Steel frame construction is steadily increasing its market share in the construction and civil engineering sector. However, is steel framing an effective construction method compared to the alternatives? In this article we will weigh out the pros and cons of structural steel frame construction as a guide for developers and design engineers exploring different construction options.
Understanding Steel Frame Construction
Steel frame construction used to be primarily used for large, simple structures, such as garages, large agricultural buildings and warehouses – as well as high-rise buildings. This is how steel frame construction is still understood in popular belief, but it is now also used for a wide range of other types of development, including offices, factories, schools, public buildings and some residential dwellings.
Steel frame construction is a good option for a diversity of projects for many reasons, including:
- Durability
- Affordability
- Sustainability
Structural steel components can quickly be fabricated off-site and then transported to the construction site when needed, minimising onsite labour requirements and reducing the impact of variables that can delay a project, such as adverse weather.
This aside, there are several distinct advantages to steel frame construction from the point of view of fabrication, as well as a couple of disadvantages. These will be noted below:
Advantages of Steel Frame Construction
Steel frame constructions offer the following advantages compared to brick, concrete and wooden constructions.
1) Strength & Durability
Structural steel components are lighter and stronger than weight-bearing wood or concrete products. A typical weight-bearing steel fabrication is 30% to 50% lighter than a wooden equivalent. This makes steel frame construction far stronger and more durable than traditional wood framed alternatives.
2) Easy Fabrication In Different Sizes
Steel studs are available in a variety of sizes and can be fabricated order. This means they can be customised to bear specific loads in buildings of all different types and sizes.
3) Fire Resistance
Steel frame constructions are highly resistant to fire, reducing the fire risk to a building and retarding the spread of a fire should one occur. Special flame retardant coatings act to increase this property of structural steel.
4) Pest & Insect Resistant
Structural steel components are immune to the degrading effects of burrowing insects and mammals – which can cause a problem for wooden framework unless adequately treated.
5) Moisture & Weather Resistance
Structural steel can have good moisture resistant properties, depending on its carbon content. Hot zinc coating and extra powder treatments for enhanced rust resistance will make a structural steel component even more immune to the effects of water – an important consideration for components exposed to the weather.
The Disadvantages of Steel Frame Construction
Steel frame constructions do have a couple of disadvantages, the most regularly cited being:
1) Thermal Conductivity
Steel is not known for its warmth, due to its high efficiency in conducting heat. The insulation value of walls can be reduced by as much as half when heat is transferred away through steel studs, which is not good news for energy retention in a building. Where steel frame construction is used, insulation measures need to be put in place to counteract the thermal conductivity of steel.
2) Reduced Flexibility On Site
One of the benefits of using wooden structural components is the ability to adjust them on site. A component can be cut down to size, nails hammered in to strengthen the join and so on. This obviously can’t happen with steel. The measurements of steel need to be precisely calculated in advance, because a steel fabrication is delivered to site in its final form, ready to be slotted into the building. This is of course one of the big advantages of steel, but if the fabrication has resulted in an inaccurate component for whatever reason, the project may be held up while the framework is sent back to the workshop for adjustment. You can avoid this issue by working with a fabrication company such as GLW, where we take a consultative approach to accuracy and measurements from the very beginning, to avoid any unpleasant surprises on site.
3) Supporting Structures
Steel frame constructions rarely work on their own. They usually require drywall, sheathing, insulation and supplementary wooden components to bring a building together. In the opinion of some construction businesses, this longer construction time is an argument against steel frame constructions, although usually the time savings outweigh any adjustments that need to be made on site.
Steel Frame Constructions For Your Project?
If you are in the planning stages of a development and want help deciding whether steel frame construction is a good choice for you, please get in touch with one of our engineers today. We can talk you through your different fabrication options and explain how structural steel fabrications can increase the sturdiness of your building, reduce building costs and cut construction time.
For a guide to working with subcontractors on structural steel fabrication, please download our new guide: How To Ensure Quality, Compliance & Lead Time When Hiring Steel Fabrication Companies. With sections covering legal compliance, metal finishing, selecting a fabrication partner and common mistakes to avoid; a complimentary copy of the e-book can be accessed by clicking here.
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Light gauge metal framing is the usage of cold-formed framing material for construction. With the increasing population and the increasing demand for buildings to meet the housing requirement, the use of metal in construction is also increasing every day. Modern technology has made it easy to use different types of metal in construction.
Using light gauge metal not only gives move variety to the design of the structures but also helps in constructing buildings that are stronger and have more life span. Here are a few pros and cons of using light gauge metal framing.
Contents
Pros
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Light metal gauge framing is more durable than using wood as it is not biodegradable. Light gauge metal is seen as stronger and durable than other heavy construction materials such as concrete and wood. Steel framing is also considered light in weight which makes its handling easier and is usually considered about 30-50% less in weight as compared to wood.
Another quality of light gauge metal framing is that it is not biodegradable. There is no threat of termite attack to it. Also, light gauge metal frames are flame resistant. Fires can cause great damage to the construction material but light gauge metal framing is usually fire resistant retarding the effect of fire. Further flame delaying coatings enhance this property of metals.
Light gauge metal framing comes in several shapes and sizes. The size and shapes can be molded or folded according to the building or client’s requirement, making it much simpler to work with the light gauge metal framing. Nowadays technology such as light gauge steel framing design software is also used for different purposes in woodworking. One reason for its preference is as it adapts to modern building designs easily and comes out more defined and cleaner than wood or other material.
The moisture resistance property of light gauge metal frames is highly proportional to the metal’s carbon content. Moisture resistance is very important for metallic surfaces. Different procedures like galvanization process, zinc coating, and other treatments are done to make the metal more resistant to corrosion.
Cons
Light gauge metal frame installation can be a bit costly. Usage of specific construction tools and more labor can increase the expenses for installation.
When working with steel it is essential to use insulators in the building as it is not an efficient insulator. Metal leads to condensation which can cause drywall damage. This will require a moisture barrier to prevent it. These two requirements can increase the overall budget of the construction.
Light gauge metal can provide a large amount of flexibility at their manufacturing site but when it comes to on-site, it gets minimal. Any inaccurate measurement in the frame can be a hassle as it is most difficult to rectify at the site.
Everything comes with some positive and negative aspects. Considering these pros and cons it will be easier for anybody to know whether using Light gauge metal framing will be beneficial for them or not.
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