I'm am looking to build an building on my property for a train room. I am debating between wood or steel construction. A question came up about how a steel building would affect the TMCC (and DCS) signals on on a layout inside. We were discussing if the building was grounded, perhaps that would be a plus to the signal.
Does anyone have any experience or thoughts?
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Lots of folks have built in tin buildings, AFAIK, I haven't heard anything about issues in a steel building. As you say, the "earth ground" signal would certainly be strong enough! 
I can tell you from recent experience that code federal code requires a ground in new metal buildings. I would think that it would be an asset. I am planning to build a small layout in my two year old metal building soon and never thought of your question. Very good. Thanks.
Earl
Built in 2009 I didn’t consider any other type of building supply other than wood.
Wood shop with second story train room.
Inside walls in my second story train room has finished sheet rock walls and ceiling.
You may consider the acoustics of whatever materials you use due to the rails sounds.
Our club is in a 6,000 square foot meter building with few issues we have 3 layouts with TMCC/LEGACY. Only problems to show is typically tunnels or where tracks over lap. And the fact that it’s a open room with 16’ ceilings probably doesn’t help get the ground closer to the layout 😉
I have a layout in a steel building - no problems with TMCC/Legacy. My main suggestion comes with the electrical wiring, as part of the TMCC/Legacy is transmitted via the electrical wiring. I have two 20 amp circuits in my train room (60' x 18') within the walls - one circuit along one long wall/short wall combination, the other along the other the other long wall/short wall combination. Both circuits on the same phase of 120VAC. Luckily for me, my electrical panel is within 10' of the train room. Why do I feel this is lucky? In the electrical panel, the earth grounds are connected together, and the wall outlet neutrals are connected together, and the earth grounds and neutrals are connected together, which allows the TMCC/Legacy signal sent from the Base (whether Base sends it on the neutral or earth ground or both) to get into both Train room circuits' earth ground and neutral wires with little signal degradation for a long trip from Base to electrical panel. The circuit wiring in the Train room is in the walls, but not in electrical conduit.
No problem with Cab to Base communication as the steel building being grounded will block most radio signals from outside of the building. I have a couple Wifi extenders, one on the outside of my house, the other inside the building in a window facing the house extender. I have about 100' from house to building. This gets me Wifi within the building.
Our club, the River City 3 Railers, displays one of our layouts at the Chesterfield County, Va Fair every year. The Fair puts us in a large metal Butler type building with their arts and crafts displays. TMCC/Legacy works poorly in the building. Headlights flicker, engines don't respond to commands but if I hold my hand above the engine it starts to work. All of this indicates poor signal strength which I suspect is because of a grounding issue with the building's electrical system or the grounding of the building shell itself. With our various display venues during the year this is the only location where we have this problem.
If the OP decides on a metal building just make sure the metal shell of the building is well grounded as well as the electrical system.
Ken
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