When a natural disaster occurs, whether a building stands or falls comes down to strength. Working with materials that will strengthen a building is always preferable. One of the top materials that can make this a reality is steel. Steel is a great option for constructing new buildings, and the various positive attributes that steel provides can add resilience to any new construction project.
How Steel Buildings Withstand Severe Weather Better Than Others
There are a variety of attributes that make steel an ideal building material, including:
- Structural Integrity – Steel is known for being a solid material, especially compared to other popular options. For example, steel is far superior to wood because it doesn’t rot, warp, or weaken like wood. Steel can also bear heavier loads and for much longer.
- Fire-Resistant – If the region you’re building in is prone to wildfires or any other type of natural disaster, steel’s resistance to fire damage makes it a great choice. Power lines can be knocked down during severe weather events and spark fires. Luckily, steel buildings are resistant to this threat and will perform better than buildings made of any other material.
- Wind Resistant – Another quality of steel buildings is that they can resist wind very well. This feature is critical in areas prone to tornados and hurricanes.
While many building materials have attributes that help them stand up against severe weather, few have as many as steel.
Can Steel Buildings Withstand Earthquakes?
We know steel can stand up well to hurricanes and tornados, but what about earthquakes? These natural disasters can strike without warning, and it behooves any building designer to select materials that can withstand them.
Despite its strength, steel also retains a degree of flexibility that makes it an ideal choice for building in areas prone to earthquakes. Steel can bend and flex slightly against the tremors produced by earthquakes. This flexibility ensures that a building made of steel will still be standing when the earthquake passes.
Every earthquake is different in terms of severity and impact on individual buildings. While certain strengths of earthquakes make any building unstable, no matter how strong or flexible, steel has by far the best chance of weathering these types of natural disasters.
Steel Buildings Can be Constructed Quickly
No one likes to wait around for their building to be constructed. Happily, you don’t have to factor in a long lead time when it comes to steel. The use of standardized components and computerized fabrication makes steel construction much more streamlined in a new building. The uniform structure of many of these buildings means that many problems in traditional building construction are already solved before the contracts are signed. Manufacturers with a wide range of building solutions pass that advantage on to the customer and save time in construction.
Fast turnaround time also means that costs can remain contained as well. This is particularly important for staying on a budget. If you are looking to get a particular building constructed on a budget, then no question opting for a steel building is the right move.
Great Material for the Long-Run
Finally, steel is indeed the best option for the long run. It is great at resisting the destructive forces of wind, rain, and fire. Steel is incredibly durable and can be flexible when met with the danger of an earthquake. On top of all of that, steel is an easy to obtain material and can be used to put a building together in a hurry.
If you are considering what you will construct your next building with, make sure you reach out and contact us for more information about what steps you need to begin the construction of your very own steel building.