Benefits of Structural Steel Framing

Structural steel has come up in a big way as the preferred ‘superior construction material’ for constructing the framework of a residential or commercial building. Not only is it the paramount and the most viable building material but it also sets a quality bar against which all other construction materials are measured.

Structural steel has a plethora of advantages. The erection of steel framing involves a rapid design and fabrication process, thereby optimizing the construction cycle and minimizing the time required to complete a construction project.

Structural steel has a phenomenal strength to weight ratio. This means that while buildings constructed around structural steel framing systems display high strength, they are much lighter, and consequently require less elaborate and expensive foundations

Framing systems made of structural steel and induced with decking and fire protection features, on an average cost almost 7% lesser than those constructed of concrete. It is no surprise then that structural steel has reigned as the market leader in the cost bracket for over three decades.

Structural steel has great aesthetic appeal and is loved by architects for its strength and modifiable traits. Moreover, the machines and equipment used for designing structural steel framing systems are readily available and are far ahead in efficiency and productivity compare to those used by other framing systems. When subjected to design details and architecture master plans, structural steel’s grace, slenderness and sturdiness create masterpieces.

Structural steel, being 100% recyclable, is highly sustainable and can be re-used without any processing to make a variety of products in future. In fact it has a grand 68% recycling rate in the industry. Moreover, it creates almost 18% less scrap and waste when compared to lumber. Additionally, unlike other framings, structural steel framing systems can be modified for the purpose of expansions, new additions or customizations.

Choosing steel framing ensures that your framing system is inorganic and therefore will never rot, crack or split or worse still, be vulnerable to moulds, fungi or termites. Nor will it expand or contract owing to moisture content. Importantly, it offers better resistance to seismic forces causing earthquakes.

Steel studs and joists are made of uniform quality structural steel fabricated under controlled conditions to provide maximum strength during the production stage itself. This ensures straight steel walls with perfect corners that do not need modification post installation.

All these benefits of using structural steel framing for residential and commercial constructions create a win-win situation for both the builder as well as the end customer.

Forming Quality Structural Steel for Framing – The Working of Roll Forming Machines

Roll forming process is the most widely used methodology to form high strength steel for framing in buildings. The roll forming machines fabricate the required configurations out of long strips of coiled steel. Apart from roll forming, these machines also perform a number of other functions such as material cutting and roll punching.

The basic roll forming machine has a line that can be segregated into four major parts. The first part or the entry section is the place where the material is loaded. It is usually put in sheet form or fed from a continuous coil. The next section comprising of station rollers, is the segment where the actual roll forming takes place. It is here that the stations are located and the metal shapes as it makes its way through the process. Station rollers not only shape the metal, but are the very driving force of the machine.

The third section of a basic roll forming machine is the cut off press, where the metal is cut to a pre-determined length. Due to the speed at which the machine operates and the fact that it is a continuously working machine, flying die cut-off techniques are not uncommon. The final section is the exit station, where the finished part exits the machine onto a roller conveyor or assembly line, and is moved.

Roll forming machines are energy efficient as they do not consume energy to heat the material—the metal can be shaped at room temperature. It is also an adjustable process and may be used for projects of varying time duration. The fabrication of precise and uniform parts becomes possible through roll forming.

Steel Framing Machine – Roll Forming Technique

Building construction with steel framing has many advantages over the traditional reinforced concrete construction. The typical properties of steel viz. its durability, flexibility and strength make it an ideal material for any product application that requires resistant metals. Steel is also 100 percent non-combustible. The height and area restrictions that pertain to combustible materials do not apply to cold-formed steel.

Roll forming is one of the most widely used processes for forming a variety of metals including copper, zinc, brass, titanium and high strength structural steel. In this process, a strip of metal usually in coil form is continuously passed through a series of roller dies and progressively formed to get the required shapes. In many cases, the process eliminates multiple stage production, sub-assembly and finishing operations. Numerous sub-assembly operations can be continuously combined together with the use of roll forming equipment.

Roll Forming is also an economical choice for many companies that aim to streamline their production and reduce total costs. The high-speed continuous nature of roll forming is an advantage for fabricating large volumes of metal. Savings are realized through the need for fewer component parts and post-production operations along with reduced manufacturing cost. With the use of roll forming technique, the need for secondary operations such as notching and deburring is completely eliminated.

Roll formed steel has a structural strength advantage over steel formed through other processes. Thin walled hollow and semi-hollow shapes can also be produced by roll forming in a more simple way than the alternative processes.