A multi-storey building, as the name suggests, consists of multiple storeys or floors. Steel is the most suitable material for providing stability to a multi-level building. It prevents the frame from swaying thanks to the beams and columns as well as the spatial continuity between them.
What Makes Steel the Ideal Choice for Multi-Storey Buildings?
1. High Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Steel’s high strength-to-weight ratio enables large spans and lightweight construction. This allows for more open spaces within the building and reduces the overall weight, making the structure more efficient.
2. Variety of Structural Forms: Steel frames can adopt various structural forms, such as braced frames and moment-resistant frames, to meet specific architectural and engineering requirements. This flexibility makes steel suitable for diverse building designs.
3. Faster Construction: Steel frames are faster to erect compared with reinforced concrete frames, resulting in significant cost savings. The speed of construction reduces labor costs and shortens the project timeline.
4. Prefabrication Quality Control: The elements of a steel framework are usually prefabricated in the factory under strict quality control, ensuring a better product. Prefabrication also minimizes on-site errors and accelerates the construction process.
5. Ease of Alteration: Subsequent alterations or strengthening of floors are relatively easy with steel frames compared to concrete frames. This adaptability is particularly beneficial for buildings that may need to be repurposed or expanded in the future.
6. Superior Lateral Load Resistance: Steel frame construction is more suitable to withstand lateral loads caused by wind or earthquakes. The inherent ductility of steel provides better resistance to these forces, enhancing the building’s safety and durability.
Applications of Multi-Storey Steel Frame Structures:
Multi-storey steel frame structures, consisting of beams and columns from welded H-shaped steel or hot-rolled H-shaped steel, are primarily used in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings worldwide. The beam and column system efficiently handles gravity loads, such as dead and live loads, making steel frames a reliable choice for various building types.
Steel frames offer numerous advantages in the construction of multi-storey buildings. Their high strength-to-weight ratio, flexibility in structural forms, faster erection time, superior quality control, ease of alteration, and resistance to lateral loads make them an ideal choice for modern construction. Whether for residential, commercial, or institutional use, steel frames provide a robust and efficient solution for multi-storey buildings.