What are the pros and cons of steel structure?

13 Apr.,2024

 

Today, practically all industries have major applications of structural steel. From industry equipment to finished products, structural steel is used everywhere. Buildings, bridges, high-rise buildings, and warehouses are made using structural steel sections. Industry experts prefer the use of structural steel over any other building material for construction. This is mainly because of the innumerable benefits structural steel provides. But as with everything else in the world, there are certain downsides to using structural steel in building structures. Here we are going to focus on the advantages and disadvantages of structural steel structures.

Advantages of Structural Steel Structures
  • Steel is tensile. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio, so it has high strength per unit mass. So no matter how large the overall structure is, the steel sections will be small and lightweight, unlike other building materials.

  • Steel can be easily fabricated and produced massively. Steel sections can be produced off-site at shop floors and then assembled onsite. This saves time and increases the efficiency of the overall construction process.

  • Structural steel is very flexible. You can mold it into any shape without changing its properties. You can convert it into sheets or turn it into wires as per the design.

  • Structural steel is relatively cheap compared to other building materials.

  • It is very durable. Structural steel structures can withstand external pressures such as earthquakes, thunderstorms, and cyclones. A well-built steel structure can last up to 30 years if maintained well.

Disadvantages of Structural Steel Structures
  • Steel is an alloy of iron. This makes it susceptible to corrosion. This problem can be solved to some extent using anti-corrosion applications.

  • It has high maintenance costs as it has to be painted to make it corrosion-resistant

  • There are extensive fireproofing costs involved as steel is not fireproof. In high temperatures, steel loses its properties.

  • Buckling is an issue with steel structures. As the length of the steel column increases, the chances of buckling also increase.

  • Steel has a high expansion rate with changing temperatures. This can be detrimental to the overall structure.

If you are looking for structural steel fabricators, contact us as soon as possible. At Northern Weldarc, we are a team of highly experienced structural steel fabricators. We specialize in oil and gas, commercial, pulp and paper, and petrochemical industries.

Steel frame construction is steadily increasing its market share in the construction and civil engineering sector. However, is steel framing an effective construction method compared to the alternatives? In this article we will weigh out the pros and cons of structural steel frame construction as a guide for developers and design engineers exploring different construction options.

Understanding Steel Frame Construction

Steel frame construction used to be primarily used for large, simple structures, such as garages, large agricultural buildings and warehouses – as well as high-rise buildings. This is how steel frame construction is still understood in popular belief, but it is now also used for a wide range of other types of development, including offices, factories, schools, public buildings and some residential dwellings.

Steel frame construction is a good option for a diversity of projects for many reasons, including:

  • Durability
  • Affordability
  • Sustainability

Structural steel components can quickly be fabricated off-site and then transported to the construction site when needed, minimising onsite labour requirements and reducing the impact of variables that can delay a project, such as adverse weather.

This aside, there are several distinct advantages to steel frame construction from the point of view of fabrication, as well as a couple of disadvantages. These will be noted below:

Advantages of Steel Frame Construction

Steel frame constructions offer the following advantages compared to brick, concrete and wooden constructions.

1) Strength & Durability

Structural steel components are lighter and stronger than weight-bearing wood or concrete products. A typical weight-bearing steel fabrication is 30% to 50% lighter than a wooden equivalent. This makes steel frame construction far stronger and more durable than traditional wood framed alternatives.

2) Easy Fabrication In Different Sizes

Steel studs are available in a variety of sizes and can be fabricated order. This means they can be customised to bear specific loads in buildings of all different types and sizes.

3) Fire Resistance

Steel frame constructions are highly resistant to fire, reducing the fire risk to a building and retarding the spread of a fire should one occur. Special flame retardant coatings act to increase this property of structural steel.

4) Pest & Insect Resistant

Structural steel components are immune to the degrading effects of burrowing insects and mammals – which can cause a problem for wooden framework unless adequately treated.

5) Moisture & Weather Resistance

Structural steel can have good moisture resistant properties, depending on its carbon content. Hot zinc coating and extra powder treatments for enhanced rust resistance will make a structural steel component even more immune to the effects of water – an important consideration for components exposed to the weather.

The Disadvantages of Steel Frame Construction

Steel frame constructions do have a couple of disadvantages, the most regularly cited being:

1) Thermal Conductivity

Steel is not known for its warmth, due to its high efficiency in conducting heat. The insulation value of walls can be reduced by as much as half when heat is transferred away through steel studs, which is not good news for energy retention in a building. Where steel frame construction is used, insulation measures need to be put in place to counteract the thermal conductivity of steel.

2) Reduced Flexibility On Site

One of the benefits of using wooden structural components is the ability to adjust them on site. A component can be cut down to size, nails hammered in to strengthen the join and so on. This obviously can’t happen with steel. The measurements of steel need to be precisely calculated in advance, because a steel fabrication is delivered to site in its final form, ready to be slotted into the building. This is of course one of the big advantages of steel, but if the fabrication has resulted in an inaccurate component for whatever reason, the project may be held up while the framework is sent back to the workshop for adjustment. You can avoid this issue by working with a fabrication company such as GLW, where we take a consultative approach to accuracy and measurements from the very beginning, to avoid any unpleasant surprises on site.

3) Supporting Structures

Steel frame constructions rarely work on their own. They usually require drywall, sheathing, insulation and supplementary wooden components to bring a building together. In the opinion of some construction businesses, this longer construction time is an argument against steel frame constructions, although usually the time savings outweigh any adjustments that need to be made on site.

Steel Frame Constructions For Your Project?

If you are in the planning stages of a development and want help deciding whether steel frame construction is a good choice for you, please get in touch with one of our engineers today. We can talk you through your different fabrication options and explain how structural steel fabrications can increase the sturdiness of your building, reduce building costs and cut construction time.

For a guide to working with subcontractors on structural steel fabrication, please download our new guide: How To Ensure Quality, Compliance & Lead Time When Hiring Steel Fabrication Companies. With sections covering legal compliance, metal finishing, selecting a fabrication partner and common mistakes to avoid; a complimentary copy of the e-book can be accessed by clicking here.

What are the pros and cons of steel structure?

The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Steel Frame Construction