Out of so many different types of construction materials available in the market, structural steel is considered to be the best. Structural steel is made from high quality steel grades and is available in cross sectional shapes. Structural steel is the most versatile construction material as it offers great strength, durability, and ease of access. Structural steel is used in various applications including tall multi-storey buildings, towers, industrial buildings, industrial structures, bridges, and tunnels, etc.
There are numerous reasons that make structural steel the best construction material. Some reasons are mentioned here:
Speed of construction
Structural steel structures can be erected easily. The accuracy and predictability of the steel components speed up the building process. One of the main criteria for selecting structural steel for construction is its speed of erection. Short construction periods can be time and money saving.
Lower Construction Costs
Steel construction produces very little waste during the construction process. Also, steel structures require little maintenance and are very durable. This helps extract maximum value from the resources involved in the construction of the structure and it minimizes its whole-life costs.
Structural steel is the cost leader for many construction projects. Structural steel framing including fire protection and decking costs are much lesser than the costs of constructing a concrete framing system.
Aesthetic Appeal
Structural steel offers a stylish way of creating large, column-free interiors and gives the building a sense of openness. Also, structural steel is malleable, so it gives the designers the freedom to explore ideas and create stylish textures and shapes in order to make the building look unique and beautiful.
Design Flexibility
The designers have known the advantages of using structural steel in buildings. The versatility of steel offers engineers, architects, and designers the freedom to achieve the most difficult designs. No other construction material can match up with steel in terms of innovation, design, and freedom of expression.
High Strength
Structural steel is preferred over other construction materials because it provides better compression and tension properties, thus, resulting in lightweight construction. Although steel is light in weight, the strength of structural steel is much higher than the other construction materials. Structural steel has a higher strength to weight ratio which makes the buildings much lighter yet stronger. Steel construction does not creep or shrink.
With all these factors and numerous other features, structural steel is the best construction material. Most engineers use structural steel to achieve any design, which would otherwise be impossible to create using other materials. If you are convinced of the benefits steel construction offers, you should make use of structural steel in your projects. Also, make sure to only appoint professional structural steel fabricators for your project.
