Benefits of Steel-Reinforced Concrete

Steel has long been a popular material for use in various different types of construction because of its strength, durability, and affordability. When you’re building with concrete, steel can also play a big role by helping to strengthen the concrete through the use of reinforcing bars (also called rebar) embedded throughout the concrete structure. Concrete has a relatively low tensile strength and is not generally very ductile, but steel helps to create higher tensile strength and better ductility to allow the use of concrete in a variety of different construction settings, from roadways and bridges to buildings and homes. Here are some of the benefits steel-reinforced concrete offers.

Increased Flexibility for Designs
By adding rebar from Wasatch Steel to a design, it enables architects to create better and more flexible spaces. Steel-reinforced concrete allows for open designs and long-span layouts so building owners have the flexibility to change and update space as needed based on their tenants. This is particularly helpful in the construction of large office spaces and other similar buildings—the ability to install equipment quickly, change and update space as needed to meet the demands of each unique tenant can make a big difference in a landlord’s ability to lease empty space.

Energy Efficiency
When you design buildings using Wasatch Steel rebar to reinforce the concrete, you can create more energy efficient floor designs that allow you to fit more space into each building without worrying about zoning restrictions. Since steel is a lightweight material, it also improve the efficiency of delivery, cutting transportation costs and reducing the carbon footprint of your construction project.

Buildings with Benefits
There are many benefits that steel offers to the occupants of buildings—everything from increased fire resistance to lower vibration levels and reduce noise transmission from the outside in. These comfortable, secure, and safe buildings are ideal for tenants in a wide variety of industries. Steel-reinforced concrete also allows you to improve indoor air quality and reduce wind resistance for a comfortable and quiet office environment. These environmentally-friendly buildings help boost employee productivity and boost your “green” credentials.

Minimized Costs

Using steel-reinforced concrete instead of more expensive stone means you can save money on transport and materials costs without giving up any of the aesthetic benefits or strength that you would get from more expensive materials. If you are working toward LEED certification but also need to keep costs down, finding steel reinforcing bar fabricators nearby (such as Wasatch Steel, which is conveniently located right in Salt Lake City) is an important step is reducing material transportation costs, which can help build up LEED points. Steel is also beneficial in these cases because it is often made from 100% recycled material, which lowers energy costs to produce the steel and increases your LEED score.

When you need a material to help you build strong, durable, and long-lasting structures, look at the benefits that steel-reinforced concrete can provide.