What Are the Pros and Cons of Steel Construction?
The world relies on steel, with the construction industry accounting for more than half of the planet’s total steel use. Due to the strength of the material, it is commonly used to help build everything from houses to skyscrapers.
Steel is also central in the building of infrastructure. From bridges, tunnels and train tracks to the underground pipelines that distribute water and gas, our society would not be as functional if it weren’t for the use of steel.
There are countless other benefits to steel construction, but there are also numerous things to be cautious of. We’ve put together a little guide to the pros and cons you need to be aware of before you start building.
The Pros
One of the big benefits of building with steel is that it is endlessly recyclable. It’s estimated that at least 25% of the steel used in construction contains recycled steel.
But the use of recycled materials isn’t the only benefit steel has to the environment. 28% of global CO2 emissions are from the operation of buildings, which has led steelmakers to provide energy efficient solutions.
Steel has been used to construct several zero energy buildings worldwide, with the material ensuring strength and durability throughout its life cycle. And once again, the material used to construct these buildings is 100% recyclable.
Recent studies suggest that a significant portion of steel used in America isn’t being recycled. If this changes, it will continue to be the most energy efficient material used in construction.
Another reason that steel is in such high demand is for this reason – it has more strength and durability than any other material used in construction. In buildings, 25% of the total steel use is from creating the structural sections, giving the building a strong and sturdy frame.
From there, steel is used in reinforcing bars which add tensile strength, as well as in sheet products such as roofing, ceilings, and internal walls. Steel binds well to concrete, which makes for a strong structure for any building project.
Steel studs come in a variety of different sizes, meaning the material is ideally suited to bear specific loads. A customizable steel structure ensures it can be used in a vast array of building projects, from small scale residential constructions to the largest skyscrapers.
And no matter what size the building, steel ensures safety in several ways. For starters, the material offers fire resistance, through special flame retardant coatings.
A steel frame construction can drastically halt the spread of a fire if one occurs, meaning properties built with steel are the safest to live in. Fires aren’t the only thing resistant to steel structures either.
Structural steel acts as a pest and insect resistant and is unable to be degraded by burrowing insects and mammals. This is something which proves to be an issue with wooden framework.
Finally, steel structures are resistant to damage from moisture and other weather. Structural steel has moisture resistant properties, and advancements can be made to increase the protection further.
The use of hot zinc coating and extra powder treatments for rust resistance can help further decrease the effects of water to the structure.
The Cons
There are several disadvantages that also need to be taken on board with steel too. Firstly, there’s the thermal conductivity.
The insulation value of walls can be drastically reduced when heat is transferred away via steel studs, which is not good for energy retention. To halt this, insulation measures need to be put in place.
Steel also offers reduced flexibility. It can be customized, but the measurements need to be thoroughly calculated in advance, to be delivered to the site in its final form.
So, while this is a big benefit to using steel, it can also be a hindrance. If you don’t get the measurements right, a building project can be delayed waiting for replacements.
In general, steel also has a longer construction time due to the necessity of various supporting structures. Drywall, heating, insulation, and other wooden components are needed to aid construction, and this simultaneously ensures that few adjustments can be made on site.
Then there are the high maintenance costs. Prior to construction, you need to take note of various external factors that could increase the final cost.
Steel construction ensures safety and durability, with a plethora of additional environmentally friendly benefits. There are downsides, but the positives by far outweigh the negatives.
