Key Takeaways:
- Steel buildings are safer than you think due to their superior strength, wind resistance, fire resistance, and ability to withstand extreme conditions. Their durability and reduced maintenance needs ensure long-term safety and structural integrity.
- Steel’s high strength-to-weight ratio, ductility, and resistance to damage from natural elements like wind and moisture help maintain the structural integrity of buildings over time, ensuring a safer environment for occupants.
- Steel buildings offer exceptional safety benefits, long-term durability, and reduced maintenance costs. When you choose steel, you’re investing in a structure that will protect your assets and provide peace of mind for decades.
Steel buildings are becoming the top choice for commercial construction for many reasons, but one key factor stands out—safety.
Steel structures are designed to meet the highest safety standards, offering superior protection from harsh weather conditions, natural disasters, and even potential intruders or pests.
Pre-engineered steel buildings are built to be durable and resilient, ensuring they provide personal and professional security.
Whether for commercial or industrial use, steel's strength, fire resistance, and adaptability make it one of the safest materials available for construction projects.
Let’s explore why steel buildings are safer than you might think.
Table of Contents
- Why Steel Is The Safest Building Material
- Protection From The Elements
- Fire Resistance
- Protection From Intruders
- Less Maintenance
- Protection From Wear and Tear
- Wind Resistance
- Strength-to-Weight Ratio
- Build With Steel
Why Steel Is The Safest Building Material
Steel has been the preferred material for commercial buildings since the late 1800s when its durability and safety were recognized as an upgrade to cast iron.
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel is the leading framing material for buildings and infrastructure in North America.
Steel nearly has a 50% market share for non-residential and multi-story residential construction.
People are starting to realize how underrated the safety of metal buildings is.
Protection From The Elements
If you wanted a safe building, wouldn't you choose a building material so durable that municipalities around the country are using it to build storm shelters to protect their citizens?
Steel is so durable that top aircraft industry professionals trust steel frame structures to house their most valuable assets.
Metal buildings offer a comprehensive level of security and protection, ensuring that both the structure and its interior contents are shielded from a variety of threats.
Metal structures also protect a building's interior contents from day-to-day combatants such as pest infestations, mold, mildew, and rot.
It's no wonder that farms have started using metal buildings for horse barns.
The robust protection they provide is ideal for keeping animals safe and secure.
Steel building components ensure that the building's interior possessions are safeguarded while exterior elements are kept where they belong.
Fire Resistance
No building material is genuinely fireproof, meaning any building is vulnerable to a destructive blaze.
However, steel is fire-resistant. That means a fire would spread slower through a steel building than a wood building, such as a pole barn.
That extra time could be the difference between life and death.
The relationship between steel and fire has been rigorously tested for decades, ensuring that steel structures are designed and constructed to the strictest standards, providing a reliable solution for fire safety in construction.
Protection From Intruders
Security is a top priority for any business owner or property developer.
There are many reasons you may need protection from intruders, and we understand the importance of addressing these concerns.
Maybe you need to construct an industrial building in an unsafe area, or you're looking for an airplane hangar or warehouse that will be protected from break-ins.
Steel is your best option if you have valuable property or sensitive information and you need to know your assets are housed in a highly secure building.
Metal buildings, with their ability to be designed to meet exact design and security specifications, allow you to provide maximum protection from vandals, thieves, and unwanted intruders.
Less Maintenance
The fact that steel structures require less maintenance is not only a time-saver, but it also contributes to safety.
While all buildings experience wear and tear, materials like wood deteriorate much faster than steel.
Maintaining structural integrity becomes more challenging as a facility ages, and neglected maintenance can lead to hazardous conditions.
Steel’s durability ensures that it remains structurally sound for much longer, reducing the risk of dangerous damage and helping keep your building safe for years to come.
Protection From Wear and Tear
Steel roofing and panels are designed to withstand the daily wear and tear that can wreak havoc on traditional building materials.
By choosing steel roofing and panels, building owners can significantly reduce routine maintenance expenses, such as re-roofing, siding repair, and exterior painting, saving thousands of dollars each year.
That's without mentioning the hassle caused by unnoticed water damage or invading four, six, and eight-legged critters.
Steel roofing and panels come with warranties of up to 40 years, providing building owners, contractors, and property managers with the peace of mind that their investment will remain weather-resistant and aesthetically pleasing for the next generation.
Wind Resistance
Many sports complexes built with exterior fabric, like the Metrodome and the Dallas Cowboys practice facility, have suffered severe wind damage.
Had the Cowboys chosen a durable steel structure, their facility would likely have withstood the inclement weather.
Steel’s strength and ductility—the ability to bend without breaking—make it highly resistant to high winds.
This flexibility allows steel to absorb more energy than less sturdy materials, ensuring your facility remains safe even in extreme weather conditions.
Strength-to-Weight Ratio
Steel boasts the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any construction material.
This means it provides remarkable strength without the added bulk.
This combination makes steel structures not only durable but also highly resilient in various conditions.
Buildings made from steel can withstand heavy loads, extreme weather, and natural disasters more effectively than other materials.
Because steel structures are strong without being overly heavy, they experience less strain over time, reducing the likelihood of structural failure.
This superior strength-to-weight ratio ensures that steel buildings maintain their integrity longer, offering enhanced safety for occupants and minimizing the risk of damage.
Build With Steel
Businesses and municipalities seeking a safe, durable, cost-effective solution increasingly turn to steel buildings.
Steel structures offer unmatched strength, low maintenance, and long-term protection from the elements, providing a reliable, safe alternative to traditional construction materials.
With their proven ability to withstand wear and tear for decades, steel buildings ensure the safety and longevity of your investment.
When you're ready to build a custom steel structure that stands the test of time, trust the experts at CDMG.
Since 1991, CDMG has been a leading force in engineering safe and durable solutions for industrial markets nationwide.
Click the button below to start your project today.
People Also Ask
What is the safety factor of steel building construction?
The safety factor of steel building construction refers to the design margin built into the structure. It ensures that steel buildings can handle loads beyond normal expectations, making them highly safe and reliable in various conditions.
What are the risks of steel structure?
The risks of steel structures are minimal, but in extreme cases, they can include corrosion if not correctly maintained, and potential collapse if exposed to prolonged, intense heat without fireproofing.
What are some potential safety problems with steel frames?
Potential safety problems with steel frames include vulnerability to fire if not adequately protected and the risk of corrosion if exposed to moisture without adequate coatings.
What is the structural safety of steel?
The structural safety of steel is excellent due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, ductility, and resistance to various environmental factors, making it one of the safest construction materials available.
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I'm Ben Sparhawk, the Content Writer and Marketing Account Manager for CDMG. I write to showcase the work that CDMG does and everything related to the pre-engineered metal building industry as well as their engineering capabilities. When I'm not working on content, you can find me spending time with my wife and children. You can also find me in the gym, trying to better myself, and I also enjoy spending time outdoors hiking or checking out local parks.