The support of the future. How to use steel in the reconstruction of Ukraine
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The use of steel in housing construction is terra incognita for Ukraine. How the metallurgical industry will become the basis for the future recovery of the country after the war.
Russia damaged or destroyed at least 163,000 residential buildings, according to the government. Full-scale war brought numerous destruction of social and industrial infrastructure.
The government, society and business started discussions aimed at outlining a vision and strategy for the future recovery of the country.
Big business plays a key role in the reconstruction process. The experience of entrepreneurs, their expertise and access to resources will speed up processes, make them simpler and more efficient.
One of the technologies that can speed up recovery and is widely used around the world is the construction of buildings from a metal frame. Will steel construction become the basis for rebuilding Ukrainian cities?
Steel has a unique combination of properties that make it an ideal material in various fields of application. It is used for the production of cars and industrial equipment, in energy and infrastructure.
More than is produced annually 1.5 billion tons became One of the largest consumers of iron-carbon alloy is the construction industry, which accounts for
over 50% world demand.
The metal is used for the manufacture of frames, roofing, cladding, as well as reinforcement for reinforced concrete structures.
In Ukraine, the largest consumers of steel are metal construction factories, which are actively engaged in construction for the commercial sector. They purchase large volumes of rolled steel for the construction of such objects as shopping centers, office buildings, structures for the agricultural and industrial sectors, bridges and other linear structures for the energy industry.
The use of steel frame construction technology in residential buildings is a common practice in the world. We are talking not only about the construction of skyscrapers, but also about low-rise apartment buildings.
So, in Australia, due to the shortage of wood, steel frames are used
started back in the 1960s. In this country, the popularity of this construction method has gained unprecedented popularity.
According to the estimate
Grand View Researchthe size of the global steel frame market was estimated at 36.01 billion dollars in 2022 and is expected to grow by an average of 5.1% from 2023 to 2030.
In Ukraine, steel is used mainly in the construction of non-residential buildings. As reported in the press service of Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group, the largest buyer of finished products in 2021 was the industry.
“40% produced steel products were used by industry to build plants and factories, 34% – commercial and public spheres (shopping centers, shops). More 17% accounted for engineering structures (power lines, CHP, highways), 5% – for logistics (warehouses and warehouses)”, – Metinvest Group explained.
Currently, the distribution is changing: the share of production and industry has decreased, but at the same time there is growth in the “Engineering structures” category.
Mariupol became a pioneer in the use of metal structures for the construction of housing, where one of the largest suppliers of retail metal products to the Ukrainian market worked on projects – the company “Metinvest SMC”.
In 2020, her joint project with the state and local authorities to build a building with 120 apartments using steel frame technology started on Amurska Street.
The total construction cost was about UAH 120 million. The frame of the 8-story building was filled with reinforced concrete walls and bricks. The design life of the building exceeds 100 years.
“The industrial nature of the manufactured steel frame elements shortens the construction period, which allows you to start work faster. In addition, this method significantly reduces the costs of organizing the construction of the building.” they say in the Association “Ukrainian Center of Steel Construction”.
The Association adds that in the case of using a steel frame, the seasonal risks of construction in the winter period are reduced, since there is no need for additional costs for carrying out work at sub-zero temperatures.
The use of metal structures makes it possible to reduce the overall weight of load-bearing structures compared to a reinforced concrete frame. A steel structure is about 30-60% lighter than the same concrete structure.
The pilot project inspired Metinvest to create a concept for the recovery of the country “Steel Dream”. It contains a set of ready-made solutions for the construction of housing and social infrastructure that can be adapted to the needs of individual communities.
Specialists
“Metinvest-SMC”developed projects of 13 types of steel buildings, each of which is made in several versions – taking into account different conditions and circumstances.
These are residential buildings (1-8-story buildings, a dormitory, a hotel), social infrastructure (a school, a kindergarten, a dispensary) and infrastructure facilities (a parking lot, a sports complex, and an underground shelter).
In general, the concept includes more than 200 ready-made building projects based on three prefabricated steel elements: frame, module and platform. Using this method, a one-story building can be built in 2 months, an eight-story building in 9 months, and a kindergarten twice as fast as usual.
Steel beams and columns are used to create the framework of the building, providing support for the floors, roof and walls. Steel is a strong and durable material that can withstand harsh weather conditions and natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes.
Steel frame buildings are erected quickly, which reduces construction time and costs. Manufacturers call speed the main advantage of this method.
“The most important advantage of steel construction – speed, which is so necessary in reconstruction. Thanks to prefab solutions (when elements are pre-manufactured at the factory – ed.), it is possible to achieve 30-40% time savings compared to other technologies,” – explained in the company.
The frame allows you to create flexible planning solutions and increase the number of useful square meters.
In addition, the use of steel meets the challenges of our time – this material is suitable for recycling. 97% of the metal is recyclable.
The disadvantages of using steel frames in construction include:
– meticulous approach to design. Steel production requires more detailed and professional design, which complicates the possibility of changing the project after the start of construction;
– corrosion. Steel is prone to corrosion, especially in humid or coastal environments. This problem is solved by applying a protective coating and regular maintenance;
– thermal conductivity. Steel is a good conductor of heat, which can lead to higher heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. To increase the energy efficiency of buildings with a steel frame, modern thermal insulation solutions are used.
It is expected that the consumption of steel in the domestic construction market will increase in the coming months. First of all, we are talking about the areas of infrastructure restoration and the residential segment.
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