Industrial hangar 20×40 m: regulations and CE certificates

Picture this hypothetical scenario. Anna, a progressive farmer from Poland's Wielkopolska region, is looking to expand her operations. Her machinery fleet is growing, the grain harvest no longer fits in the old barns, and she needs a robust, long-lasting building that offers maximum versatility. After careful consideration, she calculates that a wide hangar, perhaps 30 metres long (360 square metres), hits the sweet spot for her needs - perfect for grain storage, machinery, or even a mixed-use livestock and feed facility. She finds some local "handymen" who promise to build it quickly, with zero paperwork, and, naturally, dirt cheap. Everything looks great until the local building authority drives into the yard six months later. Worse still, when the roof caves in after heavy winter snow, there is no CE EN 1090-2 certificate to show what loads the steel structure was ever designed for. Anna is left with no hangar and thousands of euros in fines.

This is where Swed-Trac enters the picture. Our headquarters sit in Klaipėda, while our modern manufacturing hub operates in Šilutė, Lithuania. We do not build castles in the sky, we do not offer illegal shortcuts, and, to be clear, we do not sell tractors. We manufacture steel hangars engineered to withstand both harsh European winters and the strictest bureaucratic machinery. Our approach is simple: build it right, so that ten years down the line you can say, "Worth the money."

In this detailed expert guide, we dissect everything you must know about the legal framework for a wide hangar. We will cover the necessary permits, explain why a building without a CE certificate is just an expensive pile of scrap metal, outline the requirements set by EU Directive 98/58/EC and national veterinary services, and explain what EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding in 2026 requires for your new steel building.

Choosing the Right Width: Why the hangar is the Farmer's Universal Choice

Before diving into the legal nuances, we need absolute clarity on the structure we are discussing. A steel hangar is not just a large tent; it is a serious engineering project that demands precise calculations and premium materials. Our specialisation is 12 m wide structures; other dimensions on an individual project basis.

The 12 m hangar is the sweet spot for most European farmers, offering unparalleled versatility. A wide hangar provides ample clear-span space for manoeuvring modern agricultural machinery, efficient grain storage, comfortable livestock housing, or a robust standard width machinery shed. This 'wide-span universal hangar' balances generous internal space with manageable permitting requirements and cost-effectiveness, making it the optimal choice for a vast majority of agricultural operations. A steel building is truly a multi-purpose asset.

We designed our wide hangar to maximise usable space. A standard-width clear span with no internal columns allows heavy machinery, forklifts, or articulated lorries to manoeuvre freely. While it is a substantial structure, a steel building often falls into a more straightforward structural classification than wider spans (15m, 18m, 20m), making the permitting process more manageable without compromising on capacity.

Here are the core specifications for a typical 12 m x 30 m (360m²) agricultural hangar:

Specification	Detailed parameters
External dimensions	Width: twelve metres, Length: thirty metres
Total area	Three hundred sixty square metres (360 m²)
Structure type	Steel frames (zero internal support columns)
Steel grade	S355 (high-strength structural steel)
Certification	Mandatory CE marking under EN 1090-2 (EXC2 class)
Production site	Šilutė, Lithuania (Swed-Trac factory)
Snow and wind loads	Designed for local snow and wind loads per Eurocodes

Complete Cost Breakdown: The Value of a hangar

One of the most frequent questions we get is, "What is the rough price for a hangar?" We avoid vague estimates. Instead, we provide clear, realistic 2026 figures for the European market. The final cost depends directly on your chosen scenario and insulation level.

Below are three typical project scenarios for a 12 m x 30 m (360m²) agricultural hangar. Prices are in euros, excluding Value Added Tax (VAT).

Cost category	Basic (Cold, corrugated steel)	Medium (Partially insulated)	Premium (Fully insulated)
Steel structures (frame)	18,000 EUR	19,000 EUR	22,000 EUR
Roof and wall cladding	8,000 EUR	11,500 EUR	24,000 EUR
Gates and doors (standard package)	3,000 EUR	4,000 EUR	6,000 EUR
Technical design (structural part)	2,500 EUR	2,500 EUR	3,500 EUR
Assembly works	7,000 EUR	8,000 EUR	10,000 EUR
Transport from Šilutė	2,000 EUR	2,000 EUR	2,500 EUR
TOTAL (approximate):	40,500 EUR	47,000 EUR	68,000 EUR

Note: Prices fluctuate slightly based on global steel exchange indices and the specific geological conditions of your site.

1. Basic scenario: Ideal for storing agricultural machinery where temperature fluctuations are not a critical factor. This cold standard width machinery shed is a cost-effective solution for protecting your assets from the elements.
2. Medium scenario: The go-to choice for a standard width grain storage hangar or feed storage. We apply a specialised anti-condensation layer to stop moisture from dripping onto your produce, crucial for maintaining grain quality.
3. Premium scenario: Built with thick multi-layer sandwich panels. This is mandatory for production facilities where staff work daily and stable, above-freezing temperatures must be maintained throughout winter. A premium steel building can serve as a processing plant or a comfortable livestock barn in colder climates like Sweden.

What is included in the quote - and what you handle yourself

Transparency drives our business. When you sign a contract with Swed-Trac, you know exactly what lands on your site. We do not sell half-finished kits, but we are also upfront about the tasks we do not execute.

What Swed-Trac INCLUDES in the project	What Swed-Trac EXCLUDES (your responsibility)
Complete steel frame production in Šilutė	Geological site surveys (soil analysis)
Anti-corrosion coating	Foundation casting (though we provide the exact drawings)
Supply of all roof and wall cladding	Bringing electricity, water, and sewage networks to site
Transport and installation (as specified in the quote)	Securing the building permit from the local municipality
Gates, doors, and skylights	Interior finishing and concrete floor pouring
Factory Production Control certificates (CE)	Land levelling and access road construction

Our engineers always work closely with your hired architect or foundation contractors, supplying all necessary engineering nodes and load calculations for your steel building.

The legal framework: Building permits and EU CAP funding in 2026

Let us tackle the most critical part - the paperwork. Building regulations across Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia are unforgiving. Trying to bypass them is simply not worth the hassle, even for a standard hangar.

Building permits for a hangar

Listen closely: if a contractor tells you that a hangar, even if it's "only" 360 square metres, can be erected without a permit as a "temporary structure", they are lying to you. Permit exemptions under standard European building codes typically apply to minor structures, usually under fifty to eighty square metres. A standard width agricultural hangar is significantly larger than this threshold.

Because the hangar's clear span (the width without supports) is twelve metres, it automatically triggers specific structural classification in almost every European jurisdiction. While a wide hangar is generally simpler to permit than a 15m or 20m span, it still requires rigorous oversight. What does this mean for you? - A full technical design is mandatory. - An independent expert review of the project is often required. - A formal building permit is non-negotiable. - A certified site manager must oversee the construction.

At Swed-Trac, we prepare the structural engineering portion of the design for your steel building. Your local architect then integrates our calculations into the master technical project submitted to the municipality.

EU CAP funding in 2026 and navigating the bureaucracy

If you plan to finance the build through the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) or EAFRD rural development funds, check the application schedule and eligibility with your national paying agency.

Paying agencies typically check: 1. Traceability: Every piece of material must carry proper certification. 2. Legality: At the time of your application, you may need to hold an approved technical design or a valid building permit for your hangar. 3. CE Marking: Inspectors may ask for the Declaration of Performance; every Swed-Trac CE delivery comes with one.

Certificates and liability: CE EN 1090-2, EU veterinary rules, and insurance pitfalls

Certificates are not just pieces of paper meant to gather dust in a drawer. They guarantee your peace of mind and financial security, especially when investing in a substantial structure like a steel building.

The CE EN 1090-2 standard

Since 2014, all load-bearing steel structures supplied to the European Union market must carry the CE mark in accordance with the EN 1090-1 and EN 1090-2 standards. This framework dictates strict factory production controls.

The standard defines several Execution Classes (EXC). Agricultural hangars, including a standard width agricultural hangar, usually require EXC2. If you plan to install a heavy overhead crane or if the structure will endure massive dynamic loads, EXC3 becomes mandatory. The Swed-Trac factory in Šilutė is audited and certified to EN 1090-2 EXC2 by notified body KIWA (1325). Our factory production control per EN 1090-2 EXC2 covers everything from material traceability to welder qualifications.

What about insurance? Check the terms with your insurer, who may ask for the structural CE declaration of performance.

EU Directive 98/58/EC and national veterinary requirements for agriculture

If you intend to store grain, animal feed, or house livestock in your hangar, EU Directive 98/58/EC and the rules of your national veterinary service (such as Veterinäramt in Germany, DGAL in France, or NVWA in the Netherlands) come into force. A standard width grain storage hangar faces particularly strict hygiene regulations: - Protection against birds and rodents: The hangar must be completely sealed. The hangars we manufacture feature specialised sealing profiles to block pests, essential for a clean standard width grain storage hangar. - Moisture control: Condensation absolutely cannot drip onto the grain. We solve this using anti-condensation roof coatings or full roof insulation, ensuring optimal conditions within your standard width agricultural hangar. - Cleaning capabilities: Internal walls must be easy to clean, lacking hard-to-reach cavities where dust or mould could accumulate.

The process from the first call to the handover of the keys

Construction should never be chaotic. The truth is, a smooth build relies on a highly refined process. Ours consists of eight clear stages, ensuring your wide hangar is delivered efficiently:

1. Needs analysis (one day): We listen to your vision, evaluate your site location, and understand your planned operations for your steel building.
2. Commercial offer (within 48 hours): We prepare a detailed, transparent quote with zero hidden fees for your chosen hangar configuration.
3. Contract: Once the numbers work for you, we sign the contract.
4. Design (two to four weeks): Our engineers draft the structural part of the project and hand it over to your architect to secure the building permit for your standard width agricultural hangar.
5. Permit waiting period (two to four months): This is the bureaucratic stage at your local municipality, common across the EU from Poland to the Netherlands.
6. Foundation works: While we manufacture the frame, your local contractors cast the foundations using our exact drawings.
7. Production and installation (8–12 weeks): As soon as the permit clears, we start cutting, welding, and painting the steel for your hangar in Šilutė; the complete package is then delivered and erected on site. Transport and installation are specified in the quote.
8. Handover and warranty activation: We sign the final handover protocol and hand over all CE certificates and operating manuals.

Want a quote on a hangar? Call +370 645 18595 or email sales@swedhall.se - we will get back to you within 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)