8 Reasons to Build With Steel

With so many building materials available on the market it can be a challenge to keep up with current trends and new products. The traditional view of building with steel is that it creates big box looking stores or is best suited for large industrial projects.

At BEHLEN we work with our dealers on all sorts of projects from industrial, recreational, commercial, and institutional and we are continuously challenging the traditional notions of building with steel.

We know that steel buildings offer an unsurpassed amount of design freedom, while also providing a lower cost solution that is environmentally sustainable. We decided to put together a compelling list of reasons for why building with steel is the way of the future and why every contractor should know the benefits of building with steel.

Versatility

Whether you are building a factory, an airplane hangar, a soccer field, a church or anything else imaginable, steel buildings are versatile and customizable. You choose the look, feel and finishes and we can create the building to fit your dream. BEHLEN steel buildings are customizable with any windows, doors and exterior finish options on the market. As the saying goes, “if you can dream it, we can build it.”

The BEHLEN Rigid Frame steel building, Peak 2 Peak Gondola Terminal was a feature in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics games and a wonderful example of how steel can create versatile buildings.

Strength

Steel buildings are resistant to natural and man-made wear. They withstand termites, fire, rust and rot. You can be confident your building will stand strong through a wide range of calamities. Steel buildings are so tough that their ductile and flexible nature lead them to be a popular choice when building in earthquake prone regions.

BEHLEN buildings will stand the test of time, extreme weather and heavy use. You won’t find a stronger, more durable option on the market. In fact, according to The American Institute of Steel Construction, “Not only is structural steel a stronger material, it also has a much higher strength to weight ratio than other materials. This results in the building being lighter and lighter buildings require less extensive and costly foundations.”

Environmentally Sustainable

Building with steel is gentle on the environment. Not only is steel typically made partially out of recycled product, it is often manufactured specially to order. For BEHLEN that means there is very little waste during the manufacturing process as our state-of-the-art technology and in-house engineers can make all of the pieces fit together.

Steel buildings are also a great option for sustainability because their parts can be reused and recycled when the building is no longer needed. In fact, according to a study by The World Steel Association, “98% of the raw materials used to make crude steel are converted to products and by-products. The industry’s goal is zero waste.” Their findings also reveal that “over 22 billion tonnes of steel has been recycled worldwide since 1900 owing to steel’s 100% recyclability.”

The PEI Central Compost Facility won the Consulting Engineers of New Brunswick’s “Benefit to Society Award,” for meeting the provinces strict environmental regulations. The combination of a flat and convex style roof is also a great example of how adaptable BEHLEN buildings can be built to the varying needs of the project.

Economical

We know that budget is a consideration on any job. We price our buildings right to make sure you are getting a fair price for a high-quality product. Building in steel is a cost-effective decision for your next project, largely due to the fact that we manufacture each building specially to order, eliminating waste.

Through conducting comparative studies, The American Institute of Steel Construction states that, “structural steel framing system including decking and fire protection will typically cost 5% to 7% less than a concrete framing system on a national basis.”

Wide-open Interiors

Steel buildings can be built with large, wide-open interiors without the obstructions created by columns. This means you can have the floor plan you want without any interruptions.

The clear span capabilities of steel buildings are excellent for sports facilities, airplane hangars or factories where a large open space is essential.

BEHLEN’s frameless steel buildings can have obstruction-free spans of up to 95m (313’). In fact, we recently manufactured the largest convex-style frameless steel building in the world that will house an international-sized soccer field and bleachers.

The Winnipeg Indoor Soccer Facility is a great example of how BEHLEN can provide wide open interiors with both our Rigid Frame and Frameless building systems.

Low maintance

Once your steel building is constructed, you need to do very little to maintain it over the years. At BEHLEN, our sloped roof designs, rust protected steel, durable cladding and strong frame takes care of itself, so you don’t have to.

The Viking Air Hangar is the perfect example of how a BEHLEN building can be both functional and aesthetically appealing.

Aesthetically Appealing

Steel buildings are more than just boxes. Technology today allows you to design your building to fit your vision. Our buildings can fit any window or door options, and you can choose a wide range of exterior finishes to add style and flare to fit your personality.

Quick Construction

Steel buildings are pre-manufactured and shipped to construction sites. They can be manufactured and assembled quickly.

In fact, according to the Living Steel Initiative, steel buildings offer a “20% – 40% reduction in construction time, relative to on-site construction, depending on a project’s scale. [Even] for single dwellings, on more challenging sites, steel often allows less points of contact with the earth, reducing the amount of excavation required.”

Written by:
BEHLEN Industries LP