- Steel building
A steel building is a metal structure with
steel for the exterior cladding and internal support. Such buildings are used for a variety of purposes including storage, office space and living space. They have evolved into specific type depending on how they are used.History
They first gained popularity in the early 20th century. Their use became more widespread during
World War II and significantly expanded after the war when steel became more available. In the last few decades steel buildings have become more common as their capabilities have expanded with improved designs due to the availability of computer aided design programs.Fact|date=April 2007Advantages
*High quality, aestheticFact|date=April 2007
*Low maintenance costsFact|date=April 2007
*Non combustibleFact|date=April 2007
*Environmentally friendlyFact|date=April 2007
*Components can be re-usedFact|date=April 2007
*Components are functionalFact|date=April 2007
*Strong, durable and stableFact|date=April 2007
*Enables good design and safetyFact|date=April 2007
*Sustainable to temperature effectsFact|date=April 2007
*Rigid and dimensionally stableFact|date=April 2007
*Construction is fast compared to other materialsFact|date=April 2007
*Resistant to termites and other destructive insectsFact|date=April 2007
*Cheaper than any other construction methodsFact|date=April 2007
*Offers fast constructionFact|date=April 2007Disadvantages
*Heat conductivity. Calculations show that the web of an 18-gauge steel stud is about 31 times thinner than a "two-by" wood stud; however, steel conducts heat 310 times more efficiently than wood. As a net result, a "two-by" steel stud will conduct 10 times more heat than a "two-by" wood stud. [http://www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/deter_steel_framing.html]
*Corrosion. Faulty design leads to thecorrosion ofiron and steel in buildings. [http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cbd/cbd020_e.html]Types
Some common types of steel buildings are "straight-walled", "arch" and "
clearspan ". Straight-walled and the arch type refer to the outside shape of the building. Steel arch buildings are the most cost effective and structurally sound. They are commonly used in the agricultural industry. Straight-walled buildings provide more usable space when compared to arch buildings. They are also easier to blend into existing architecture. Straight-walled buildings are commonly used for office space. Clearspan classification refers to the internal construction. Clearspan steel buildings utilize stronger overhead support beams, thus reducing the need for supporting internal columns. Clearspan steel buildings can be used to store large commercial aircraft or used as public arenas.Fact|date=April 2007Components
The modern steel building is composed of many individual segments that have evolved over time. With the recent benefit of
Computer Aided Design (CAD) steel buildings have become much safer. The maximum wind load and snow load in particular have increased with the more accurate calculations provided by CAD. These advances have also led to a more efficient manufacturing process as most steel buildings arepre-fabricated . The smaller pre-fabricated steel buildings are simple enough to be constructed by anyone. The larger steel buildings require professional construction workers to ensure proper assembly.Fact|date=April 2007ee also
*
Structural steel
*Steel producers
*Global steel industry trends External links
* [http://steel-sci.org/ Steel Construction Institute] Organization promoting steel construction
* [http://mbma.com/ Metal Building Manufacturers Association] Provides FAQs and industry trends
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