Disadvantages of steel structures or Demerits of steel construction

Following are some of the disadvantages of steel structures.

 High maintenance cost and more corrosion – particularly in humid and marine environment

Most steels must be painted at regular intervals because if they are freely exposed to air they get corrode. This requires
extra cost and special care. If we use weathering steel then this will eliminate this cost. If steel structures are not properly
maintained then they can loose 1 to 1.5 mm of their thickness each year. As a result the structure will loose its weight up
to 35% during its specified life span and can fail under external loads.

The culture and awareness of periodical maintenance is very low in India. There should be EHS (Environmental Health
& Safety) department and AMC(Annual Maintenance Contract) should be done by hiring competent agencies.

 Fireproofing costs

Although steel members are incombustible in nature, their strength is tremendously reduced at temperatures prevailing in
fires. At about 400 degree Celsius, creep becomes much more pronounced. Creep is defined as the plastic deformation
under a constant load for a long period of time. This produces large deflections in steel structures. Stresses will produce
in main member forcing other members to higher stresses or even to collapse. Steel is an excellent conductor of heat. It
may transfer heat from a burning compartment of a building to start fire in other parts of the building. Extra cost is
required for properly fire proof of the building.

 Susceptibility to buckling

Steel sections usually consist of a combination of thin plates. The steel members dimensions are also smaller than
reinforced concrete members. If these slender member are subjected to compression, there are greater chances of
buckling.

Buckling is a type of collapse of the members due to sudden large bending caused by a critical compressive load.

Steel when used for columns is not very economical because considerable material has to be used to stiffen the columns
against buckling.

 Higher initial cost / Less availability

In few countries, like pakistan, steel is not available in abundance and its initial cost is very high as compared with the
other structural materials. That is the reason why steel structures are not very common in these countries.

 Aesthetics

For certain types of buildings, the steel structures are architecturally preferred. However, for majority of residential
buildings and office buildings, steel structures are considered to have poor aesthetic appearance. At these places, they
required false ceiling and cladding to improve their appearance. A good amount is required for such structures to improve
their appearance.

Cladding is a covering of metal, concrete, plastic or timber to put on the surface of a structural member to completely
encase it.

Termiteproof and rot proof

Advantages Uniform quality
Lightness Economy in transportation and handling
high strengh and stiffness per weight
Ease of fabrication and mass production Disadvantages
fast and easy erection and installation
Substantial elimination of delays due to weather Susceptibility to corrosion
More accurate detailing Low fire resistance
Nonshrinking and noncreeping at ambient temperature Buckling and high deformation due to small sizes of
formwork unneeded members
advantages of steel structures
Steel structures have the following advantages:

 They are super-quick to build at site, as a lot of work can be pre-fabbed at the factory.
  They are flexible, which makes them very good at resisting dynamic (changing) forces such as wind or
earthquake forces.
 A wide range of ready-made structural sections are available, such as I, C, and angle sections
 They can be made to take any kind of shape, and clad with any type of material
 A wide range of joining methods is available, such as bolting, welding, and riveting

disadvantages of steel structures

Steel structures have the following disadvantages:

 They lose strength at high temperatures, and are susceptible to fire.

 They are prone to corrosion in humid or marine environments.

Advantages

Steel provides several advantages over other building materials, such as wood:

 Steel is a "green" product; it is structurally sound and manufactured to strict specifications and tolerances. It is
also energy efficient. Any excess material is 100% recyclable.
 Steel does not easily warp, buckle, twist or bend, and is therefore easy to modify and offers design flexibility.
Steel is also easy to install.
 Steel is cost effective and rarely fluctuates in price.
 Steel allows for improved quality of construction and less maintenance, while offering improved safety and
resistance.
 With the propagation of mold and mildew in residential buildings, using steel minimizes these infestations.
Mold needs moist, porous material to grow. Steel studs do not have those problems.

Disadvantages

 Heat conductivity: Calculations show that the web of an 18-gauge steel stud is about 31 times thinner than a
"two-by" wood stud; however, steel conducts heat 310 times more efficiently than wood. As a net result, a "two-
by" steel stud will conduct 10 times more heat than a "two-by" wood stud.[2]
 Corrosion: Faulty design leads to the corrosion of iron and steel in buildings.[3]

Steel's Pros and Cons

 There are a couple of problems with using steel in construction. In very humid areas, coastal regions, or even in
rooms like the bathroom that get very moist, steel will corrode unless builders use extra coatings of anti-
corrosives to protect it [source: Living Steel]. Also, since steel conducts heat and cold well, it's not ideal from an
insulation standpoint. To make a steel building energy efficient requires additional insulation.
 Green builders use steel in eco-friendly construction projects because of its durability and renewability. Steel is
long-lasting, and combined with other eco-friendly building materials is often used for green building projects
[source: MBMI Metal Building]. And unlike other recyclable materials such as plastic, steel doesn't lose quality
each time it is recycled [source: Pamuk]. There's also less waste associated with steel construction compared to
wood, because you can weld small "offcuts" together to do smaller jobs [source: Bradley].
 Despite a few drawbacks, steel is still the preferred material for framing commercial buildings and is gaining
popularity for residential construction.

 Steel frame buildings are most routinely discovered in developed or storage positions but more lately, more
persons are utilizing steel buildings in residential building. A steel frame building is one of the newest choices
that is now accessible to any individual looking to construct or purchase a new home. As with most things, steel
frame buildings arrive with both advantages and disadvantages.
 Let’s start with the advantages that a steel frame building can bring. The large-scale benefit of utilizing steel
in residential construction is the longevity and durability of the material itself. With timber borders you often get
rotting or distorting significance that the partitions not ever stay flawlessly straight. If you are looking to stay in
your house for a long time then a steel frame actually can save you allotments of cash expended on repairs.
 With any house there is habitually the difficulty that bugs may find their way into the structure of the house.
Even though steel buildings can have some if the identical bug difficulties as other kinds of dwellings, there are
still some advantages. With a steel frame, the bugs will not make a nest; thus the functional impairment that
pests often origin to timber borders will not happen.
 Another benefit of a steel frame building is that they are very sturdy and can withstand even the most critical
weather. They can even be constructed to hurricane and earthquake measures if require be. zip code
 Now the disadvantages. The cost of making steel is very high. While the cost of most steel frame components
has become progressively comparable, the charges of building are another matter. It takes many of time
 assemble a steel frame building as it takes longer to use attachments than it does to use nails. In supplement
attachments furthermore cost more.
 Insulation is a large-scale difficulty with steel buildings. Steel buildings require added insulation as steel on its
own is not a very good insulator, particularly when you address how good an insulator wood is. Insulating your
house to an agreeable benchmark will furthermore add to your construction costs.

Marshall argues the case for steel under three key criteria: speed and efficiency; the reduction of on-site risks; and
sustainability and waste reduction.

Speed and efficiency

 Computer modelling before fabrication on computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment means the
components are produced right first time and there is minimal rework
 Earlier construction provides faster completion and payback commencement
 Faster construction means the builder’s staff can be released earlier to start the next project
 Steel is a structurally efficient building material and so buildings are lighter and often foundations can be
smaller as a result
 Steel is fabricated in controlled conditions driven by 3D modelling and CNC equipment increasing safety and
reducing MTIs and LTIs
 A test certificate is available for all steel used and this can be made traceable through to the finished product
 Design for standardised bolted connections and repetitive floor plates can increase speed of construction

Reducing onsite risks

 Steel use reduces the number of workers onsite (approximately 10 to 20 per cent of the labour needed for
concrete construction), reducing accident liability for builders
 Preassembled steel packages can be lifted straight from the truck in sequence
 Offsite fabrication relieves congested and hard to access sites
 Reduced noise and dust and construction times ease disruption to current occupants and neighbourhoods
 For domestic housing, steel framing, roofing and cladding offer more termite-free and fire resistant abodes than
with other commonly used building materials

Sustainability and waste reduction

 Waste removal is significantly less than for a concrete building

 More than 95 per cent of all structural steel is recovered and reused or recycled
 Steel buildings inherently lend themselves to structural addition and modification easily
 Independently certified steel fabricator members of the ASI’s Environmental Sustainability Charter attract an
extra Green Star point for projects
 Savings in freight and materials through not having to use and remove temporary formwork
 The design can be future proofed for longer life such as provision of large beam penetrations to accommodate
future services