Steel as a Sustainable Building Material

Steel is known for its strength, durability, versatility and sustainability and is amongst many materials that have been certified under the green building rating system. Steel, because of its quality performance and sustainability have been in use for commercial interior wall framing and buildings for many years. Steel can be recycled, its life cycle is endless. It can be used again and again with continuous innovation in products and techniques. It is available in many forms such as mild, carbon, galvanized and stainless steel. Each of them has slightly different physical properties for applications and has different aesthetic properties but overall steel is great for structural and decorative purposes. 

Here are 5 reasons for steel as a sustainable building material

1. Extremely durable and long-lasting

Steel is strong and extremely durable. It requires zero maintenance and can meet designs as required. Weathering steel can last for more than 100 years with little or no maintenance and still stand as it is. Steel can also be made use for another purpose if done with the previous use.

2. It is well suited to the economy

The durability and the strong attributes of the steel make it very suitable for the circular economy. Steel can be modified and can adapt existing buildings as steel buildings can provide flexibility. It can be reused by recycling it into another steel product. It can be deconstructed and reconstructed for another purpose by unleashing a further life for the resource.

3. It minimises waste

With many by-products of steelmaking being processed, steel being a construction material also contributes to the wastes. It is extremely well suited for offsite construction and modular methods of its construction by its very own nature. Its formidability and processing character shows that the waste generated can become an input to further steel making. 

4. No damages to human and environment

Steel can easily be retrieved because of its magnetic nature and it releases no harmful chemicals for humans or animals.  The impact on the environment from steel is quite minimal compared to any other material. Steels like stainless steel are of great use for humans in many forms such as utensils, packaging and home decor etc that do not rust and are long-lasting at the same time.

5. Its contribution to the built environment

The product produced by steel can stay a lifetime and make assets more efficient and more effective. It helps build renewable energy generators to insulate and airtight panels! Steel plays an important role in building our surrounding and environment with its string and long-lasting material. 

There are many steel manufacturers in India such as the JSW group, Tata group, Jindal steel which are some of the largest steel producers in India and for more details, you can look up their site and contact them