Construction continues to be one of the mainstays of the world economy reshaping skylines and the entire economies of practically every country in the world with job creation and the provision of crucial amenities and infrastructure to citizens.
The origins of the skyscraper boom were in the innovation of new materials and construction techniques which were better suited to supporting high rise buildings even in the face of strenuous environmental conditions. High-grade steel is one of those materials, and arguably the most important of them.
Examples of projects where high-grade steel is making the difference abound, include the Hudson Yards of New York City where the high-grade structural steel is being supplied by Mana Barmill, a company which also supplies the material to other major construction projects across North America, especially those where the structural engineers are aiming to create more architecturally challenging designs.
Still, in the open market, there’s not enough enthusiasm as one might expect for high-grade steel among commercial developers, primarily for reasons of cost. While that is understandable, recent reports have shown various benefits which outweigh mere price considerations and place high-grade steel as the material for the future, for buildings of every size and structure.
Durability
Beyond the actual construction of the building, its maintenance and upkeep are very important considerations to developers, and that’s one of the areas where the steel adopters are ahead of the curve. Steel requires little maintenance, and even over the course of 50 years or more, the amount that will be expended on fixing or replacing components will be significantly less than what other materials would require.
In fact, the fact that high-grade steel is very resilient and practically impervious to high winds, heavy snow loads, pests, decay and even fire and seismic activities has been acknowledged by the insurance industry. Insurance companies often offer lower premiums on policies they underwrite for steel-based buildings.
Speed and Efficiency
Unlike alternative materials like wood, steel can easily be pre-fabricated to specific, highly accurate designs inside a factory before being shipped out to a site, ready to erect. The effect of this on construction time can be massive, with the benefits increasing along with the size and complexity of the project. Large-scale projects can and have been completed in weeks using this method.
The possibility of errors that’ll cost time and effort is also reduced since the fabrication process is highly quality controlled in a way that would be very difficult to achieve for materials that need to be fabricated on site. The likelihood that a component would be assembled and then have to be dismantled because a part of it has the wrong dimensions is greatly reduced.
Versatility
Architectural creativity is one other area where steel shines. Engineers working with the material will have practically no limitations in terms of the shapes and patterns they can mold it into, whether it’s being used as part of the structural reinforcement or for any other purpose.
Unlike other materials which might not be able to withstand the contortions necessary for very unique designs, steel is perfect for use in everything from clear span buildings such as airplane hangars, warehouses, agricultural buildings to tall skyscrapers with challenging designs. In all these situations, the appeal of high-grade steel for developers is that the safety of the building will not have to be compromised even in the most unconventional designs.
If you’re a structural engineer, developer, or architect, take a look at higher grades of steel rebar. With more efficient production techniques and sourcing of materials, the use of high-grade structural steel is more economical than ever.
