6 Reasons Steel Buildings are Safer

Steel has been the preferred material for commercial buildings since the late 1800s, when its durability and safety were recognized as an upgrade to cast iron. According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel is the leading framing material for buildings and infrastructure in North America, with nearly a 50% market share for non-residential and multi-story residential construction.

(2) Fire Resistance

No building material is truly fireproof, meaning any building is vulnerable to a destructive blaze. But steel is fire resistant, which means a fire would spread at a slower rate through a steel building than a wood building such as a pole barn, for example. That extra time could be the difference between life and death. The relationship between steel and fire has been rigorously tested for decades, and those tests ensure steel structures are designed and constructed to the strictest standards.

Some sports complexes constructed with exterior fabric and fabric liner have been severely damaged, including a Dallas Cowboys practice facility. Had the Cowboys opted for a durable steel structure their bubble likely wouldn’t have popped. Durable steel structures perform well under high winds due to their ductility, which is the ability to bend without breaking. Steel is able to absorb more energy than its less sturdy counterparts, meaning your facility is safe under the most extreme conditions.

Expert Insight

You may like the look or functionality of a canopy building but canopies cost much more than enclosed buildings because the canopy structure must be engineered to withstand upward wind loads.