Structural Analysis & Design Software for Metal Buildings

Streamline your metal building projects with a flexible parametric modeling environment, tapered member support, and integrated design checks according to the AISC, CSA, and AISI standards. Take advantage of extensive libraries of steel sections and materials, powerful wind/snow/seismic load generators (ASCE 7, NBC), and seamless BIM integration.

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Structural design image featuring a modern metal building framework highlighting intricate connections and components.

Design All Common Metal Building Types

From single-slope sheds to complex multi-span industrial buildings – RFEM and its add-ons enable the analysis and design of all major metal building systems. Explore our model gallery and accelerate your design process with templates based on real-world structural typologies.

Model of a rigid frame building with clear span, ideal for large spaces like hangars or warehouses.

Rigid Frame Building (Clear Span)

Free-span structure without interior columns – ideal for hangars, arenas, or distribution warehouses.

Multi-Span Building

Multiple frames with intermediate supports – used for large industrial complexes or logistic hubs.

Lean-To Building

Attached structure with a single-slope roof – perfect for storage additions, loading bays, or workshop space.

Truss Roof Building

Roof supported by open-web trusses, efficient for lighter buildings with large spans, reducing material usage compared to solid frames.

Main Program

The primary application for comprehensive analysis and design of steel, reinforced concrete, and timber bridges.

RFEM 6

The main program RFEM 6 is used to define structures, materials, and loads of planar and spatial structural systems consisting of plates, walls, shells, and members.

RSTAB 9

RSTAB 9 is powerful analysis and design software for 3D beam, frame, and truss structure calculations.

Key Extensions

Essential Add-ons

Essential add-ons for core analysis and design of metal buildings.

Steel Design

Aluminum Design

Steel Joints for RFEM 6

Optional

Recommended Extensions

Optional add-ons that provide extra design capabilities.

Torsional Warping (7th DOF)

Structure Stability

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Key Features

Explore our most important features – they’re the reason engineers trust our software for everyday metal design challenges.

ASCE/NBC Environmental Loads

Automatically generate environmental loads according to ASCE 7 and NBC using dedicated snow and wind load wizards. Snow loads can be applied as member or surface loads, while wind loads can be generated on structural components such as vertical walls, flat roofs, monopitch roofs, duopitch/troughed roofs, and combined wall-roof systems.
Tapered Member Design

Modeling of partially or fully tapered members is supported with varying cross-section properties accurately considered along the member length. The design checks are performed on customizable segments, allowing precise evaluation of structural behavior in tapered regions.
Standard & Custom Sections

A comprehensive range of hot-rolled and cold-formed cross-sections is available, including I-sections, U-sections, T-sections, angles, rectangular and circular hollow sections, and round bars. The software also allows the use of symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes, parametric I-, T-, and angle sections, as well as user-defined composite cross-sections.
Block-Based Modeling

Create complex structural models quickly and consistently using parametric blocks. RFEM 6 supports parametric modeling based on numerical input – define dimensions, loads, materials, and other parameters to generate adaptable and reusable components. Benefit from the extensive library of downloadable blocks directly in the Dlubal Center.

Browse Parametric Blocks

RFEM 6 interface showing a steel hall with wind loads applied by the Wind Load wizard.

RFEM 6 interface displaying a steel hall model with a focus on the Tapered Member settings dialog.

Dialog box displaying steel section setup for a lattice tower in RFEM 6 software.

A 3D model of a steel hall structure created using parametric modeling techniques in RFEM 6.

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Your AI Expert for Structural Analysis

Steel Connection Design
According to AISC

Optimize the analysis and design of member and base plate connections with the Steel Joints add-on for RFEM 6. This powerful all-in-one solution eliminates the need for time-consuming and error-prone data transfers by working fully within the FEM model.

With features like semi-rigid hinges with initial stiffness analysis, customizable connection templates, and a fully transparent submodel view, you gain maximum control and clarity.

Automated load transfer, precise dimensioning of connection components, and full compliance with standards like AISC make this tool ideal for practical, everyday use – from modeling to design verification.

Discover the Steel Joints Add-on

Seismic Loading Including the ASCE 7 and NBC RSA

Efficient seismic load generation with Modal and Response Spectrum Analysis add-ons based on ASCE 7 and NBC standards. Automatic mass combination, output of modal properties (eigenvalues, frequencies, modal masses), and generation of equivalent seismic loads.

Modal contributions are combined using SRSS or CQC, with directional earthquake components combined by SRSS or 100% / 30% rule — ensuring precise, code-compliant seismic design.

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Cold-Formed Steel Design According to AISI & CSA

Design cold-formed steel members according to AISI S100-16 and CSA S136-16 using the Steel Design add-on in RFEM 6.

The Direct Strength Method (DSM) is applied to calculate elastic buckling loads — either numerically, via the Finite Strip Method (FSM), or analytically, per the code specification. View buckling curves and mode shapes directly in the section data.

More about Steel Design add-on

Seamless Model Integration with BIM Programs

Easily integrate your structural models with leading BIM software such as Revit or Tekla Structures for a more efficient and coordinated design process.

Autodesk Revit

The direct interface between Revit and RFEM 6 enables bidirectional model synchronization, allowing you to transfer and update models in both directions with ease. Whether you're starting your project in Revit or RFEM, changes made in one environment can be reflected in the other.

Tekla Structures

When designing in Tekla Structures, a structural analysis model is generated automatically. With just one click, you can export the model to RFEM, including data such as supports, hinges, and member information. This enables a smooth transition from modeling to structural analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

In RFEM 6, the Steel Design add-on supports cold-formed steel design according to the AISI S100 standard. The following standardized sections are valid for this design:

Channels, hats, angles, and Z-sections from the AISI D100-17 standard
Rectangular and round hollow structural sections (HSS) from the AISC database

To enable design according to AISI S100, this option must be selected in the Strength Configuration settings in the Steel Design add-on.

Yes, user-defined sections can be designed according to AISI S100 or CSA S136 in RFEM 6.

You have two main options:

For standard cold-formed shapes, you can create a custom section using one of the “Thin-Walled” section templates available in the cross-section library. These templates include 14 predefined cold-formed shapes.

If your section does not match any of the predefined shapes, you can create and import the section from RSECTION, the stand-alone cross-section program.

This allows for fully custom geometries while still enabling design checks according to AISI or CSA standards.

The Earthquake Limit State (with and without overstrength) only provides a result for members with an assigned Seismic Configuration.

The Strength Limit State is used to design all members, including the members that are not part of the seismic force-resisting system (SFRS). Therefore, both Earthquake and Strength Limit States are required.

The Serviceability Limit State is also available.

Read more in our detailed FAQ section on seismic design and limit states.

The easiest way to model tapers is to use welded cross-sections or parameterized cross-sections. For example, you could copy the cross-section with the smaller height and then adjust the height and/or width of the second cross-section.

Knowledge Base

Explore valuable technical articles on "Structural Analysis and Design" to enhance your daily work and support your projects.

Videos

Explore essential videos focused on the analysis and design of steel structures. These tutorials guide you through practical workflows and help you master key features quickly.

Webinars

Access our recorded webinars at any time. Watch sessions about RFEM, RSECTION, and the add-ons whenever you want.