At a time when interest in sustainability and concern for the condition of the environment are rising, it is more important than ever before that those in the building and construction industry are able to work sustainably. As such, construction firms in the UK are constantly on the lookout for ways they can operate within rather strict environmental guidelines, and this often requires innovation and ongoing investment in research and development.
In the commercial, agricultural and industrial sectors, one of the most significant developments in recent decades is the improvement and increased deployment of steel buildings. Where traditional buildings in this sector were commonly made from concrete, wood and other traditional building materials like brick, steel buildings provide an excellent alternative that comes with many benefits.
First and foremost, steel is much more sustainable than other traditional building materials. Concrete, for example, has long been associated with high levels of carbon dioxide emissions as well as being difficult to dispose of when it has reached the end of its useful life. Technically concrete can be recycled, though the process to undertake this is energy and resource intensive.
Steel, once sourced, can be recycled an unlimited amount of times. When the steel components of a metal frame building are recycled, they are heated to very high temperatures which remove any impurities and oxidation from the surface and the steel can be poured or formed into any type of steel product including other steel buildings.
The process of recycling steel has advanced significantly in recent years, becoming far less energy and resource intensive. As you can imagine, this means that steel is much more sustainable and less impactful than many other building materials. Beyond its recyclability, steel has many other characteristics that make it an ideal choice for industrial, commercial and agricultural building applications.
Buildings that are constructed from steel are easier to make energy efficient than other types of buildings. They can be made in a modular format which means that installing things like intelligent heating, lighting and ventilation systems is much easier, plus steel is also a pretty good insulating material. Additional features such as eco-friendly cladding can also be installed which makes them even more efficient at keeping in the heat when its cold, and keeping the inside of the building cool on hot days.
When cold rolled steel framed buildings are used in this way they are a highly attractive option for investors and business owners. They are cost effective and make smart use of resources to ensure that waste materials and overspending are minimised or eliminated entirely. Furthermore, their ongoing costs tend to be lower because of the use of modern insulation methods, helping businesses to reduce their spend in financially challenging times.
The flexibility of their design and construction means that a huge range of sustainability features can be included, such as rainwater harvesting equipment and solar panels. Many businesses that have opted to include features such as these have seen excellent results and have been able to move closer towards self sufficiency and sustainability in their wider business practices.
Two of the key properties that all sustainable buildings should possess are durability and longevity. It is much more environmentally sound to invest in options that are long lasting and do not require extensive, expensive maintenance on an ongoing basis. Once a steel building is fabricated and installed in place it is unlikely to need repairs and maintenance for a long period of time. This differs from traditional wood and concrete structures which are more susceptible to damage and will end up costing a lot more in maintenance over the years.
The durability and longevity of steel buildings makes them highly appealing for people in need of this kind of structure, but it also means that the industry as a whole will use fewer resources and will become more sustainable as a result. This fact alone is one of the main reasons for the growing prominence of metal buildings. They deliver in terms of sustainability goals as well as being an attractive investment for stakeholders and business owners, and this is why they are set to be the norm going forward.