Many consumers and builders are favoring, more and more, the use of steel framing as the principal construction material in industrial, commercial, and institutional building projects. This is due in large part to the exceptional quality inherent in steel and the advantages it offers to any application. The following article focuses in on those advantages.
The first thing to consider is that steel is a superior construction material. It is strong and durable and does not have the warping, wasting, and leakage problems that come with the use of other types of building materials. Steel has a consistent material quality and is manufactured under strict production guidelines. Steel is inorganic but is a 100% recyclable product. It will not warp, split, crack or creep lie other building materials. Steel also has the highest strength to weight ratio of any building material available. Steel is not vulnerable to the insect infestations or fungi or organism invasions that plague other building materials. The use of high steel strength results in the assembly of much safer structures. There is virtually no maintenance with a steel structure and the service life of the building can exceed 25, 30 or more years. Steel structures can meet or exceed all local building codes.
There are many benefits to builders who assemble steel buildings. Steel is actually lighter than other framing materials. The pre-engineering of steel structures allows for straight walls and square corners. The field cutting or pre-punching of framed openings allows for windows and doors to close as they should. The customer who purchases a steel building perceives steel as a better building material. There is up to 20% less scrap and waste when using steel as a building material. There is also a small punch list and need for returns for repairs. There is also easier material selection with steel. There is no need to cut or sort and there are no warps, slits o9r knots. All studs in the building are straight and true. Steel is a stable material and the interior and exterior walls will not crack or split. There is less site clean up, hauling, and landfill expenses with steel construction.
Consumers should also realize the advantages of using a steel structure. Steel is a non-combustible product and does not burn and will not contribute fuel to spread any fire. A steel building is also dimensionally stable. It does not warp or contract with temperature and moisture fluctuations. There is consistent material quality with the use of steel. It is produced is strict adherence to national standards and suffers from no regional variations. The high strength of steel makes it a safer structure to occupy. Steel buildings are not vulnerable to termite infestation or chemical pesticide degrading. There is less probability of any foundation problems as the lesser weight of a steel building results in less potential for movement. Finally, steel structures are resilient to earthquakes, hurricanes, hail storms, snow loads. They are a lighter structure with stronger connections that results in less seismic impact on the building.