ARTICLE
Steel – the “ultimate sustainable construction material”
Since the 1980s, WRG has been committed to providing our customers with quality products and solutions for their projects with our extensive knowledge of steel manufacturing and design.
As a business, we care about our environment and the impact that we have on it. The construction industry is currently under the spotlight, and rightly so, when assessing its impact on the environment and contribution to reaching government targets. In order to meet these ambitious targets, we need to embrace the old and new; proven materials such as steel which are sustainable in their properties, with new modern methods of construction and technologies which allow us to reduce emissions and build more responsibly.
“The construction industry accounts for an outstanding 36% of energy used worldwide, as well as creating 40% of CO2 emissions.”
Setting the scene
As sourced by Steel Construction, the UK construction industry consumes an estimated 400 million tonnes (Mt) of materials each year, with 120Mt of its waste produced from construction, demolition, and excavation, of which 5Mt is disposed of in landfills. As a result, there is much room for improvement in the industry’s resource efficiency, particularly when structures are nearing the end of their lifespans.
In this article, we have looked into some of the features of steel vs traditional materials to delve into the overall sustainability.
The role of steel partitioning in sustainable construction
In the last 40 years, there have been many trends, changes and developments in the industry, but one thing that has remained consistent is the use of steel.
Steel has been used in construction for over 130 years. In fact, it has been found that the first steel-framed building was built back in 1890 in Chicago, The United States.
So why does steel partitioning continue to be such a popular building material and how does it compare to traditional methods such as plasterboard?
End-of-Life Scenarios
Arguably, one of the most important factors worth discussing is the recyclability of steel vs traditional materials.
When researching the end-of-life scenarios for the most commonly used building materials other than steel, such as gypsum plasterboard, it is clear that these materials fall short in terms of their recyclability.
For example, let’s focus on gypsum plasterboard. Whilst this material can be recycled, it cannot be recycled with other products. This means that a large proportion of the waste is left to landfills.
Cartwrights Waste Disposal have estimated that the construction industry uses 60% of the plasterboard produced and up to 1.3Mt of plasterboard waste is generated within the new-build construction and refurbishment sectors each year – now that is a lot!
But what happens with this waste? According to the Construction Index, the amount of gypsum construction waste recycled is estimated at only around 7%.
How does steel compare?
An impressive total of 96% of steel is recycled. As a result of steel being made from the most plentiful element on the planet, iron, it can be recycled or reused indefinitely without affecting its qualities and can easily be created into new products at the end of its life.
As well as this, due to the large nature of steel products, the capture rates of steel are typically above 90%, with an average of 96%, after the building life cycle has ended.
Demountable and Relocatable
Work spaces, including warehouse and factory areas, are constantly expanding and evolving. The use of steel partitioning allows for this adaptability for companies when segregating work spaces.
With the use of steel, you can easily demount and relocate partitioning products as required, unlike gypsum plasterboard wall types which end up as waste once any alterations are required. This means that as spaces and companies evolve, steel products can be reused and repurposed, reducing waste and the need for extra emissions to be spent on manufacturing new products or disposing of old products.
Harmful emissions
And that isn’t all! Steel is becoming more commonly used to improve the overall performance of the building – for the occupants, the environment and the building itself. Steel doesn’t emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are harmful gases which evaporate from other traditional building materials and can cause breathing difficulties as well as contributing to global warming and climate change.
Steel for the future
In terms of the material qualities of steel, it has become known as the “ultimate sustainable construction material” and the stats make it, per tonne, the most recycled material across the globe.
As a business, we are proud to have been using steel as our chosen material for over 40 years, knowing we are contributing to greener buildings and sustainable building practices, as well as producing a high standard of product and design solutions for our clients.
If you would like further information regarding our steel partitioning solutions, please get in touch with our team on either;
01527 502299
Read our previous articles
Transforming Steel Partitioning, One Coat at a Time
At WRG, we’re committed to providing innovative and efficient solutions for our trade customers. Our in-house powder coating facility is a testament to this commitment…
Time Saving & Efficiency On-site: Factory-Fitted Glazing
At WRG, utilising our expertise in steel manufacturing, we offer onsite efficiencies for our trade customers through factory-fitted glazed steel partitioning.
Get in touch with Gary.
Contact Gary, our Business Development Manager, to enquire about this product.
We will take the time to understand your project requirement and recommend you the optimum solution for your client.
We do also offer site support visits and surveys, acting as one of your team.
