What Are The Advantages of Steel Frame Construction?

Understanding Steel Frame Buildings

A steel frame structure is the 'skeletal frame' which a building is constructed around. It consists of horizontal steel beams and vertical columns, assembled in a grid-like structure to support the weight load of a building's floors, walls, and roofs. We refer to a building that was built around a steel frame as a 'steel frame building'.

Advantages Of Steel Frame Construction

Steel frame structures are slowly becoming the norm in the construction industry for a large number of reasons. Let’s have a closer look at what makes steel an appealing material to use in large-scale construction work:

Strength And Durability

If you want your building to last, steel should be the number one choice for your framework. Steel frame structure buildings can carry heavy loads and stand against the pressure of wind and even earthquakes. This durable material will also last a lot longer without any need for repairs or maintenance over the years.

Steel is 30-50% lighter than wood and has up to 7 times greater strength-to-weight ratio. This means a lot less effort is spent during the construction process, for a result that will be a lot stronger.

Steel also has very high dimensional stability. This means that, unlike weight-bearing wood or concrete products, steel columns won't expand or contract from high moisture. They will also not crack or split when exposed to harsh weather effects. Because of this, a steel framework will maintain its structural integrity in the long run even in mid to large-scale construction projects.

Easy Fabrication

Another big advantage of using steel in construction work is that it greatly simplifies the building process. Structural steel components are usually fabricated off-site in a specialised workshop and transported on-site when needed. This means:

• less on-site labour and faster construction time once all material is delivered.

• fewer potential delays caused by things like harsh weather.

Steel studs can also be made to order and easily customised for specific weight loads and sizes.

Fire Resistant Properties

Steel is a great option for increased fire safety. Due to high fire retardant properties, steel frameworks reduce the risk of flames spreading throughout the building in the case of a fire. Structural steel will melt at around 1,500 Celsius (°C), a temperature which most building fires never reach.

You can also treat steel with a special flame-retardant coating to increase its fire resistance and decrease your building’s fire risk even further.

Pest & Insect Resistance

Insects and other burrowing mammals are known to cause massive issues in wooden framework buildings, especially if the wood isn't treated properly. This is not an issue for steel structures, which are immune to any degradation caused by insects and vermin.

Weatherproof

Structural steel frames also hold very well against harsh weather and increased moisture levels.

We recommend adding extra hot zinc coating or powder treatments to further increase the steel's resistance to rust, corrosion, and mold. After all, your steel will face constant exposure, so it's important to ensure your framework gets all the protection it needs to withstand snow, rain, and other environmental effects.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a big concern nowadays for construction businesses. That's why it's important to ensure the building process stays as environmentally friendly as possible.

The good news is - steel frame buildings have the lowest environmental impact among all other materials. Since it is much more lightweight, steel requires less energy to produce, as well as less fuel to transport to the construction site.

Not only that, but steel is currently the most recycled material on the planet, with roughly 40% of the total amount of produced steel being recycled into new constructions. Due to its qualities, steel can also be recycled over and over again without losing durability.

What Can Steel Frame Constructions Be Used For?

As we've seen above, steel has many inherent properties that make it ideal for a wide range of construction projects, including but not limited to:

• Agricultural buildings

• Commercial buildings

• Offices

• Garages

• High-rise buildings

• Residential projects

• Warehouses

• Public buildings

• Industrial buildings and factories

Things To Consider When Using Steel Frame Constructions

While there are many advantages to using steel frames in construction projects, this material does not come without its fair share of challenges. Here are some of the most important considerations for a successful steel building:

Insulation

Steel is an excellent conductor of heat. Sadly, this is not an upside when it comes to steel framework buildings, as it means that they might not have the best heat retention. Because of that, steel framework buildings will usually need extra insulation to make up for the material’s high thermal conductivity.

Proper insulation ensures that the building provides a comfortable working or living environment for those inside. It also increases the energy efficiency of the building, leading to lower energy bills in the long run.

Reduced Flexibility

A big upside when it comes to wooden frameworks is the flexibility of the material.

It is very easy to make adjustments to the wood while on site, such as cutting down a structural component to adjust the size or hammering in nails to strengthen a joint. With steel, however, everything needs to be measured in advance with high precision, as steel is usually made in advance and delivered on-site when ready to be assembled. If there are any inaccuracies when measuring your steel parts, that can lead to further delays in the project.

It is important to hire contractors who specialise in steel framework buildings and know how to use this construction material in the most efficient ways possible. Nowadays, computer modelling can also be used to calculate the exact sizes for each steel component with zero error, for the most accurate measurements.

Location

Different types of steel will respond differently to humidity and varying temperatures. 

For example, buildings constructed in areas with high moisture and rain might require corrosion-resistant building materials like stainless or galvanised steel to keep their integrity long-term with little maintenance. For hot or coastal areas, on the other hand, marine-grade steel might be a better fit.

Hiring a local business for your steel framework project means working with experts who understand the needs of your area in terms of climate.

Highest Quality Steel Frame Construction With Leominster Construction

With over 50 years of experience, our knowledgeable builders at Leominster Construction know the ins and outs of steel framing. With a complete turnkey process from initial designs and steel fabrication to large-scale construction work, we create energy-efficient and weatherproof agricultural builds, warehouses, commercial buildings, and more.

Read more about our services or contact us today to discuss your next project.