The Benefits of steel frame structure systems

What comes to your mind when you think of steel frame architecture? Cold, drab, communist-style structures? Wrong. 

You only need to have been resident in the UK for a short while to know the Ritz hotel, Kodak building, and Waterloo terminal. They are all architectural masterpieces located in London, and they have one thing in common — they were all built using steel frame architecture! 

At the time they were built, steel frame architecture was a relatively new technology, and investing millions in building with it was considered a giant leap for mankind. 

Fast forward to now, these structures have gone on to stand the test of time, and steel frame architecture has grown to become the construction system of choice in the civil engineering industry. Whether hybrid construction projects that use both steel and wood, or full-throttle metal building projects, there is a luxury of options for the modern builder to select from. 

In this post, we’ve stepped into the shoes of the modern builder to chalk out the pros and cons of steel frame architecture, and why we consider it preferable to the more standard wooden frame technology:

Pros

Below, we highlight the advantages offered by steel frame technology over the more traditional wood in building and architecture.

• Eco-friendly & Sustainable

Over 80 million tons of steel goes into recycling each year. So it hardly requires analysis to see that steel is one of the most recyclable materials in civil engineering. Wood, on the other hand, is a mostly single-use, one-and-done material. Also, the steel industry, conscious of its environmental responsibility and obligations, regularly finds new and improved ways to cut down its energy use and emissions levels. This makes Steel frame structure systems gain the nod of approval of many a builder.

For context, the steel industry:

• Recycles more than 80 million tons of steel annually

• Has reduced the energy required to produce/recycle steel by 28%, compared to in 1990.

• Has succeeded in reducing its carbon footprint by 30%

Wood, on the other hand, requires trees to be cut down, thus bringing about negative impacts on our ecosystem.

Also, buildings built with steel frames are usually more energy-efficient, compared to those built with wooden frames. Steel, being an extremely sturdy material, holds everything strongly in place, creating an air-tight seal that insulates the inside from the outside environment.

• Tough as nails — Steel frame structures are stronger and more durable

Wood is susceptible to insect and pest attacks, even when all recommended preventive measures are taken. Steel on the other hand isn’t. Also, wood is not very weather resistant, it absorbs moisture. Meanwhile, weather conditions only cause steel to expand and contract. And this contraction and expansion are accounted for in the design of the structure. So, the weather rarely has a negative effect on steel structures.

Without question, Steel is a lot stronger than wood. Due to its high tensile strength, it can bear nearly twice as much weight as wood can. Also, steel is more durable and takes far more time to deteriorate compared to wood. So, if you are looking out for the longevity of your project, steel is your guy.

• Fire resistant

Alas! A building material the firefighters can thank you for — steel. Wood is flammable, and in the event of any fire outbreak, will quickly get burnt up, leading to the collapse of the entire structure. Steel on the other hand is not flammable, only melts under extremely high temperatures, and will preserve structural integrity in the event of a fire outbreak.

• Guarantees faster build time

The cliche goes, ‘time is money’, and in real estate, the faster you build, the faster you can recoup your expenses, pay back your loans and begin to make profits. 

Using steel frame architecture greatly shortens your project build time. And that’s because steel parts are usually pre-fabricated and only need to be put together at the building site. Unlike wood which usually still requires some fashioning. For instance, the steel structure of the empire state building in New York was erected in only 6 months and total construction was completed in only a year.

• It’s more cost-effective and gives the best bang for your buck!

In the light of its various properties, it is safe to say that steel is more cost-effective than wood. Since it’s more durable and resistant to fire, weather, and insect damage, it lasts longer and so, does not need to be replaced as frequently as wood would need to. Also, since it saves build time, it allows your property to come into service early, which if it is for commercial purposes, translates into earnings.

Cons

While we might love to wax lyrical about steel frame architecture might be the best thing since sliced bread, we however do not deny that steel frame architecture comes with certain disadvantages. Here, we reel out some of the most notable downsides to using steel frames.

• It’s got higher heat conductivity

Steel is a much better conductor of heat compared to wood and will conduct a significant portion of the heat inside a building away, which in turn increases the building’s energy needs. But there’s a way out of this, though. To prevent this, builders have to put in place sufficient insulation materials.

• Not usually adjustable, on-site

As we have said earlier, steel components are usually prefabricated at factories and are only assembled at build sites. This hampers flexibility. When building with wood, if one piece appears to be out of size, it can be quickly shaved down. On the other hand, steel components that don’t fit have to be put aside and left unused.

• Requires secondary components

You can build a structure using entirely wood. But you cannot do the same using steel. Steel architecture always requires secondary components, including wood itself, to be put up a solid structure alongside the steel frame.

Parting Thoughts

Granted. The benefits of structural Steel may seem innumerable, but the outcome of using steel frame structure systems is often highly dependent on other factors like the experience level of your builder, and the quality of the materials. These two factors go a long way in ensuring your buildings have a formidable structure that is not vulnerable to external forces of weather, moisture, and the effluxion of time. 

If you’re planning building/development and are caught in two minds regarding whether to use steel or wooden frames, why don’t you get in touch with us and let our engineers show you all there is to know?