VPS steel structures are designed to meet or exceed the requirements of the 1997 Uniform Building Code / IBC2000. All steel tubing and plates are finished with a minimum of 2.5 to 3.5 mil thick, UV-inhibited, weather-resistant powder coat. Where size of structure or determined loads require larger structural steel members or steel greater than 7-gauge thickness, carbon steel may be substituted. Cleaning and coating of carbon steel conforms to the following:

• A degreasing agent is applied to remove surface oil and grease.
• An acid-phosphate wash is applied to etch and prepare the surface for powder-coating, where wall thickness requires preheating.
• Steel members are to be preheated prior to powder coat application to assure adhesion.

All carbon structural steel shall be ASTM A-36, except pipe columns, which shall be ASTM A-53, Grade B, unless otherwise noted. Slip fittings are manufactured using drawn-over-mandrel steel with minimum yield strength of 70 ksi and a minimum tensile strength of 80 ksi. Steel telescoped sleeves will not have more than 1/16” tolerance, with no less than 4” overlap at all sleeves. All internal fittings are welded on one side. Structural steel is detailed, fabricated, and erected in accordance with AISC specifications. All shop and certified welders following procedures published in the latest edition of the American Welding Society specifications, execution for field welding. Shop connections are welded unless otherwise noted. Field connections are separately indicated on all drawings. All welds are performed using E70 electrodes or gas-metal arc welding using ER 7053 wire. All fillet welds are a minimum 3/16” unless otherwise noted. All steel shall be welded shut at terminations to prevent internal leakage.