 24 30

Structural steelwork is the load bearing frame of a building: columns, rafters, trusses, purlins and bracing. Correctly sized, it spans long distances with little material and goes up in weeks where concrete takes months.

We design and build frames for industrial buildings, warehouses, workshops, agricultural sheds, mezzanines and commercial units. Every project starts from a calculation, not from a catalogue.

What we supply

  • Portal frames — columns, rafters, haunches, base plates
  • Lattice trusses — for spans a plate girder no longer covers
  • Purlins and side rails — cold formed or hot rolled sections
  • Bracing — stability bays and wind girders, designed to RPS 2011
  • Mezzanines and floors — joists, chequer plate, composite decking
  • Staircases and walkways — access platforms, handrails

Our process, step by step

  1. Engineering and load take-off — self weight, imposed, wind and snow to Eurocode 1, seismic check to RPS 2011
  2. Design calculation report — sections and connections to Eurocode 3
  3. General arrangement and shop drawings — bill of materials, piece marking
  4. Cutting — band saw, oxy-fuel or plasma depending on thickness
  5. Drilling and preparation — bolt holes, weld preparation
  6. Assembly and welding — MAG and MMA processes, qualified welders
  7. Inspection — dimensional and visual weld checks; NDT where the contract requires it
  8. Protective treatment — blast cleaning then hot dip galvanising or a paint system
  9. Lifting and erection — site bolting, alignment, handover

Protective treatment: the real issue in Morocco

A well calculated but poorly protected frame degrades within a few years. ISO 12944 classifies the aggressiveness of the environment, and the Moroccan coastline is severe: salt spray, humidity, temperature swings.

Corrosivity classes and matching environments
ClassEnvironmentExample in Morocco
C2Rural, low pollutionInland
C3Urban or moderately industrialFez, inland Casablanca
C4Industrial, near the coastIndustrial zones, Mohammedia
C5-MSevere marinePorts: Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Tanger Med

In C4 and C5-M we recommend hot dip galvanising to EN ISO 1461. Zinc protects the steel even where the coating is scratched, which no paint system does.

Grades and sections used

Structural steel grades
GradeYield strengthTypical use
S235JR235 MPaSecondary steelwork, metalwork
S275JR275 MPaStandard industrial steelwork
S355JR355 MPaLong spans, heavily loaded members

Common sections: IPE for rafters and joists, HEA and HEB for columns, UPN for trimmers, angles and hollow sections for trusses and bracing. Full details on our steel profiles and hollow sections page.

Applicable standards

  • RPS 2011 — Moroccan seismic regulation, mandatory
  • Eurocode 3 (EN 1993) — design of steel structures
  • Eurocode 1 (EN 1991) — actions: loads, wind, snow
  • EN 1090-2 — execution, classes EXC1 to EXC4
  • EN 10025-2 — hot rolled products
  • EN ISO 3834 — quality requirements for welding

This describes the framework applicable to the trade. Certifications held by CHARMETAL are provided on request.

Frequently asked questions

Structural steelwork: your questions

What span can structural steelwork achieve?
A plate girder portal frame commonly spans 15 to 30 m with no intermediate column. Beyond that a lattice truss takes over and stays economical up to 40 m and more. The choice comes out of the calculation: past a certain span, the steel saved on the frame is lost again in the foundations.
Steel or reinforced concrete: which should I choose?
Steel wins on long spans, erection speed and the ability to dismantle or extend later. Concrete remains relevant for short spans, heavy static loads and very aggressive environments. On a typical industrial shed, steelwork is almost always quicker to put up.
Does RPS 2011 apply to my structure?
Yes. The seismic construction regulation applies across the whole of Morocco. It fixes the seismic zone, the acceleration coefficient and the bracing requirements. It is not a formality: it drives connection design and often the final tonnage.
Should the structure be galvanised or painted?
It depends on exposure. On the Atlantic coast and in port areas you are in corrosivity class C5-M under ISO 12944: hot dip galvanising to EN ISO 1461 is the durable choice. Inland, in a dry atmosphere, a properly specified paint system is enough.
Do you erect as well as fabricate?
Yes. Workshop fabrication, then lifting and bolting on site by our own teams. That continuity removes the interfaces between trades, which is where programmes normally slip.

What we do

Complete your project

Metal construction

Structures, cladding, roofing, floors, staircases and walkways. Turnkey steelwork.

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Cut and bent rebar

Cut and bent in our workshop to your drawings: links, stirrups, spacers and reinforcement cages.

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Steel profiles and hollow sections

IPE, HEA, HEB, UPN, angles, tubes and plates. Cut to length, delivered fast.

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Pylons and fittings

Telecom and power lattice pylons, supports and fittings, hot-dip galvanised.

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Piping and civil works

General piping, supports and industrial networks, with the associated civil engineering works.

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Tell us about your project

Send us your drawings or simply describe what you need. We will come back to you with a costed quotation and a firm lead time.

Request a quotation +212 661 25 24 30