Why Structural Steel Enjoys Widespread Popularity in Today's Construction World

As part of construction planning, project managers must consider what materials they need to use on a proposed construction project. Choosing the right building materials is essential for ensuring that the completed structures will be safe, operational, and within the projected cost estimates.

With that said, it's almost impossible to talk about the structural ingenuity of modern structures without mentioning structural steel. From beams and piles to plates, bars, pipes, and rods, structural steel components are available in a wide variety of shapes to suit the requirements of different construction projects. Structural steel can be used for building ships, skyscrapers, bridges, dams, industrial sheds, stadia, transmission line towers, and many other large structures.

If you want to know why structural steel has become one of the most widely used construction materials, you should keep reading.

Structural steel is a high-strength building material

To build strong structures, construction contractors must use building materials that have high strength. Of the many different types of construction materials available on today's market, no material beats the strength of steel.

In fact, structural steel alternatives like reinforced concrete use steel for additional strength. This explains why structural steel is favoured for building applications that require high compressive and tensile strength to withstand the various forces and stresses that structures may be subjected to.

Structural steel is a long-lasting material

Structural steel structures are not just strong: they're also built to withstand extreme weather events such as hurricanes and earthquakes without suffering significant damage.

The only significant threat to the longevity of steel structures is corrosion damage, but this concern is addressed by adding a protective coating to steel parts during the fabrication process. This helps to prevent the substrate steel from getting corroded in certain environments, thus extending the lifespan of the built structures.

Structural steel is a great choice for the environment

As the need to minimise the environmental impact of construction activities becomes more apparent, structural steel is increasingly being viewed as a sustainable choice towards the construction of greener structures.

While steel has a higher embodied energy than non-steel alternatives like wood and concrete, the longer lifespan and less need for ongoing maintenance make it an excellent choice for the environment. It can take decades or even centuries before steel structures have to be replaced. This helps to reduce the demand for new construction materials.

Plus, the steel recovered from end-of-life structures can be recycled. This means that the lifespan of old steel that would otherwise end up at landfill sites can be extended by converting it into recycled products.

The above discussion is only intended to give you a small idea of the benefits that structural steel brings when used in construction. If you'd like to learn more, feel free to talk to the experts at a local construction company.