Out of countless building materials available, structural steel has a high stake in the market of industrial and commercial buildings. What makes this material such a popular choice of most builders is the long list of facts and benefits.
If you don't know much about this material, then there's a lot that you need to know about structural steel and steel buildings. And if you are planning to start a new construction project, these facts can be extremely helpful for you. Here's everything that you must know about structural steel buildings.
1. Steel is a Robust Alloy
Structural steel is an alloy comprised of iron along with varying amounts of carbon. Steel also has additional materials such as manganese, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, silicon and boron also included in its composition. This material is roughly 1,000 times stronger than iron in its purest form. This robust alloy is ideal to build extremely strong and tough steel buildings that are exposed to minimum damage over time.
2. Steel Buildings are Self-supporting
The strength-to-weight ratio of steel is high, which also implies that it provides the high self-supporting ability to buildings. The foundation and main framework of any building made of structural steel provide enough support to the entire structure. Steel buildings don't require additional pillars or beams to support the structure. This means that structural steel is ideal for building commercial and industrial buildings that require huge, open interiors. Structural steel is the only logical choice of metal or alloy that can be used to build structures without any interior supports.
3. Steel Buildings Possess Structural Integrity
When you look at wooden structures or concrete buildings, their surfaces are porous. This facilitates humidity to enter the material and eventually destroy the structural integrity. But when it comes to steel, it is much less permeable than wood and concrete. Humidity, snowfall, rain, and other harsh climatic conditions can never take a toll on steel buildings and affect their functioning. This is possible because structural steel is a highly robust and resistant material. Apart from these, steel buildings can withstand the stresses and pressures of all kinds imposed through environmental conditions and human use without affecting integrity. Coating building parts with zinc and using galvanized steel are some ways to make buildings even stronger and retain their structural integrity.
4. Steel Buildings can Withstand Harsh Weather Conditions
A building is exposed to natural conditions all the time. There will be days when it will be exposed to extreme environmental conditions that can cause an immense impact on the structure. Structural steel buildings can withstand strong winds, storms, rainfall, cyclone, temperature fluctuations, or any other natural condition. It won't crack and break like concrete when subjected to extreme temperature changes. It can bend without cracking as it absorbs significant amounts of energy with ease. Also, steel buildings can be coated with barrier coatings, so they are not exposed to corrosion caused due to moisture or rain.
5. Steel Buildings Fare Well With Moisture, Heat and Pests
There is a long list of elements that structural steel is resistant to. Firstly, structural steel is resistant to corrosion, rust, oxidation, and other deterioration types due to the high levels of carbon in it. Although steel can corrode, it does so at a slow-moving pace. This means that structural steel is ideal for buildings that come in direct contact with water and moisture. Secondly, steel buildings are inorganic and do not offer a source of food upon which mold can grow. Thirdly, the material has a very high melting point, making steel buildings non-combustible. Thus, this material is preferred to erect buildings and structures in extremely warm places. Lastly, steel buildings are virtually impermeable to infestation. Birds and insects like wasps, bees, beetles, and termites can never damage steel structures.
6. Steel is Reusable
Structural steel can be reused multiple times without compromising on its properties. It doesn't lose its strength, integrity, or other advantages such as ductility and malleability even after being recycled several times. Let's take, for instance, structural steel used in modular construction. The material that is discarded or isn't used while fabricating components of a modular steel building aren't thrown away. They are broken down and reused for the next modular project. And this reuse is not only limited to manufacturing modules. It can be used for different purposes, say fabricating car spare parts or minor accessories used in a steel building. The new structures, buildings, or accessories are as robust as the first building module made.
As the most recycled material on the planet, steel earns high marks as a "green" building material.
7. Steel Lasts Long
You read all the unbelievable properties of structural steel. The material is resistant, reusable, and environment-friendly. Not surprisingly, steel buildings outperform other structures. They not only last decades longer than other types of buildings, but also hold their value better too.
Some other quick steel facts:
- Structural steel is used in almost every industry, including energy, construction sector, housing, automotive and transportation, infrastructure, packing, and machinery.
- Steel, like any other metal, expands when heated. Hence, the Eiffel Tower is around 6 inches taller in warmer months than during the winter.
- China is currently the largest producer of steel, with near 50% of the world’s steel production.
Different types of structures for which structural steel is ideal include, but aren't limited to, commercial buildings, industrial estates, manufacturing plants, factories, warehouses, godowns, showrooms, religious buildings, stores, restaurants, etc. Depending on what type of building or structure you are planning to have, you can explain your expectations to our steel building experts. They will give you the timeline and share the pricing based on the scope of your project.
