Building Weight
Overview
The Building Weight function provides the estimated total weight of the steel building you have designed in SMS.
Each component in the Bill of Materials (BOM) has an associated weight value, which is used to calculate the total estimated building weight.
Every time you click Calculate and refresh the BOM, the total building weight may fluctuate depending on the design changes made.
Why this is important
Provides transparency on the total amount of steel used in a building.
Allows for accurate comparisons between quotes.
Assists with freight planning and load calculations.
How it works
SMS automatically assigns an estimated weight to each component in the BOM.
These individual weights are totalled to provide the overall building weight.
The estimated weight is displayed on the quote letter for client reference.
This information is particularly useful when:
Comparing quotes between different suppliers or designs.
Evaluating the amount of steel included in each project.
Estimating freight weight when using external transport providers.
Key considerations
While the total weight helps in understanding the amount of steel in a building, it is not the only factor to consider when comparing quotes.
Other variables such as:
Building design complexity
Engineering requirements
Cladding type
Accessories and inclusions
all influence the final price of the building.
Tips, best practices & troubleshooting
Always re-run Calculate after making any design adjustments to ensure the BOM and weight are up to date.
Use the building weight value as a reference, not a fixed measurement, as final weights may vary slightly in production.
Communicate any significant weight differences between design revisions to your client for clarity.
Related resources
Review & updates
Version history:
v1.0 – 19 April 2025
v2.0 – 6 October 2025
Article information
Category: Estimation View & Shed Design
Target audience: Estimators, SMS users, and design teams
Business owner:
Version: v2.0
Last reviewed: 6 October 2025