Steel is the superior construction material

• Highest strength-to-weight ratio of any building material 100% recyclable.

• Non-combustible- does not burn and will not contribute fuel to the spread of a fire

• Inorganic - will not rot, warp, split, crack or creep.

• Dimensionally stable - does not expand or contract with moisture content.

• Consistent material quality - produced in strict accordance with national standards,
no regional variations

Benefits to the Builder

• Lighter than other framing materials.

• Easy material selection - no need to cull or sort.

• Straight walls.

• Straight corners.

• Windows and doors open and close as they should .

• Small punch list.

• Less scrap and waste (2% for steel vs. 20% for lumber).

• Price stability - steel prices have been flat since 1980 and are not volatile.

• Environmental selling and green positioning.

• Consumer perceives steel as better construction material.

Benefits to the Consumer

• High strength results in safe structures, less maintenance and slower aging of structure.

• Fire safety.

• Not vulnerable to termites.

• Not vulnerable to any type of fungi or organism.

• Less probability of foundation problems - less weight results in less movement.

• Less probability of damage in an earthquake - lighter structure with stronger connections results in less seismic force.

• Less probability of damage in high winds - stronger connections, screwed versus nailed.

Benefits to the Enviroment 

• More steel recycled each year than aluminum, plastic and glass combined - with the industry’s overall recycling rate of 64%.

• Each year, steel recycling saves the energy.

• Steel’s unique magnetic properties make it easily identifiable as a recyclable material. If a magnet sticks,
than consumers can be sure it’s steel and should be recycled.

• More than 12 million cars (virtually every car taken off the road) were recycled in 1998 - enough cars
to circle the earth more than one and three-quarter times.

• Steel recycling programs reduce the solid waste stream resulting in saved landfill space and conservation of natural resources.

• Every ton of steel recycled saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone.

• Trough the basic oxygen furnace steel making process, steel framing uses a minimum of 25% recycled steel.

• In 1998, 88% of the steel taken from commercial construction demolition sites was recycled

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