If you haven’t worked with steel much, chances are you enter and exit most large buildings without a second thought about their structural qualities or integrity. That’s because they’re generally supported by steel, the most reliable material there is for providing durable, safe buildings.

In decades past, there wasn’t this certainty. Accidents in larger buildings were more common before steel was used for most of them. At Wasatch Steel, we take pride in providing a product that consistently rates as the safest for many building types. Here are several reasons why steel is safer.

Fire Resistance

There’s no such thing as a truly fireproof building material, but steel is one of the only ones that’s fire resistant – fires won’t spread as quickly as they would in other kinds of buildings. In many cases, that additional time can make all the difference if a fire does start. Steel is designed to strict standards to hold its form even during a fire, so structural collapses are less likely to be a risk.

Wind Resistance

Steel is known to perform well under high wind conditions, primarily due to its ductility, or ability to bend without actually breaking. Steel absorbs more energy than other building materials, meaning buildings are safe even during high-wind periods.

Maintenance

Steel requires less maintenance, primarily because it undergoes less wear and tear than other materials. Less maintenance means workers are more likely to keep pace here, which translates to consistently safer buildings.

Sustainability

Steel is the world’s most recyclable material, and this also has its effects on the safety side of things. Because this recycling process can take place without a single bit of the structural integrity or qualities of the steel being sacrificed, steel has an incredibly long – and durable – lifespan.

Strength-to-Weight Ratio

Of all metals used regularly in construction, steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio. This means you get strength in your products without adding weight, making construction simpler and giving designers more flexibility to focus on safety features in a given building.

Want to learn more about what makes steel the safest building product, or interested in our online steel supply? Speak to the pros at Wasatch Steel today.