Metal building systems (or steel building systems in Canada) are professionally engineered structures that provide cost-effective and efficient low-rise buildings. All major metal building system manufacturers utilize CADD tools to custom design each building system and all building components depending on the customer's needs and specifications and on the local and national building codes. The basic elements of the metal building system include primary rigid frames, secondary members such as wall girts and roof purlins, cladding and bracing. These elements are engineered and designed to act as an integrated building system
The primary rigid frames are typically designed and constructed in accordance with standardi, ki jih je razvil Ameriški inštitut za jekleno konstrukcijo in the United States and the Kanadski inštitut za gradnjo pločevine. In North America, the secondary framing is typically designed and constructed in accordance with standardi, ki jih je razvil ameriški inštitut za železo in jeklo.
Kovinski gradbeni sistemi se uporabljajo v skoraj vseh možnih aplikacijah. Najdete jih v industrijskih aplikacijah, kot so kompleksni proizvodni objekti, skladišča in distribucijski centri. Uporabljajo se v maloprodajnih trgovinah, nakupovalnih centrih, motelih, prodajalnah avtomobilov, pisarniških kompleksih, letalskih hangarjih in arenah. Uporabljajo se tudi v šolah, knjižnicah, cerkvah, zdravstvenih ustanovah in državnih zgradbah.