Steel vs. Concrete: Which Is Better?
Let's begin with the structural composition. Industrial steel is an alloy (metal amalgamation) of iron and contains about two percent carbon. Concrete is a composite material made up of bonded aggregate (fine or coarse) held together by a fluid paste, usually cement. Concrete cures over time to form a durable structure.
Both materials are prevalent in the construction industry, and for a good reason. Without them, the contemporary-built environment we love today would not exist. While concrete may be in demand for its durability, good fire resistance, and 'fast' timeline deliveries, in many ways, steel makes for the better material, both in the long and short term.
Steel has the highest strength to weight ratio of any construction material in existence. Steel's resilience in tensile strength and shear remains unrivaled in the industry. It does not warp, strain, crack, or crumble like wood, concrete, plastic, or other construction materials. Additionally, unlike concrete, steel does not add excessive weight to a building's foundation. Further, steel requires fewer structural members than concrete, which translates to fewer construction materials needed on or off-site. While concrete takes a few days to dry, steel structures are usable soon after being set up.
In terms of aesthetics and structural design flexibility, steel, again, emerges as the winner. Steel integrates into virtually any design, as well as supports a multitude of loads. One may argue that concrete can be used for multiple designs, but it does not possess the versatility and ductility that makes steel such an attractive building material. When it comes to the best blast-resistant buildings, it is steel's flexibility, elasticity, and RedGuard's solid engineering and design prowess that makes our steel blast-resistant buildings exemplary when it comes to worksite safety. We employ steel in our blast-resistant buildings because it gives our clients the flexibility they need to meet and exceed their needs.
Further, steel is cheaper to build and maintain than any construction material with similar strengths and characteristics. Costs are an integral consideration of any building project, and when steel is used to construct blast-resistant buildings, strength, quality, and durability go hand in hand with affordability. Steel is also more eco-friendly as 85% of the world's available steel is recycled, including 99% of structural steel after demolition. You cannot reuse or recycle the materials in a concrete structure.
Concrete structures have their benefits, but in comparison to steel, they stack up as expensive, take more time to prepare, cure, and install, and add considerable weight to foundations.
