Over the years many developers, builders and architects have put their focus on creating environmentally responsible or sustainable buildings. Steel buildings fit these requirements beautifully! Using a steel building for your next building is an environmentally sound choice as well as a safe one, as steel can be recycled and then remanufactured into new pieces that retain their structural integrity. Steel offers many advantages over wood-frame construction over and above their environmental benefits.
In the past steel was primarily used for railroads and automobiles, today though it is quickly becoming the choice material for new buildings. Due to steel’s resistance to both fire and earthquake it is a favorite building material for areas where these risks are predominant, such as California and Hawaii.
Steel is lightweight, making it easier to work with and cheaper to ship and store than lumber. Steel buildings are also easier to carry and move around a jobsite, so there is less strain put on construction workers who are putting together steel buildings. Steel buildings are manufactured to strict standards to ensure quality, and they do not contain twists or knots like traditional building materials, nor will they ever get them so you’re building with straight parts when you build a steel building which of course, saves in labor and frustration.
Construction-grade steel already uses approximately 70% recycled content and generates very little waste during production. In fact, Absolute Steel buildings are certified to be 67% recycled materials. It is noncombustible and also resists insect infestation. When the steel is no longer needed (such as when a building is demolished) it can be fully recycled into new steel products.
Steel buildings are non-toxic and don’t off-gas, keeping the indoor air free of contaminants. It had a rigid composition that makes it the perfect choice for building in a high-wind area. Steel buildings do not absorb water or dry out so one never has to worry about cracking or rotting during the lifetime of the building.
Did you know steel is the most recycled material in the whole world, since any type of steel can be recycled endless times to make new steel products? It takes 75% less energy to produce recycled steel than new steel. In fact, for every ton of recycled steel produced, 2500lbs of iron ore is saved as well as 1000lbs of coal and 40lbs of limestone.
Steel is certainly the product that should be used to build a strong building, as it will not warp, split or rot, will not grow mold and is extremely resistant to wind, fire and insects. Steel also has about a 200 year lifespan, giving steel buildings more longevity than their lumber-built counterparts.
Although on the surface it would appear that steel framing is more expensive than wood, building with steel offers many advantages that certainly offset the cost. Steel allows for different, more complex designs and hold up better in extreme climates, which in turn leads to lower insurance premiums.
In closing, steel buildings are more energy efficient, have minimal maintenance, and are certainly more environmentally friendly than their wood counterparts. Old steel buildings that are no long maintainable can be 100% recycled into new building materials with a minimum of effect on the environment. If you are considering a switch to a building material that helps the environment while providing a safe and secure place for your business or family then a steel building should be at the top of your list.