Steel Building

Why choose a steel building?

Steeltek Steel Frame Buildings.

• Steel is lighter and stronger than traditional building framework materials
• Easy and rapid construction
• Competitively priced
• Tensile strength and ductile qualities
• Steel is a tough, durable material
• Steel does not rot, shrink, warp or split
• Fire-resistant material
• Treated steel is resistant to most weather conditions
• Low maintenance
• Steel components weigh up to 60% less than wood
• Steel is repeatedly recyclable

Metal Building

Metal is used as the framework for buildings, especially large structures like skyscrapers because it has incredible tensile strength and durability. This means that the building can take greater loads. More recently metal buildings have been used as a major design and structural features of landmark buildings such as the Swiss Re Tower known as the ‘gherkin’ in central London. Metal allows structures that would not be possible in other materials. The gherkin uses metal to create it’s curved body and unique glass covered facade.

Prefab Metal Building

The advantage of prefabrication of building components is that the hard work is done before construction on site begins. Like Meccano, the pieces of the building are engineered, pre-cut and modular, meaning they can then be slotted together following simple steps. It’s easy to put up a ready made building; there is no need for a large workforce of skilled labourers or significant onsite preparation. The building arrives on site as ready made panels and components, which can then be bolted together.

Prefabricated sections are ideal for buildings that have a modular and repetitive structure or entire complexes that have repeating styles. Large sections of the building can be machined and prefabricated from the same template, making it an easier job for the architect, structural engineer and the site manager and construction team. This results in lower costs per unit for production and construction.

Steel Fabrication

Steel fabrication has been used in the commercial construction sector for many years and is increasingly being used in the residential sector. SteelTek buildings are formed in our fab shop, just outside Alresford. This is where the raw material is formed into the ready made sections using casting, cutting and lathes. The metal can be cut to precise measurements using the FrameCAD computer programme and laser cutters.

Because of steel’s uniform material characteristics it is a more reliable building material than wood. It is relatively simple to predict the characteristics of steel, for example to calculate the tolerances, and this knowledge makes it simple to engineer a steel frame building. This means that there is a lesser risk of unforeseen building assembly issues, which in turn enables rapid construction. For these reasons many professional property developers and construction companies in the residential sector now use steel frame construction techniques. For any commercial construction project the benefits of steel modular prefabrication and framework components cannot be underestimated.

Stainless Steel Fabrication

Stainless steel was developed in Sheffield in the early 20th century. It is probably best known for its use in cutlery and cooking utensils, however, it is also used in construction. Stainless steel is the ideal metal for building fabrication because it suffers from very little corrosion or oxidisation (rust) and is inexpensive. Despite its image, stainless steel is not only used to mould and form supporting sections of the structure but also decorative ones, like the steel plates on the outside of the Chrysler Building in New York. SteelTek structures may not be as decorative but they have all the advantages of a metal construction.

Steel Frame Building

Steel is a metal alloy whose main components are iron and carbon. Steel is an incredibly strong building material, combining tensile strength, elasticity. It has the highest strength to weight ratio of building materials used today. As a result steel framed buildings do not suffer from any of the problems associated with more traditional construction methods. As it is a metal it does not rot, shrink or split making it ideal in heavy duty constructions, for example industrial warehouses.

Buildings in earthquake zones use concrete structures that are reinforced with a steel core. This is because the steel has enough flexibility to absorb the shock of the earthquake and yet strength to prevent the building from collapsing. Steel frame structures also benefit form greater unobstructed internal space because the strength of the metal means that the joists can span larger areas than wooden joists and require fewer support columns.