Structural steel, an iron alloy, has become a go-to material in today’s construction industry. Its versatility, strength and economic benefits have made it a popular choice for a wide range of applications, from skyscrapers to bridges. Below we take a look at six advantages of using structural steel in construction projects to shape the built environment.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website TIANYING.
One compelling reason for choosing structural steel is its cost-effectiveness. Structural steel is reported to typically cost five to seven percent less than concrete, making it an economical choice for many construction projects. Because a majority of steel used today comes from recycled materials, the price of steel tends to remain more stable over time, providing predictability in budgeting.
Steel production
The lightweight nature of steel compared to other materials translates into reduced transportation and installation costs. Since steel components can be prefabricated, they can be assembled onsite faster, reducing labor hours and expediting project timelines. This efficiency reduces costs while minimizing disruptions, making structural steel an ideal choice for projects with time and budget constraints.
Durability is a significant advantage of structural steel. When constructed with quality standards and with proper maintenance, structural steel buildings can last a century or more. The high tensile strength of steel enables it to withstand seismic and wind forces without compromising structural integrity.
In addition, structural steel is resistant to corrosion, mold and termites. These characteristics make it a preferred material for residential construction, especially in regions prone to extreme weather conditions. The longevity and resilience of steel make it economical by reducing the need for frequent repairs and upkeep.
Structural steel offers unique flexibility in construction. As a ductile and malleable material, it can be shaped and customized to meet specific design requirements. Whether for curved structures, long spans or intricate architectural details, steel can be adapted to meet aesthetic and functional needs.
The flexibility of steel also extends to modifications and expansions, particularly in reconfiguring commercial and industrial projects. Structural steel allows easier alterations to existing structures, enabling architects and engineers to make changes or additions with minimal disruption.
Safety is an overriding goal in construction, and using steel can help ensure it. Many of the steel components used in construction are manufactured and fabricated offsite in controlled environments, where stringent quality assurance processes can be applied. This reduces the likelihood of errors during assembly and enhances overall safety on the jobsite.
Steel can also be treated with specialized coatings to improve its water and fire resistance. With the ability to withstand natural disasters, such as earthquakes and storms, it brings long term safety benefits. With steel, construction companies can mitigate risks and protect the workforce as well as future occupants of the building.
Another key advantage of structural steel is its superior strength-to-weight ratio. While steel is lighter than other structural materials, it offers exceptional load-bearing capacity. This high strength relative to weight makes steel ideal for constructing tall buildings and long-span bridges where structural integrity is critical.
The lighter weight of steel also makes it easier to transport to a construction site, reducing logistical challenges and costs. The combination of strength and light weight makes steel a versatile and practical choice for a wide range of applications.
Sustainability is a growing concern in our current culture. Often referred to as “infinitely recyclable,” meaning it can be recycled and repurposed without losing its properties, steel is an environmentally friendly option. It reduces the demand for new raw materials, minimizing the environmental impact of construction.
Scrap steel melting
The use of steel also results in minimal waste, because components can be precisely manufactured to meet project specifications. This efficiency benefits the environment and enhances the overall profitability of the project. By working with steel, builders can contribute to sustainable practices while optimizing their budgets.
The advantages of using structural steel in construction are clear. Its features combine to make it a preferred material for many types of projects. Whether for commercial, residential or industrial, steel offers a reliable and efficient solution that meets the demands of modern construction while contributing to a more sustainable future.
Push the boundaries of Autodesk Advance Steel with PowerPack for Advance Steel.
Reach out today to learn about the 30-day FREE TRIAL.
Your journey to modeling the future starts here.
The selection of structural steel for a building's framing system brings numerous benefits to a project. All other materials are measured against the standard of structural steel and structural steel is still the material of choice. These benefits include:
Structural steel enhances construction productivity because of its shop fabrication while maintaining tight construction tolerances. Field placed material will always lag behind...
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Steel Construction Engineering. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
3-D interoperability and Building Information Modeling allows the close cooperation between designers and steel specialty contractors in the design, fabrication and erection of steel structures. This technology allows designs to save both time and dollars in the construction process.
Rapid erection in all seasons with close tolerances being maintained for integration with other building systems and minimal construction site waste is achievable with structural steel.
Today, when competing framing systems are evaluated for projects using comparable, current cost data, structural steel remains the cost leader for the majority of construction projects. Comparative studies indicate that a structural steel framing system including decking and fire protection will typically cost 5% to 7% less than a concrete framing system on a national basis.
Architects praise the natural beauty of steel and are excited about exposing it in the design of their structures to emphasize grace, slenderness, strength and transparency of frame.
Structural steel allows the project architect a greater degree of expression and creativity in their design than most other construction materials.
Structural steel sections can be bent and rolled to create non-linear members to further enhance the aesthetic appeal of the structure.
All other materials talk about high strength, but their strength is still less than that of structural steel even when enhanced by steel reinforcing. In fact, the increase in the standard strength of steel used in buildings today compared to 10 years ago is greater than the total strength of competing "high strength" materials. Structural steel is typically 50 ksi material indicating that the steel has a yield stress of 50,000 pounds per square inch in both compression and tension.
Sustainability is structural steel's middle name. Structural steel is the most recycled material on our planet -- today's structural steel is made of 88% recycled product, is fully recyclable in the future and can be reused without further processing.
The recycling rate of structural steel and automobiles at the end of their life is greater than 100%. Rather than utilizing land for quarrying operations to provide aggregates or as landfills for construction material waste, structural steel is emptying salvage yards allowing that land to be used for other purposes.
Today demolitions are often paying for the opportunity to demolish and scrap a structural steel framed building because of the value of the structural steel. By contrast buildings using other materials cost between $3 and $10 per square foot to demolish, scrap and landfill.
New systems such as Girder-Slab®, Conxtech® and Side-Plate® have recently entered the market in response to designer demands for new approaches to projects. They join ongoing innovations addressing issues such as long-span deck systems, fire protection, connection optimization, coating systems and progressive collapse!
The structural steel industry continues to pioneer new innovations for both the material and the use of structural steel.
The structural steel industry pioneered the movement toward open standards and interoperable software that has most recently resulted in the growth in popularity of Building Information Modeling. In 's the industry adopted CIS/2 as a standard data protocol for the exchange of information between structural design, detailing and manufacturing/fabrication programs. The result was that software programs from different vendors were suddenly able to exchange model based information beyond simple geometry. Projects taking advantage of this vertical integration within the structural steel industry were able to demonstrate cost savings of up to 20% on the structural package.
Structural steel buildings can be modified in the future for new applications, loading conditions, vertical expansions and changes in owner desires in ways that other framing systems can never accomplish.
Existing steel columns and beams can be strengthened through the attachment of steel plate to the flanges or web of sections allowing for greater loads. New stairways can be added to existing steel framed buildings by removing a portion of the floor decking, bracing a single bay and adding the desired stair structure. These types of changes can be accomplished with little disruption while the building is still occupied.
It is not unusual for a structural steel building to have additional floors added even years after the building was originally completed.
Structural steel buildings optimize building space efficiency through the use of slender columns maximizing useable floor space, longer spans for open, column-free spaces and the integration of HVAC systems into structural spaces allowing reduction of floor-to-floor heights.
The typical steel column occupies 75% less floor space than an equivalent concrete column. At the same time structural steel allows longer spans that eliminate intermediate columns creating open floor areas ideal for today's office layouts.
Parking structures benefit from smaller structural steel columns and longer spans as well.
Structural steel is manufactured and fabricated under controlled conditions using modern quality assurance processes. The final strength of the material is verified at the point of production, not after the material is already placed in the frame of the building. Structural steel is shop fabricated to close tolerances impossible for site cast materials.
The company is the world’s best Steel Structure Workshop supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.