Compared to other building materials, structural steel offers unique benefits that many industries and applications rely on. This resilient structural material enables engineers to design, fabricate, and erect a steel building in half the time they could only a few years ago.
Steel is not only the most resilient structural material available, but also the most sustainable. It possesses the highest strength-to-weight ratio compared to other building materials, is easy to repair, and offers superior ductility. Unlike other materials, structural steel is made from recycled scrap metal using pure electricity. Steel will only become more eco-friendly as the power grid expands and increases its use of renewable energy sources.
Structural steel is also one of the most efficient building materials available, adapting open spaces to various designs. Off-site fabrication saves time and money by streamlining the construction process, making structural steel an incredibly economical and reliable choice. The material also features a robust quality certification program that helps prevent defects instead of just correcting them.
Learn more about each of these benefits and how Infra-Metals’ core competencies in structural steel can support your next project.
Adaptability
Using structural steel allows for design flexibility now and in the future. Here are the key ways in which this material can adapt to changing needs.
More Space, Less Framing Material
Thanks to its high strength-to-weight ratio, structural steel can create longer spans and larger bays with fewer, thinner columns. These steel strength capabilities enable more usable floor space and modular floor plans for building developers, owners, and occupants. For instance, a standard steel column occupies 75% less floor space than a comparable concrete column, and integrating HVAC systems into structural cavities can create taller interior spaces with enhanced natural lighting.
Easy Modifications
Steel structures have more efficient frames, making them easier to modify than other structural systems. For example, it is possible to:
- Add stair openings where needed
- Modify the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems without disrupting surrounding structures
- Accommodate additional weight by reinforcing the existing steel members of the structure
Structural steel frames can meet the unique demands of vertical and horizontal expansion. Since steel is a lightweight material, adding floors to an existing structure can be accomplished without significantly impacting the foundation.
Long-Lasting and Eco-Friendly
The most sustainable building is the one that does not have to be built. Selecting a structural steel frame can give a project an eco-friendly boost, saving cost, time, and waste associated with new constructions, replacements, or demolition.
Cost
Due to its design speed and ease of construction, steel is a low-cost structural leader. The versatile material is fabricated off-site during preliminary foundation work and site preparation, contributing to low steel costs as well as the following advantages:
- Reduced on-site labor demands
- Minimal waste during construction
- Earlier occupancies
- Lowered financing costs
Compared to using other materials like concrete, working with structural steel eliminates the risk of misaligned embed plates in concrete and the associated costs of repair work. It also removes the need for builders to wait for the structural system to cure before proceeding with the next task.
Out of all the building materials available, structural steel offers the best sustainability, speed, and quality at the lowest cost.
Quality
Reputable builders rely on domestically produced steel fabricated by American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) certified fabricators and installed by certified erectors. Other building materials cannot match the consistent quality afforded by structural steel. The supply chain for steel is also more technologically advanced. Steel fabrication occurs in controlled conditions, ensuring that what arrives at the job site meets expectations.
Structural steel meets the rigorous quality certification requirements of AISC. Since the program’s inception in 1976, over 1,600 erectors and fabricators throughout the United States have achieved certification with AISC.
AISC-certified fabricators focus on preventing errors instead of error correction to ensure issues get fixed before the materials arrive at the construction site. The AISC steel quality certification program is the most recognized in the construction industry, and other industries use AISC as a model when establishing or modifying their own programs.
Resilience
Unlike other building materials used in the construction industry, structural steel exhibits identical tensile and compressive strengths. It can be pushed or pulled in any direction and maintain its strength, which is especially crucial during an extreme event.
During natural disasters, for example, structural members are often required to transition from being compressed to being in tension. Due to its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, steel is one of the few building materials that can resist failure in these scenarios.
In addition, the unique ductility of steel allows it to handle extreme loads without permanently deforming or cracking. Compared to wood or concrete structures, steel structures are more likely to remain operational and are easier to repair after an extreme event, significantly reducing downtime.
Speed
The supply chain for steel is fully integrated with the most advanced fabrication technologies and vast distribution networks. Domestic structural steel is available throughout the United States, with mills producing tens of millions of metric tons a year, which is enough to meet the supply demands of the construction industry. The country’s vast network of service centers also stocks an extensive inventory of steel products to meet current needs.
Advanced technologies such as computer-aided manufacturing, robotic fabrication, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) streamline all phases of design and construction while facilitating the following advantages:
- Cross-team collaboration
- Reducing project costs
- Eliminating or reducing errors
- Improving safety
Furthermore, structural steel is one of the most efficient construction materials available. The longer spans only achievable using steel result in fewer columns and reduced weight for quicker foundation construction.
Sustainability
The steel economy is circular, with 93% of all new steel being made from recycled steel and 100% of steel being recyclable. Instead of being sent to an incinerator or landfill, decommissioned buildings and bridges made of steel are returned to the mill to be made into new structural steel products.
Consider these interesting facts regarding the sustainability of steel:
- All structural steel manufactured in the United States is fabricated in electric arc furnaces (EAFs), which use pure electricity to melt refrigerators, decommissioned bridges, cars, and other scrap into new steel without losing quality. EAF steel production emits 75% less CO2 than traditional steelmaking methods, with the average new steel product containing 93% recycled steel.
- The United States offers the first net-zero steel in the world. Buyers can access emission-free steel products at scale.
- Steel is recycled more than any other building material, making it an eco-friendly solution that keeps waste from entering landfills.
Structural Steel from Infra-Metals
Infra-Metals is one of the largest structural steel distributors in the U.S., offering a comprehensive line of products in a variety of shapes. We tailor our centers to meet the demands of the regions we serve, and we are committed to providing cost-effective, high-quality materials that meet or exceed our customers’ expectations.
Request a quote today to learn how our expert team can support your next project with high-quality structural steel.