The document discusses the use of steel in conventional construction. It notes that steel construction involves assembling prefabricated steel components on-site using bolted connections. Steel offers advantages over other materials like speed of construction, safety, cost-effectiveness, strength and durability. Prefabrication allows for quality control and reduced waste. The document outlines several benefits of steel construction such as faster construction times, improved safety due to less on-site labor, cost savings from quicker completion, robustness to withstand overloads, precision of prefabricated components, lighter weight structures, and flexibility.
2. Conventional Constructions
• Masonry,
• Timber,
• Steel and
• Concrete Constructions (CC)
• Introduction to Additive Construction methods
using concrete (3D Printed Building)
3. Steel
• The erection of structural steelwork consists of
the assembly of steel components into a frame on
site.
• The processes involve lifting and placing
components into position, then connecting them
together.
• Generally this is achieved through bolting but
sometimes site welding is used.
• The assembled frame needs to be aligned before
bolting up is completed, and the structure handed
over to the principal contractor.
4.
5. • Steel has a unique combination of properties that
make it an ideal construction material.
• Steel offers a number of significant advantages
relative to other building materials, including:
• speed of construction
• safety
• value for money
• robustness and ductility
• prefabrication
• reduced weight
• architectural expression
• configuration adaptability
• sustainability
6. Speed of construction
• The majority of structural steelwork is
prefabricated, with very little site-work
required other than assembly via bolted
connections.
• This leads to fast construction times and, with
attention to staged delivery,
7. Safety
• With up to 70% labour reduction possible
using a steel solution compared to alternatives,
fewer people equals a safer construction site.
• Prefabrication and dedicated lifting points on
assemblies make for defined well-controlled
erection processes.
• Steel decking and integrated edge protection
facilitate safer working platforms.
8. Value for money
• Faster construction means earlier handover and
tenancy. Smaller member sizing (in particular,
columns) equals greater net let table space.
• Longer spans equates to more flexible internal
spaces.
9. Robustness and ductility
• Steel is an inherently ductile material,
responding to overload in a controlled fashion
with managed load retention.
• The size and shape of steel members can be
configured to provide a level of structural
robustness not easily achievable with other
more brittle construction materials.
10. Prefabrication
• Prefabrication of structural steelwork is the
‘business as usual’ case.
• Prefabrication brings fabrication shop control
over quality and the dimensional accuracy
of computer numerical control (CNC) machinery.
• Precise control over quantities reduces waste
and workflows incorporating seamless
integration back to the 3D design models ensure
errors are minimized and architectural intent
preserved.
11. Reduced weight
• A steel structure is intrinsically lighter than
an equivalent concrete structure due to the higher
strength and stiffness of steel.
• With lightness comes reduced load on
foundations, hence smaller foundations and an
ability to perform better for some ground
conditions.
• Weight reduction enables retrofitting onto
existing structures for extension or
refurbishment.
• Adding extra floors to existing structures is a
common example.