SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
he performance of steel in the core part of Government policy to protect weight ratio means that the weight of the
T
construction market has been the environment. The construction and structural frame is reduced when
one of the great industrial demolition industry annually produces compared with other framing materials.
success stories of the last 25 three times the amount of waste This means the foundations required can
years in the UK. The recent generated by all UK households combined be reduced in size comparative to other
publication of the 2007 Market Share – that is over 100 million tonnes of materials – saving up to 50 per cent time
Survey, undertaken by independent market construction waste every year. and associated costs.
researchers Construction Markets, However, research carried out with the
illustrates that steel continues to be the UK demolition industry reveals that the re- END OF LIFE OPTIONS
material of choice for UK architects and use and recycling rate for steel When we come to look at buildings,
structural engineers. The findings reveal construction products in the UK is 94 per no matter how adaptable they may be; it
that steel’s total market share remains cent and as high as 99 per cent for is inevitable that they will have to be
above 71 per cent, and can boast a 72 structural steel work – indicating that eventually demolished or deconstructed.
per cent share in multi-storey offices – thanks to its inherent value and long However, it is important that the end-of-
making the UK construction market one of established recovery infrastructure, steel life impacts of buildings are minimised
the most steel intensive in the world. accounts for very little construction waste with excess products, where possible,
Considered in context of sustainability that goes to landfill. being recovered, recycled or reused – and
(which is a balance of social, economic this is really where steel comes into its
and environmental factors) – a topic STEEL IN USE own.
currently top of the construction agenda – With the construction industry now At the end of its useful lifespan, steel
these market share results serve to focused on developing modern buildings can be deconstructed, with the
indicate how steel’s solid credentials in this construction methods, the key issue is how various steel components being re-used or
area are consolidating the gains made in the choice of materials can create scope recycled. Traditionally, buildings were
terms of cost advantage and programme for reducing burdens. Increasingly, simply demolished and invariably, the
predictability. specifiers are looking for sustainable demolition waste goes directly to landfill –
STEEL PERFORMS SUSTAINABLY
Paul Jones, Engineering Doctorate Theme
Leader at Corus, considers how the intrinsic
properties of steel make it the automatic choice
for sustainable construction.
STEEL RECYCLING forms of construction and companies that
Steel construction has no equal when operate in a sustainable manner.
it comes to sustainability and steel is the Steel construction products have
most recycled material in the world. Ever always been manufactured off site, using
since steel production started more than a a factory based and highly trained work
century ago, it has been recycled into new force. Apart from the obvious health and
products that can respond to the changing safety benefits that this brings, it also a process that in today’s political climate
needs of society. Globally, 440 million means that waste streams are easily is no longer acceptable, meaning other
tonnes of steel are now recycled every trapped and on-site waste is virtually options must be considered. Therefore,
year, with recent figures indicating that an eliminated. By its very nature off-site we must think of construction and
amount equivalent to some 40 per cent of construction gives rise to more predictable demolition waste as a valuable resource.
total world steel production is being construction programmes, as the process
recovered and recycled annually. To put is less affected by weather, which might LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
this in perspective, this is the equivalent of otherwise cause delays. Additionally When looking at the evidence, there is
recycling 150 Eiffel Towers daily! deliveries of steelwork to site can be timed no denying that steel makes an extremely
Even better, steel can be recycled time to suit the construction programme strong case for sustainability.
and time again, without any reduction to requirements. Nevertheless, the challenge we now face
its inherent material properties. As a The nature of steel construction means in the steel industry is to make sure that
result, steel will never be regarded as a that changes in use and loading patterns we build on these strong foundations.
waste product carrying a disposal cost like can be easily accommodated during a Major investments have been, and are
other materials therefore; even at the end building’s design, its initial construction being made in improving steel
of life it always has a positive value. Other and when it is due for refurbishment. construction all along the supply chain,
materials can sometimes be crushed up Long-span steel construction solutions also from the extraction of iron ore and other
and used as an inferior product to the one generate column-free spaces, which raw materials through manufacture and
that it started as. appeals to developers seeking increased fabrication to on-site erection. This is of
flexibility to accommodate occupiers and vital importance if we are to achieve
REDUCING WASTE future changes to use – especially in the together our wider sustainable goals and
Managing waste in a sustainable way, industrial and commercial sectors. ensure a better quality of life for future
optimising recycling and re-use, forms a Furthermore, steel’s high strength-to- generations. www.corusgroup.com
SUSTAINABLE FM | APRIL 2008
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