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Steel framed building means using steel as the building’s main framing material. Steel framed building are most often used in high rise buildings, Industrial buildings, Warehouse buildings, Residential buildings. Steel, although not a new material is getting more and more attention, especially because it is unique among other major construction materials, as it is fully recyclable. This call of attention to steel framed building has also been driven by the following facts: Steel offers sustainability credentials through the whole life-cycle of a building; adaptability and flexibility, since parts can be easily added or taken off or demounted; steel allows low operation as well as effective embodied energy; high strength-weight ratio; offsite manufacture, allowing just in time deliverables, better safety and health conditions for workers, higher product quality and quicker production and building construction ; bigger life span, accomplished by gathering the other characteristics;
Using steel in steel framed building is sustainable. Steel is amazingly hardy and durable, making it an ideal building material from environmental and economic standpoint. It retains its original dimensions even in extreme weather. This means steel framed building requires little maintenance. Speed of construction of steel framed buildings delivers an economic benefit too, which is fundamental to sustainable development. The sector on-site period reduces the period of financing and delivers buildings that are operational faster-providing a quicker return on investment from rent or sale. Steel is the material of choice for design because it is inherently ductile and flexible. It flexes under extreme loads rather than crushing or crumbling. Many of the beam-to-column connections in steel framed building are designed principally to support gravity loads. They also have a considerable capacity to resist lateral loads caused by wind and earthquakes. Steel framed building have been known to resist earthquakes of magnitude up to 7.9 on the Richter scale.
Steel plays an essential role in sustainability. Steel is 100% recyclable. Its longevity and adaptability refers that it can be recycled not just once, but over and over again. Building can be deconstructed and the steel reused in whole or broken into reusable parts. Steel has a reclaimed rate of about 98% (AISC 2010). This is a huge aspect of steel’s green status, as non-recyclable goods place a heavy strain on the solid waste stream and require landfills. By building with steel one does not need to make use of fresh raw materials, which can be an environmental and also economic burden. Moreover, all steel is made from roughly 90% recycled material, and the water used in steel production is recycled, generally coming out the purer for it. Steel has low pollution output. Steel is lightweight so it is cheaper and easier to transport than heavier alternatives. This help to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. Steel, which is efficient and predictable, also leads to very little site waste as on-site construction can be very exact. Combining by many of the steel and prefabrication industries is further reducing even that the degree of pollution. Steel is safe. Its use in buildings carries no health hazards. Steel creates an allergen and dust free environment, with no harmful chemicals leading to respiratory or the other health complications. Steel framed buildings do not require any type of special treatments to prevent mold, decay or insect infestation. Steel cannot absorb moisture and therefore cannot host any bacteria that would compromise the health of the home’s habitant. It is therefore an ideal building material, as a core aim of environmentalism is creating long-term safe environments for people. Steel, all by itself, can serve as part of the fire protection system, enhancing safety and reducing loss of assets. Steel, being one of the strongest possible materials, can support thicker layers of insulation without compromising structural integrity. With thicker insulation, home do not lose as much heat in the winter (or cool in the summer) and this cuts costs on home energy bill. An insulated steel framed home can save at least 30% off in energy bill. If saving energy due to home’s superior insulation is not enough it can be said that steel framed buildings are amazingly strong and can support solar panel without a problem. Solar panel can add value to home while it also reduces energy bill.
Steel is one of the most sustainable building material in the world. Steel framed structures can last for hundreds of years, making them cost effective as well as sustainable. Steel scrap is an essential ingredient in making new steel and a 2000 square foot steel framed home uses the equivalent of six scrapped cars. Steel has been proving its sustainable potential and taking big steps towards the built environment sustainability.