Every business in every sector is looking at ways to become more sustainable – and structural steel contractors are no exception.
Especially when we read reports continually hitting the headlines that the construction industry is responsible for over half of the UK’s carbon emissions and water consumption and a third of the UK’s landfill waste.
This makes sustainability huge.
Governments are supporting businesses and encouraging them with certain incentives to meet sustainability criteria, and for construction steelwork in particular, you can find guidelines by the British Construction and Steelwork Association (BCSA) to provide you with further information.
Sustainability in structural steelwork
Looking at the statistics, there has to be some change within the construction sector, where we take a look at processes and operations to help reduce CO2 emissions, as well as look to work with more sustainable technologies and products.
For structural steel fabricators, this change starts with the design and how sustainability can be built before moving to construction, where sustainable processes during the fabrication phases can be put in place.
For example, can automation help to reduce resources and time? Can digital technologies reduce energy consumption? How can you build sustainable thinking at the CAD drawing and design stages?
And sustainability doesn’t just end once the structure is complete.
We should continually review and monitor building use and how this can be managed and optimised.
Uses of steel
Structural steel is suitable for:
Construction – industrial buildings, residential properties, roof structures, bridges, architectural designs, and more.
Automotive elements – door panels, car body, support beams, smaller components such as seatbelts, etc.
Areas/elements of packaging – cans and containers for both food and drinks.
Manufacturing sector – producing everything from tools and equipment to furniture, automobiles and trains, electrical appliances, and more.
Is steel sustainable?
In a word, yes. Steel is most certainly sustainable and a popular choice for the construction sector because of this.
Some of the sustainable benefits steel offers include:
- Steel can be reused repeatedly without losing its quality and performance. Allowing structural steel contractors to dismantle and reuse steel in new structures. This means steel is never sent to landfills (so there is no harm to the environment), and new innovative structures can be assembled with ease.
- Steel has a high economic value due to its ability to offer longevity and its ability to withstand large loads.
- Steel is custom-made to meet exact design specifications, so you will find that there is no waste.
- Steel is 100% recyclable and can be dismantled and reused without the material losing its integrity.
- Structural steel fabrication uses less energy as we use precision tools and technology, meaning lower CO2 emissions.
- Steel also doesn’t emit any toxic chemicals, protecting the environment and the health of staff.
- Steel is incredibly versatile and can be fabricated to meet a range of requirements.
- As a material, steel offers strength and durability, and it is resistant to corrosion, making it an ideal material for many construction structures.
Improving the sustainability of steel
Steel comes in different physical characteristics depending on your design requirements and specifications, and the fabrication of steel can create various forms, such as:
- Universal beams
- Box sections
- Flat bars
- C charred bars
Aesthetically pleasing, robust, and reliable, steel is also eco-friendly; make sure to check out our latest post on load-bearing structures HERE.
However, to reap all of these benefits and more, you will need consistency and precision.
Consistency and precision from professional fabricators who have the right tools, equipment, knowledge, and experience to help you meet your sustainability goals.
Specifying sustainable steel
When looking at ways in which you can become more sustainable, look at the following:
- Adopting clean, precision technologies
- Managing performance across all areas of production and sustainable structural steelwork operations
- Digital solutions – could certain areas be automated to save time and energy, optimising energy consumption?
- Ways to reduce waste and control emissions.
Of course, we understand that all these areas will require investment from fabricators. However, we know that starting with even the smallest steps and changes can make a significant difference.
There is a big demand in the UK to provide structures that fulfil their intended purpose and for these structures to be able to sustain specified loads throughout the structure’s lifetime.
There is also a growing requirement to build sustainability at all stages, for example, fabrication, transportation, handling, and assembly.
The focus should be on finding ways to minimise waste and reduce emissions, as well as planning and coordinating your designs with precision.
The key?
Working with suppliers, fabricators, and teams who hold the same values as yourself.
Who can show their commitment to sustainability through their own practices, and who can provide you with peace of mind that your project is in safe hands.
Structural Steel Fabricators
At Morfabrication, we use the latest technology that is appropriate and best suited to your project.
We continually review our processes and operations to minimise our energy consumption and harm to the environment.
Working with sustainable materials such as steel, we use precision manufacturing techniques to provide our customers with the highest quality finished products.
Do you have a project coming up?
Get in touch today.