How to Spec the Right Building for Your Aircraft

An aviation hangar is not a standard warehouse. Every dimension matters — hangar door width, eave height, clear-span opening, and structural load ratings all have to be sized precisely to your aircraft. Duro Beam's I-beam steel aviation hangars are custom engineered from the ground up to meet your exact specifications.

Why I-Beam Construction Is the Right Choice for Aviation Hangars
The primary structural demand of an aviation hangar is a wide, tall, unobstructed opening for aircraft entry and exit. I-beam steel framing excels in this application because it can achieve clear spans of 60, 80, 100, or even 150+ feet without interior columns or support structures that would obstruct aircraft movement. The heavy red iron I-beam frame carries substantial lateral and overhead loads, which is critical when large hangar door systems — bifold, hydraulic, or sliding — are specified. Lighter-duty arch or post-frame buildings simply cannot match the structural capacity of a purpose-engineered I-beam aviation hangar.

Sizing Your Hangar for Current and Future Aircraft
One of the most common mistakes in hangar planning is building too tight. When specifying your Duro Beam aviation hangar, build for the largest aircraft you anticipate housing — plus a comfortable margin. Door width should exceed your aircraft's wingspan by at least 10 feet on each side to allow for safe, comfortable movement. Eave height must accommodate the tail height of your tallest aircraft with clearance for any ground equipment. Planning for future flexibility now costs far less than a building addition later.

Engineering, Permitting, and Local Code Compliance
Aviation hangars at private airfields, municipal airports, and fly-in communities are typically subject to both local building codes and, in some cases, FAA advisory guidelines regarding placement and construction. Duro Beam provides stamped engineered drawings for every I-beam aviation hangar, which are required for building permit applications in virtually all jurisdictions. Our engineering team accounts for local wind, snow, and seismic load requirements to ensure your hangar is fully code-compliant from day one.

Planning a steel aviation hangar? Duro Beam engineers custom I-beam hangars for any aircraft. Call 800-445-0412 to get started