Built to last

Recycling Today, August, 2004

In a climate of higher pricing, the steel industry is touting durability as a selling point for steel framing in the residential construction market.

A five-year research initiative was sponsored by the International Lead and Zinc Research Organization and completed by the National Association Home Builders Research Center. The study, made available by the Steel Framing Alliance, Washington, found that galvanized steel beams can have a life expectancy of more than 1,200 years in some applications.

Tests were conducted with steel framing components simulating climates in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and Ontario, so the galvanized steel would be exposed to a variety of climatic conditions.

The report is available on the Steel Framing Alliance Web site at www.steelframingalliance.com.

Steelmakers will need some positives to offer construction contractors regarding their material, as many have been knocked for a loop by escalating prices.

In many cases, these firms experienced financial problems during the economic slowdown of 2001 and 2002. Just as it looked like a turnaround was in the offing, the soaring cost of steel threw off their profit-and-loss variables.