A brief comparison of structural steel buildings with conventional structures highlighting the significance of Pre Engineered buildings

Advantages of structural steel construction

Steel construction is eco friendly Structural steel can be reused or recycled. Building structural steel buildings involves less pollution & lesser impact on the environment & surroundings. Also the dismantling of the structure is much easier, causes less environmental impact & the scrap value is high. A steel building, if properly designed can even be relocated & reproduced. No curing or waiting time Steel does not have the problems of curing or slow development of strength, and is less affected by moisture movement and creeps. Construction process can be a continuous process which saves time & cost. Future expansion Since on-the-spot connection of steel members is relatively easier, the frame-type construction using structural steel can allow alteration fairly easily in case when future amendment or expansion to the structure is required. Speed of construction Speed of construction using structural steel may normally be faster than in-situ concrete due to the following reasons: Most structural steel members can be pre-fabricated off-site, this can allow other site works such as the construction of the foundation, the central core or the erection of other members to be done at the same time and shorten the critical time in waiting for the completion of the other required members. Erection of structural steel members do not require complicated in-situ formwork thus save up quite a lot of time in the preparation, erection or striking of formwork. Fabrication and erection of structural steel members off or on-site may be less affected by inclement weather. In general, maintenance cost for buildings in structural steel construction is reasonable when compare to other forms of construction, especially when the design, workmanship and protection treatment during construction is effective and sound. In case of maintenance is required, such as deterioration appears in the connections, repair works can be done simply right after the exposing of the defective areas.

Disadvantages of structural steel construction

Rigidity Owing to the flexible nature of steel and other inherited weakness in its connection, the rigidity of a frame structure constructed by structural steel is much weaker when compare to the monolithic reinforced concrete structure. Furthermore, such situation may become even worst when the joints of

frame get aged. To overcome this weakness in the design, additional amount of steel or very strong and rigid connection design may be required to strengthen the performance of the structure. Fire resistance Though structural steel is incombustible, steel loses its strength significantly under fire. Under normal fire situation finds in high-rise building when temperature can rise to 9000C in a short time, strength of steel can drop by more than 60%. This may lead to disastrous result unless effective fireproofing treatment is provided. Deflection Deflection may easily occur in structural steel members especially when they are exposed to excessive or rapidly varying loads such as under extreme temperature difference or facing sudden wind load. The usual allowable deflection should not exceed 1/300 to 1/350of the effective span; otherwise, it may not be acceptable from the point of providing finishes to a building. Similarly, the relative flexibility of steel may have the problem of incompatibility when some rigid components such as cladding or curtain walling systems. Transportation & erection Although structural steel members can be fabricated off-site, demands to transport the components to and temporary storage of the members on site still incur practical difficulties. Fabricated steel members are often made to quite a large size and heavy weight in order to minimize unnecessary connection works on site. However, this may create problems in lining the member to the spot of work. To overcome this, heavy hoisting equipment is required. This may at the same time increase the loading requirement of the structure during the process of construction. Besides, the mounting, erection and operation of the hoisting equipment may incur additional work on site. Connections Connection of the pre fabricated steel members requires accurate dimension coordination. Slight discrepancy in the onsite or offsite works may result to delay in the whole operation. Besides, the carrying out of anti-corrosion or fire proofing treatment to steel, site inspection to the steel connections or to the encasement of the steel members may require addition work and time thus lengthen the entire construction period. Not to mention the more specialized workers it required in the carrying out of such works. Generally speaking, the above points only reflect the relative characteristics in the using of structural steel. The actual merits or demerits of this construction method should finally rely on some other local factors such as the choice of both architectural or structural design, availability of materials and labours, site conditions and the opportunity cost created by the speed of work etc.

Constraints in the use of structural steel construction

Lack of expertise and skill in carrying out structural steel works Contractors or even skilled workers qualified for structural steel construction are rare and thus resulted to relatively higher

construction cost-This situation is especially obvious for building of complicated structural steel design or for very large scale development projects. Lack of the utilization of latest & sophisticated technologies for fabrication & erection of steel buildings One of the major reasons for the delay or increased cost of fabrication is due to lack of standardization, non utilization of technology. Also, the fabrication process is undertaken manually which results in increased cost & time. Availability of the heavy rolled steel sections Either scarcity or the requirement of preordering the heavy rolled steel members may result in cost increment & delay. Lack of working space To carrying out of structural steel works requires very large space for prefabrication, anti-rusting treatment, or in the temporary handling and storage of the structural members. Such working spaces are often required inside and outside the site. The completed structural members are transported to site for connections afterward. This may in fact increase the overall cost of construction. The completed structural members often weigh more than 10 tones. They require heavy hoisting equipment to assist in the connection works. The positioning of such members may be difficult especially in congested site where there are buildings and other public facilities nearby. Furthermore, the erection, mounting, operation or dismantling of such hoisting equipment also occupy extra space, working time and incur costs. Existence of alternative techniques The major advantages of using structural steel construction is its ability to produce large-span, light-weight and space effective buildings. However, due to the introduction of many other advance construction techniques such as the using of pre/post-stressing, flat slab construction, high performance concrete or other effective foundation design/techniques, many of the advantages inherit from structural steel construction can now be substituted by other relatively simpler and more cost-effective methods of construction. Fire proofing requirements Fire proofing requirements is quite strict for the buildings that are mainly high-rise in which a great number of occupants are using. Failure under the situation of fire may produce great casualty-Though structural steel is not a combustible material, it loses most of its strength under fire. Fire protection to steel is therefore essential for structural steel construction. Applying fire resisting treatment to steel is costly, time consuming & the most important of all; it often involves special testing, approval and monitoring procedures. In order to saves such extra works, engineers or designers tend to use other methods to construct wherever alternative exists.

Process of construction
Fabrication & delivery As for multi-storey buildings where the structure are heavy, fabrication of the structural steel members are usually done off-site in a properly equipped fabricating yard in which the

scheduling of works, dimensional coordination, quality of welding or anti-rusting treatment of the structural members can be done under a more accurately controlled manner The completed members or components will then be transported to site as scheduled. In order to have more fabrication done off-site to gain the best benefit from works, most of the completed members or components are fabricated into a size or weight as large and heavy as possible up to the handing limits, such as the storage spaces or the capacity of hoisting equipment of the site. If the structure is a low rise building with comparatively light members, alternatively a temporary fabrication shed can be set up on site if the space permits, which can considerably reduce the transportation expenses. But again for the utilization of sophisticated equipments requires that the fabrication to be done offsite at the shop. Connections Connections for structural steel sections can be classified into shop connections or site connection in a properly equipped fabrication workshop, most of the connections are done by welding in order to produce more rigid joints. On the other hand where connection works are done on site bolt joints are used more frequently in conjunction with site welding for the former can be done quicker, and can have easier dimensional tolerance, cost effectiveness and quality control. Connection to the foundation is usually done using anchor bolts. Fire-proofing treatment Conventionally structural steel members are fire protected by concrete, which is lightly reinforced and poured around the steel using suitably design formwork. However, this method has a lot of drawbacks, such as increasing the dead load of the structure, time consuming and costly, and is seldom used today. The other fire protection method is to encase the steel members using some kind of non-combustible board. Usually, a 19mm thick board can provide a fire protection up to one hour, or a 32mm board up to two hours. Quite a lot of materials, such as gypsum board of adequate thickness or vermiculite concrete board, both reinforced with fiber or metal mesh, can serve such purposes. One more popular method used today to fire protect the structural steel works is by the applying of a spray-on fire protection coating-Materials for the coating may be of cement based and mixed with mineral wool or mineral fiber product. This kind of material can easily achieve a fire protection up to two hours under convenient thickness. Since the material is applied using spray-on method, it can easily coat onto most objects with irregular surfaces, or to build up its thickness in subsequent coats-Another type of coating which developed recently can also be in a form of intumescent painting, that is, the paint surface will expand under heat becoming spongy-like with the heat insulating ability tremendously increased. Having discussed the advantages, disadvantages & pull backs we can come to a general conclusion that if structural steel construction can overcome the above mentioned disadvantages & stand up to the pull

backs, then structural steel construction can be cost effective, value added, quickest & environmental friendly option for the building construction. Now a days a new trend of using PEBs have evolved against the conventional structures. PEB stands for PRE ENGINEERED BUILDINGS. PEBs are tailor-made solutions to a customers needs and are custom-designed to meet exact requirements. These buildings are flexible enough to suit different building dimensions; they are easily expandable, can withstand harsh climatic conditions and come with maintenance-free exteriors. Pre-engineered buildings are suitable for both, industrial and commercial operations; Warehouses, factories, aircraft hangars, cold storages, workshops, sports halls, supermarkets or any high-rise building. Pre-engineered buildings offer modern solutions to all building constructions. PEB help to convert complex and expensive conventional steel buildings into simpler and economical pre-designed, pre-engineered buildings without sacrificing utility and function. In a PEB high strength structural steel members are used for primary framing (beams, columns etc.) & cold formed steel is used for secondary framing (Girts, purlins etc.). Some of the advantages of a PEB which helps it to outshine the conventional structures are listed below: Custom design PEB are designed exactly to match the load transfer of the structure which helps to optimize design. Tapered sections are used for beams & columns made up of structural steel plates & or rolled sections. It reduces material wastage & the strength to weight ratio of the structure. Use of cold form steel also reduces the strength to weight ration. Standardization Standardization of the layout, connections, attachments, secondary framing elements, insulations & coverings helps to optimize the cost & time in fabrication as well as erection. Architectural appearance

In any condition a PEB is the best option for low rise buildings considering all the factors including
construction time & cost. A comparison between the conventional structures and PEB is included below:

PRE-ENGINEERED STEEL BUILDINGS (PEB's)

CONVENTIONAL BUILDINGS

Structure weight

Pre- engineered buildings are on avg. 30% lighter of through steel. are the

Primary steel members are selected from standard hot rolled 'I' sections, which are, in many segments of the members, heavier than what is

optimum framing

use

Primary tapered

members

(varying

depth)

built-up

plate

actually Members sections

required have

by

design. crossvarying

sections with larger depths in the area of highest stress. Secondary members are light gauge (light weight) roll formed (low labour cost) 'Z' or 'C' shaped members.

constant of

regardless

magnitude of the local stresses along the member length. Secondary members are selected from standard hot rolled 'I' & 'C' sections, which are heavier.

Design

Quick and efficient, since PEB's are mainly formed of built up sections and connections, design time is significantly reduced. Basic designs are used over and over again.

Each conventional steel structure is designed from scratch by the

consultant, with fewer design aids available to the engineer. Substantial engineering & detailing

Consultants in-house design and drafting time is considerably

is

required

on

every

project. analysis

Generalized

computer

reduced, allowing more time for coordination and review, and increased margins on design fees.

requires extensive input/output & design alterations. Each project is a separate case; engineers need more time to

develop the design & details of the unique structure. More complicated design requiring extensive design and drafting time from consultants.

Delivery

3 to 4 times quicker

Foundations

Simple design, easy to construct.

Extensive, required.

heavy

foundations

Erection cost and Time

Both costs & time of erection are accurately known, based upon

Typically,

they

are

20%

more

expensive than PEB. In most of the cases, the erection costs and time are not estimated accurately. Erection is slow and extensive since field labour is required. Heavy

extensive experience with similar buildings. PEB's are often erected by specialized PEB builders with

extensive experience in the erection or similar buildings, offering very competitive rates. PEB builders

equipment is often needed.

usually have a stock of standard components in their camps, enabling them to complete jobs on time should any shortage or on site damage occurs to materials. The erection process is easy, fast, step by step and with minimum equipment requirement.

Seismic Resistance

The low-weight flexible frames offer higher resistance to seismic forces.

Rigid

heavy

structures

do

not

perform well in seismic zones.

Overall Price

Price per square meter may be as much as 30% lower than

High price per square meter.

conventional building.

Architectural Design

Outstanding architectural design can be achieved at low cost using standard architectural features and interface details.

Special

architectural

design

and

features must be developed for each project, which often require research and thus resulting in much higher costs.

Sourcing &

Building is supplied complete with

Many sources of supply, project

Coordination

cladding

and

all

accessories

management time are required to coordinate contractors. suppliers and sub-

including erection (if desired) from one single source.

Responsibility

Single source of supply results in total responsibility by one supplier. PEB manufacturers can be relied upon to service their buildings long after they are supplied, to protect their reputation.

Multiple responsibilities can result in questions of who is responsible when components insufficient do not fit is

properly,

material

supplied, or materials fail to perform, particularly at the supplier/contractor interface. The consultant carries total design liability.

Performance

All

components

are

designed

Components are custom designed for a specific application on a specific job. Design and detailing errors possible when assembling the diverse buildings. components into unique

specifically to act together as a system, for maximum efficiency,

precise fit, and peak performance in the field. Experience with similar buildings, in actual field conditions, has resulted in design improvements overtime, which allow dependable prediction of performance.

Each building design is unique, so prediction of how components will perform together is uncertain.

Materials which have performed well in some climates may not do so in other environments.