About Steel Construction
We have long relied on steel to provide the strength and durability required to build skyscrapers, bridges, and ships. Light gauge steel is a thinner more flexible version of the heavy steel used for those massive projects, but offers many of the same advantages. As the quality and availibility of wood declines and as more areas are destroyed by hurricanes and earthquakes, many are now looking to rebuild their homes and businesses with steel.
Advantages of steel construction:
- Higher strength to weight ratio than other building materials.
- Dimensionally stable and produced to exact specifications, resulting in straight walls, true 90-degree corners, and doors and windows that won't bind.
- Architecturally flexible with long span capabilities, wide on-center spacing possiblities, and reduced foundation requirements.
- Impervious to rot, mold, mildew, and damage caused by insects, termites, and vermin.
- Non-combustible, offering less fuel for fires.
- Lightning safe. A steel framework allows lightning to safely dissipate into the ground minimizing the danger of fire or personal injury.
- Wind and siesmic resistant.
- Recyclable and made of 67% recyled material.
- Negligible toxicity.
- Reduced builder's risk insurance rates.
- Continued savings over the life of the structure with less maintenance and lowered insurance rates.
To learn more about the advantages of steel, the Steel Framing Alliance website offers a variety of Issue Papers on the performance of steel.
