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 types depending on how they are used.
History
Steel buiildings 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 (CAD) programs.
Advantages
- High quality, aesthetic
- Low maintenance costs
- Noncombustible
- Environmentally friendly
- Components can be re-used
- Components are functional
- Strong, durable, and stable
- Enables good design and safety
- Sustainable to temperature effects
- Rigid and dimensionally stable
- Construction is fast compared to other materials
- Resistant to termites and other destructive insects
- Cheaper than any other construction methods
- Offers fast construction
Disadvantages
- 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.
- Corrosion. Faulty design leads to the corrosion of iron and steel in buildings.
Types
Some common types of steel buildings are straight-walled, arch, and clearspan. The terms straight-walled and arch 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 as compared to arch buildings. They are also easier to blend into existing architecture. Straight-walled buildings are commonly used for office space. The term clearspan 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 as public arenas.
Components
The modern steel building is composed of many individual segments that have evolved over time. With the recent benefit of 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 are prefabricated. The smaller prefabricated steel buildings are simple enough to be constructed by anyone. The larger steel buildings require professional construction workers to ensure proper assembly.
External Links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "
Steel building."
