Sustainability and Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings: Eco-Friendly Construction Practices
Sustainable construction is construction using renewable and recyclable resources and materials and minimizing energy consumption and waste. Fast-depleting natural resources and the growing impact of climate change have increased the demand for sustainable construction in order to build an environmentally safe world for our future generations. This is one of the main reasons why pre-engineered steel building construction has gained so much popularity.
What Are Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings?
Pre-engineered steel buildings are buildings whose structural components are designed, manufactured and inspected for quality at an offsite factory before being transported to the construction site and assembled. They are different from conventional structural steel buildings because structural steel building components are fabricated onsite at the construction location and are heavily customized, which takes considerably more time and expertise at the site.
Pre-engineered steel buildings are highly versatile, making them suitable for a variety of applications including residential projects, commercial buildings, industrial warehouses and factories, agricultural facilities and academic institutions. With design efficiency, quick construction time, superior strength and durability, and ease of construction, they have become the go-to solution for construction projects across geographical regions.
Environmental Benefits of Steel Construction
There are multiple reasons why pre-engineered steel buildings are a popular choice in construction. Pre-engineered steel is strong and durable and is well suited to the aesthetics of modern construction design and architecture. However, the reason that helps to tip the balance in favour of pre-engineered steel construction is the fact that the steel components are environment friendly and sustainable, which is a concern in the case of conventional construction methods.
Recycling and Reusability of Steel
The advantage of steel is that it can be recycled indefinitely while still retaining its strength and durability. Steel that has been used in construction can be easily recycled and used for other applications. In fact, the consumption of recycled steel in the construction industry is mainly limited by its availability. Very little scrap steel waste is generated during the construction process of pre-engineered steel buildings. Since the pre-engineered steel used for construction is very durable and long-lasting and is not required to be replaced for a really long time, the availability of steel scrap material is not sufficient to meet the demand. Also, pre-engineered steel that is used to manufacture steel framings and other components can be easily reused in its original state after being de-assembled from the earlier building. This significantly reduces the amount of waste that goes into the landfill when a building is dismantled.
Reduced Construction Waste and Its Impact
The construction industry is one of the major contributors to pollution – air pollution, water pollution, and noise pollution – which can have an adverse impact on the lives and well-being of all living forms including human beings. Traditional construction components and methods can generate a large amount of dust, waste material, and noise at the construction site which can impact the entire neighbourhood. Pre-engineered steel construction causes minimal wastage due to its planned design and efficiency in manufacturing and assembling and can considerably bring down the pollution caused during the construction process. Due to the reduced construction waste and emissions, they are a very eco-friendly option to consider when deciding on which method of construction to choose.
Role of Steel in Sustainable Building Practices
Construction waste is solid waste that is generated from construction activities such as excavation of the land, site clearance, the construction process, as well as refurbishment, renovation, demolition of the building, and road works. A major part of the waste that goes to landfills is in the form of debris during construction, packaging waste, bamboo, timber, and waste during renovations or demolition in the form of rubble, broken concrete, and others. In addition to taking up a lot of landfill space, these waste materials leave a lot of carbon footprint. Pre-engineered steel construction has made a radical difference to this scenario and made construction more sustainable and kinder to the environment.