In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on why stainless steel is often used as a building material in structures where natural disaster preparedness is a priority. There are several potential disaster types that unfortunately may impact structures in various parts of the country, but stainless steel has several properties that help withstand the effects of these disasters within buildings.

At Wasatch Steel, we’re happy to provide a wide range of steel products often used in major construction, from steel bar and steel plate to steel sheet and more. Stainless steel is a common request among construction professionals for a variety of needs, including preparedness for potential disasters that may take place, even if the risks here are relatively low. Here are a few of the other variables that make it so useful here.

Corrosion Resistance

As we noted in part one, there are several disaster types that involve water. These are most common for buildings near a water source like the ocean, but issues like flooding, severe hailstorms and even major snowfall dangers may also take place in other areas around the country.

And in these situations, it’s incredibly important for your building material to withstand corrosion. Think about a material like iron, for example, which does not have this property: When flooding or even significant rain buildup hits a building like this over enough time, it will lead to rust formation and corrosion of the structure, which presents significant danger. Stainless steel alloys, however, are naturally corrosion resistance and are not impacted by elements like water and oxygen, which typically cause this kind of rust. This is why steel pipes and tubes are so commonly used in bridges and other construction materials that will interact with water on a regular basis.

Withstands Temperature

Finally, fires are a significant natural disaster risk that can impact a variety of structures. For weaker building materials, intense fires risk a quick disintegration of the structure, presenting major risks to anyone inside.

Once again, stainless steel is very valuable here. For one, it has a very high tolerance for drastic temperature changes and high levels of heat. For another, it not only won’t ignite in a fire, it won’t melt easily, helping the structure remain sound for longer periods of time while rescue operations are carried out.

Versatility

And as we touched on in part one of our series, another key benefit of stainless steel in this area is its versatility. Other metal types may have one or two of the properties we’ve gone over to this point; stainless steel has all of them, plus can easily be altered using several different alloys to promote a given property.

For more on why stainless steel is so popular for structures where natural disaster prevention is important, or to learn about any of our steel products or services, speak to the staff at Wasatch Steel today.