Advantages of steel construction

Value

• The cost of structural steel solutions is similar to concrete and lower than timber
• Investment in fabrication technology and workshops, and the modern approach of simple bolted connections, has improved productivity in New Zealand’s structural steel industry
• Overall construction programmes for multi-level commercial projects using structural steel are generally 10-15% shorter compared to other materials; thanks to the efficiency of off-site manufacturing and fabrication, and ‘just in time’ deliveries
• Faster construction by fewer people and in any weather means equipment and personnel can be released sooner for other projects; and less on-site cost
• Critical operations such as welding and coating can be executed effectively off-site
• Steel is light weight, meaning foundations can be less substantial and cheaper
• In a multi-storey situation, lower-level fitouts can commence sooner; leading to earlier occupation and rental streams for the building owner.

 Quality

• Industry-led Steel Fabricator Certification (SFC) scheme ensures compliance, and removes risk for procurers and specifiers
• Structural steel is manufactured in New Zealand under tightly controlled factory conditions and is rigorously tested before it leaves the factory
• A technology-led and highly automated design and manufacturing process results in precision products.

Versatility

• Thanks to steel’s superior strength-to-weight ratio, long-span beams allow large column-free spaces, providing flexibility in the floorplan
• Steel is easily modified if changes are needed during installation
• Steel-framed buildings are future-proof because major alterations, such as the addition of new floors, are easily made
• Steel’s ‘buildability’ allows a smooth transition from architectural concept to engineering design.

Sustainability

• Steel is one of the world’s most recycled materials. In the UK, 99% of structural steel produced will be recycled and re-used in its lifetime
• It can be dismantled and removed from one building and altered and installed in another endlessly, without compromising its properties
• Because it is manufactured and fabricated to exact specifications, minimal waste is produced
• A Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry-commissioned report demonstrated that, on a whole-of-life basis, steel’s environmental performance compares favourably to other materials such as concrete and timber
• Optimal thermal performance over a 24-hour period is achieved using only a 100mm-thick floor slab. All forms of steel-concrete composite construction meet this requirement.

Safety

• Steel is a proven performer in seismic and fire events: modern multi-level steel-framed buildings in Christchurch were passed fit for re-occupation following the February 2011 earthquake with no structural repair necessary
• New Zealand academics and engineers are leading the way in the development of new low-damage seismic-resisting steel systems
• Because steel is delivered to the building site pre-assembled, fewer people and less time are required to install it, meaning fewer workplace accidents.