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Using
Steel in Construction
Article
written
by www.steelbuildingsindustry.com
In
the last few years, the use of steel in construction has seen
phenomenal growth. Although
steel buildings
have been around for
a long time in the commercial and industrial sectors, they are
gracing the skylines of countries all around the world with
increasing frequency.
The
use of various metals in the construction industry began in the
1700s with the placement of iron columns within walls. Over
time, iron beams and columns became common features in large
industrial buildings. Then in 1855, Sir Henry Basserner invented
steel and it immediately became an integral part of the
construction of buildings, bridges, pipelines
and later,
skyscrapers. Because wood was expensive and impacted the
environment negatively, steel quickly became the popular choice
in construction.
Using
steel in
constructing buildings
has many advantages.
Construction using steel is generally much faster than when
using other materials, and the costs are usually lower compared
to conventional building methods. Steel buildings weigh less and
are easier to maintain. They carry a reduced risk of fire as
well and are more durable and last longer.
In
addition, steel is 66 percent recyclable, which makes it
especially cost effective and environmentally sound. Its
strength is also a major advantage.
Steel structures
can
withstand severe weather conditions such as hurricanes, heavy
snows, and even earthquakes. Moreover, they are resistant to
termites, creeping, cracks, splitting, and rotting. They are
extremely durable.
Although
steel-framed homes
are still a little more expensive than
traditional wood-framed homes, they are more energy efficient,
which saves money, and they require less maintenance. This makes
them an attractive alternative to other construction options.
It’s also easy to give them a conventional appearance by
covering the metal with traditional building materials like
bricks, siding, or stucco. Insurance costs are lower due to the
decreased risk of fire. Other benefits include lower assembly
and labor costs. The cost of building materials is also less due
to modern prefabrication design technologies. These have played
a major role in the growth of the steel building systems
industry, enabling fast and precise design and fabrication.
Steel
building frames and other products are made of recycled steel.
No less than 28 percent of steel frames are made of recycled
steel, which can be recycled in turn. The use of steel in
construction is better for the environment than wood, as a
typical 2,000-square-foot home uses the wood from about 50
trees. The same house built with steel requires only about six
scrapped automobiles.
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