Reasons Structural Steel Is Right for Building Construction
The construction industry is always on the lookout for the next category of material to be used which would lower costs and improve the quality of the building structures. While concrete has long been a popular choice among construction companies, more and more people are realizing the benefits of using structural steel for building purposes, and here are some of the reasons why:
- Excellent Strength-to-steel ratio
Steel has a terrific strength-to-steel ratio, which means that lesser amounts of steel can provide the same amount of strength of support as greater quantities of concrete or stone building materials. Consequently, the amount of steel needed to create a staggered truss or I-beam will be less, which will further result in reduced costs and better profit margins for the company, making it the more economic building construction choice.
- Strong Joints
Steel joints are welded together, and are tremendously strong. This means the corner and joint angles of buildings constructed out of steel are as strong as the middle of the structures. This makes the steel buildings safer than their concrete counterparts. The ability to create strong joints is the main reason why steel is used to make the more hardy variety of furniture that is designed to withstand great loads and stresses.
- Unlimited Design Possibilities
The methods of shaping steel have become more varied than ever, to the point where engineers can design virtually any kind of structure that the architect can come up with. This allows steel buildings to get creative with the design without worrying about whether or not the structure will be able to hold.
- Great Durability
Structural steel is incredibly durable. This means that buildings made out of steel will far outlast buildings made out of any other kind of construction material. If you’re looking for a building that will stand the test of time and not develop cracks within decades of its construction, then structural steel is the way to go.
There was some concern earlier about the fact that higher temperatures can cause steel to melt, which means there was the possibility of steel buildings becoming misshapen or deformed after some time due to the effects of the sun, but the use of spray-on fireproofing material means that the sun’s heat need no longer be an issue.
- Environmentally Friendly
One way of measuring a building’s carbon footprint is by calculating the amount of carbon dioxide that is released during its construction. Since steel can be recycled endlessly, it is often reclaimed from old steel structures, which means the production process causes less damage to the environment than when concrete is produced for construction, or when trees are chopped down to make wooden houses.
Thus it becomes clear that structural steel can allow builders a lot more room for development while cutting costs and causing less damage to the environment. For all these reasons and more, structural steel is fast becoming the go-to choice for construction companies.
