Steel is one of the most versatile materials for construction available. Steel’s wide array of properties is highly beneficial across many industries, but it is particularly well-suited for structural applications. Therefore, it is important to have a solid grasp of the advantages and best use-cases for steel before planning your next construction job. So, what are the core advantages and uses of steel?
The most important features and advantages of steel for use in construction are:
- Phenomenal strength-to-weight ratio
- Highly fire-resistant
- Flexible and efficient fabrication
- Sustainable and long-lasting
- Cost effective
Keep reading to discover how these advantages work together and how steel is commonly used in modern construction projects.
Properties of Structural Steel Metal
In this section we will provide a brief overview of each property, and in following sections we will break down how they can each be used to accelerate your projects. The primary properties of structural steel metal include:
- Resistance & Toughness
- Malleability & Hardness
- Plasticity
- Heat Resistance
Resistance & Toughness
Resistance refers to steel’s ability to resist damage under stress, while toughness refers to steel’s capacity for resisting tension and fractures more minutely.
Malleability & Hardness
Malleability refers to steel’s ability to deformed and shaped without breaking, while hardness refers to steel’s ability to resist scratches and damage from shocks.
Malleability and hardness are inversely proportional; the harder the steel, the less malleable it is.
Plasticity
Plasticity refers to how easy it is to mold into multiple shapes, which is particularly relevant before your steel has been molded into beams for construction.
Heat Resistance
Ability to withstand high temperatures without melting or losing structural integrity. Steel can resist temperatures up to 1500°C.
Advantages of Steel for Structures
Structural steel provides many advantages for any type of construction project. The core advantages of steel in construction include:
- Incredible strength-to-weight ratio
- Fire resistant
- Flexible to project specifications
- Efficient manufacture and assembly
- Highly sustainable
- High durability, minimal maintenance
- Cost effective in the long term
Incredible Strength-to-Weight Ratio
Steel is heavy, yes, but it makes up for that with unmatched strength. This makes it great for use in beams, pillars, supports, and other structural features of construction that require high levels of toughness and hardness.
Fire Resistant
Safety considerations are the biggest priority in any construction project. Steel is one of the safest materials with regards to fire safety due to its extremely high melting point (1500°C). It is non-combustible which helps to prevent the spread of fire, and protective finishes can boost steel’s resistance even further.
Flexible to Project Specifications
Steel can be shaped, welded, and fabricated into any form you could need, making it the perfect material for creative projects and additions to existing structures like extensions and modular builds.
Check out STEELO’s range of structural steel beams for your next project.
Efficient Fabrication and Assembly
Steel is manufactured off-site, typically by an external fabrication company such as STEELO, and delivered for assembly on-site. The external fabricators can take care of the supply while other processes occur, reducing construction time, costs, and disruptions.
Highly Sustainable
One of the most sustainable metals used in construction is steel. This is because it is infinitely recyclable and has a lower energy impact than concrete while generating less waste. Steel has a long lifespan too, which means that steel structures require fewer replacements and repairs, resulting in a lower impact.
High Durability, Minimal Maintenance
Due to its long lifespan and high durability against corrosion and the elements (often thanks to pristine finishes), structural steel requires almost no maintenance, reducing replacement and repair costs across the property’s whole life.
Cost Effective in the Long Term
Structural steel creates huge cost efficiencies thanks to its quick on-site assembly time, ability to be prefabricated into shape as needed, long lifespan, and incredible resistance. Every property of structural steel points towards a material which lasts for a long time, requires minimal maintenance, and provides exceptional safety.
Uses of Steel in Construction
Steel has many uses, particularly in construction. From fences and beams to nuts and bolts, steel can mostly commonly be found used in the following ways on construction sites.
Individual Supports
Structural steel beams such as Universal Columns provide scalability and flexibility to your project. Ideal projects for structural steel supports include multi-storey buildings, residential sites, and industrial structures.
Check out STEELO’s range of structural steel beams to see how we can support your construction project. STEELO’s stock includes:
- Universal Column and Universal Beam
- Parallel Flange Channel
- Rectangular, Square, and Circular Hollow Sections
- Flat Section
- Equal and Unequal Rolled Steel Angle
- And more, fabricated to your project specifications!
Premade Structures
Structural steel can come prefabricated or preassembled in the necessary shapes for the project. The most common premade steel structures include:
Connections
‘Connections’ refers to structural steel being used to connect beams to beams, as well as beams to non-steel materials. It is common for steel beams to come with the correct holes and joining points to fit connectors, though welding is also often a desirable option alongside physical joining.
Decoration & Safety
Steel is not only used within core structural components, sometimes it is the component itself. This can be most clearly seen in bicycle rails, handrails, and decorative fences all around the world. Structural steel can be primed with a corrosion-resistant finish which makes it suitable for exposure to the elements.
Steel Fabrication for Use in Construction with STEELO
STEELO are leading supplies and fabricators of structural steel in London, featuring an extensive range of products from steel beams to structures and from connectors to finishes. If you still can’t find what you’re project needs, get in touch to discuss a more bespoke fabrication job.
Advantages & Uses of Steel FAQs
How Much Steel is Used in Construction?
The amount of steel used between individual construction projects varies widely depending on the scale of project, budget, and necessity of steel; some modern constructions feature no steel at all, while others use extensively more. In 2024, the Department for Business and Trade estimated that more than 8 million tonnes of steel would be necessary for future infrastructure projects, including:
- Maintenance and upgrading of the UK’s motorway network
- Maintenance of the UK’s railways
- Construction of schools and hospitals
Can Steel Beams Rust?
Steel beams can rust if they are not coated in the correct finish. RAW steel finishes are particularly susceptible to corrosion due to their lack of coating which leaves the steel open to oxidisation and, therefore, rust.
Rust on steel is caused by a reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water (or air moisture).
STEELO offers different steel beam finishes on our structural steel fabrications that can protect your projects against corrosion and rusting for longer.
Are Steel Beams Load Bearing?
Yes, steel beams are inherently load-bearing. Structural steel beams are designed to distribute the weight of a load across a strong frame, providing a bulk-less, relatively lightweight solution ideal for almost any construction project.
Get in touch