A strong section alone is not enough if the forces cannot be transferred correctly to the next element. That is why connections are among the key points of a steel structure. In a steel hall, bolts, gusset plates, welds and anchors come together here. Each of these parts has a specific function. The quality of a joint is not demonstrated by the number of fasteners alone, nor by the fact that it looks solid once assembled. A connection can transfer different types of forces and have a defined stiffness. In a portal frame, the joints at the eaves and ridge participate in the behaviour of the whole system. Elsewhere, the design may specify a connection with a different function. A detail should not be copied simply because it joins sections of similar dimensions.

The steel frame of a hall does not become safe simply because all the large columns have been erected. During assembly, some of the elements that will work together in the completed building are missing. The supports and the way loads act change. Assembly therefore requires a prepared sequence and safeguards. The temporary state must be assessed as consciously as the final structural arrangement. In a completed steel hall, the frames are connected by purlins, rails and bracing. Some elements may rely on support provided by the envelope, if such interaction has been allowed for. During assembly, some of these connections do not yet exist. The design model of the completed building therefore cannot be applied directly to every moment of the works.