Structural steel
Many structural steel shapes take the form of an elongated beam having a profile of a specific cross section.
Structural steel shapes, sizes, chemical composition, mechanical properties such as strengths, storage practices, etc., are regulated by standards in most industrialized countries.
They have lived on after the era of commercial wrought iron and are still sometimes heard today, informally, in reference to steel angle stock, channel stock, and sheet, despite that they are misnomers (compare "tin foil", still sometimes used informally for aluminum foil).
And the most widely used specification is EN10219 standard, which is Cold formed welded structural hollow sections of non-alloy and fine grain steels.
The four-number AISI steel grades commonly used for mechanical engineering, machines, and vehicles are a completely different specification series.
Because steel components are "safety critical", CE Marking is not allowed unless the Factory Production Control (FPC) system under which they are produced has been assessed by a suitable certification body that has been approved to the European Commission.
After a transition period of two years, CE Marking will become mandatory in most European Countries sometime early in 2012.
These range from concrete of all different specifications, structural steel, clay, mortar, ceramics, wood, and so on.
Cost is commonly the primary controlling element; however, other considerations such as weight, strength, constructability, availability (with regards to geographic location as well as market availability), sustainability, and fire resistance will be taken into account before a final decision is made.
Low-rise buildings distribute much smaller loads than high-rise structures, making concrete the economical choice.
The closest steel fabrication facility may be much further from the construction site than the nearest concrete supplier.
Some parking garages are constructed using structural steel columns and reinforced concrete slabs.
The concrete will be poured for the foundational footings, giving the parking garage a surface to be built on.
A structural engineer understands that there are an infinite number of designs that will produce an efficient, safe, and affordable building.
It is the engineer's job to work alongside the owners, contractors, and all other parties involved to produce an ideal product that suits everyone's needs.
[19] In order to determine the fire resistance rating of a steel member, accepted calculations practice can be used,[20] or a fire test can be performed, the critical temperature of which is set by the standard accepted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, such as a building code.
Common fireproofing methods for structural steel include intumescent, endothermic, and plaster coatings as well as drywall, calcium silicate cladding, and mineral wool insulating blankets.
Structural steel fireproofing materials include intumescent, endothermic and plaster coatings as well as drywall, calcium silicate cladding, and mineral or high temperature insulation wool blankets.
Attention is given to connections, as the thermal expansion of structural elements can compromise fire-resistance rated assemblies.
CNC beam drill lines are typically equipped with feed conveyors and position sensors to move the element into position for drilling, plus probing capability to determine the precise location where the hole or slot is to be cut.
