James Harrison is an Architectural Area Manager at Fielders and expert in all things steel. He joins us on the blog to share the benefits and innovation related to steel in architecture design and construction.
At Fielders, we are often asked why we recommend building with steel over other materials. The simple answer is steel continues to provide flexibility, versatility and durability for architects and builders to bring to life innovations that push industry boundaries.
Since the 19th Century, steel has readily been
adopted into the construction industry due its incredible value and inherent benefits
including low maintenance, building efficiency and unmatched strength. It is
also a much lighter and malleable option when compared to alternative building
materials such as cast iron which, despite its strong compression doesn’t offer
the same tension and bending.
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| Image by
Flickr.com, courtesy of Till Krech |
Unlike
wood, tiles and slate, steel doesn’t need the same protective coatings to
maintain its appearance and resilience. Not only does this make steel a less labour
intensive product, it also means long term exposure to the elements won’t undermine
its steadfast durability – particularly important in Australia where we are
faced with such harsh climatic conditions.
The
heat reflective nature of steel has seen Colorbond become a popular choice for
roofing and fencing. Produced with a
zincalume for corrosion resistance and oven-baked with an epoxy primer and exterior
grade top-coat, it resists chipping, peeling and cracking to look good for
years to come while helping reduce a home’s thermal gain.
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| Gleeson College lab by Tridente Architects |
One
of the other great benefits of steel is its ability to be pre-fabricated into
modules offsite, therefore reducing construction build times. Recently we have
also experienced increasing demand from the commercial industry for our ARAMAX and
FreeForm products that can be rolled onsite with a mobile roll-former. Along
with this efficiency, the unrivalled versatility, architectural
flexibility and strength of these products allow them to span great distances
of up to 20 metres and create distinctive curves without the use of
purlings or girts found in conventional structural framing.
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| Cesnock Hanger incorporating ARAMAX FreeSpan |
More than ever before, the industry is continually seeking ways to push the boundaries of
existing design to produce products and projects that deliver optimum
efficiency and sustainability. Our team recently
worked alongside TS4
Sustainable Living to provide steel
roofing for Australia’s very first Zero Carbon House which has set the benchmark for future environmentally
friendly design and construction projects.
Benefits
of utilising steel in modern construction are practically endless. This even
stems to our Finesse range of façade cladding which provides architects greater
range to design within a competitive price bracket. We’ve noticed a particular
trend in our Shadowline product in schools around Australia, while Interlocking
Panel and Nailstrip have proven popular in residential projects.
From
stadiums, to fencing, to universities and homes, Australia has embraced the
benefits of building with steel while the industry continues to expand its
capabilities and efficiencies, ensuring a bright future for Australia’s steel
industry.
