It's fair to say that without structural steel, the world around us would look very different. Almost all major industries have applications made from structural steel, everything from buildings, bridges, high-rise skyscrapers to warehouses. Many industry professionals prefer the use of steel over many other types of material for construction. Through the nationalisation and privatisation of the industry, steel has had a shifting presence in the UK. However, one thing has remained constant and that is, the understanding that structural steel is an firm choice for construction and exhibits many advantages.  

Steel is environmentally friendly  

Steel is made from recycled materials and in accordance with The Steel Recycling Institute: 

● Around 80 tons of steel are used for recycling purposes each year - making it the most recycled material.

● The steel industry has reduced its energy intensity per ton of steel since 1990. 

● Structural steel is greater in strength and doesn’t age or decay at the same rate as other materials. 

● Due to the fact that steel is recyclable, (and with rising public interest in decreasing waste) many waste companies now use subsidised programs where they are permitted to pick up steel and building waste materials at no additional cost to you.    

Steel is extremely versatile 

Compared to other materials, the versatility of steel is pretty unrivaled. The fact that it can be moulded into practically any kind of shape is another reason why it’s seen as so appealing to the residential construction market. Its durability is what allows it to be so versatile, permitting it to be used for the design of large clear span projects such as airplane hangers, warehouses and indoor arenas. Due to its durability and quality, steel is also used for the creation of some of the world's most extravagantly large skyscrapers - the biggest skyscraper stands in Dubai at 2722.4 feet. 

Safety 

For building manufacturers, safety is a primary concern. In comparison to other materials, steel has many safety benefits that you may not realise such as:

● Steel is non-combustible and it is non-flammable so it won’t ignite or spread fire. 

● When properly treated and coated it is resistant to rusting and corrosion. 

● It doesn't encourage moulding or mildew.

● It is resistant to shattering in extreme movement. 

Adaptable in the future 

The design of steel makes it highly adaptable in regards to being easily expanded upwards or outwards. Due to its strength, weight can be added to it with ease and without threatening the integrity of the overall structure. The overall weight of the structure is also lower than one built with concrete or wood so the structure experiences less stress from the added floors. Much modern architecture wouldn't be able to exist without the usage of steel. Due to the dynamic nature of steel, it allows for slender designs that wouldn’t be possible with wood or concrete.

Value for money 

The creation of a building’s structure accounts for around 15% of its overall costs. It’s obvious that selecting the right infrastructure is essential. It’s been established that selecting steel framed solutions are a way of lowering a building’s overall structure up to 6% in comparison to the implementation of other materials such as concrete or wood. 

Underwoods Steel have been in the steel supplying industry for 40 years, also supplying non-ferrous structural products to local builders and property owners. You can count on us to be a one-stop shop for all your metalwork needs. Get in touch today to speak to one of our friendly team.