FBi will showcase the new Perma-Columns at the Farm Progress Show in Henning, Ill., in September. A patent is pending on the new design, which features polymer fiber and premium-grade steel reinforcement.

“These columns are the first permanent system ever in the post-frame industry,” says Jeff Neihouser, general manager at FBi. Backed by a lifetime warranty, the column system includes a steel uplift collar at the base, a pre-cast concrete column bottom portion, and a steel connector bracket used to attach above-ground laminated wood columns.

Corrosion-inhibiting materials prevent damage to the internal steel reinforcement, and air entraining admixtures ensure resistance to harsh freeze-thaw cycles, particularly important in the Midwest, Neihouser said.

“While laminated wood columns are strong and suitable for most purposes, the Perma-Columns represent breakthrough innovation,” Neihouser said. “No chemically treated wood goes in the ground, so there’s no possibility of rotting or damage to the environment. What the building owner gets, instead, is an upgraded, super-strong and permanent column.”

Rated at 10,000 pounds per square inch, the Perma-Columns offer three times the compressive strength of regular concrete’s 3,500 psi, Neihouser said. “These results have been confirmed by independent testing by the Purdue University Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering.”

Founded in 1958 and operating from offices in Remington, Ind., FBi Buildings has constructed more than 15,000 agricultural, equine, commercial, industrial and retail buildings in Indiana and Illinois. Its 290 employees include architects, engineers, construction professionals, a complete sales staff and support personnel.