Introduction
Importance of steel beams in construction
In this era where the construction industry is relatively developed, the requirements for construction materials are becoming more and more stringent.
Construction materials have undergone many reforms and innovations, starting from old materials such as stone and wood.
Nowadays, steel is one of the most used construction materials and there are many new types of steel, each with its own characteristics. Steel beams are undoubtedly materials that can be used flexibly in various buildings.
They have many advantages and play a significant role in construction.
Compared with other metals, they have obvious advantages in withstanding bending forces, pressure loads, eccentric loads and other different requirements.
Types of Steel Beams
Overview of Common Types of Steel Beams
1. I-beams
I-beams, also known as universal beams, are long steel bars with an “I”-shaped cross section. They come in two types: common I-beams and light-duty I-beams.
I beams are a type of steel beam with a cross-sectional shape that resembles the letter “I.
2. H beams
H beam is a kind of economical and efficient steel profile with a more optimized distribution of sectional area and a more reasonable strength-to-weight ratio.
Its name comes from its cross section, which resembles the letter “H” in English.
Since all parts of the H beam are arranged at right angles, it has strong bending resistance in all directions, simple construction, cost savings and light structural weight, making it widely used.
Related Reading: H-Beam vs I-Beam Steel
3. Channels
The steel channel is a long steel bar with a groove-shaped cross section.
It belongs to carbon structural steel used for construction and mechanical purposes and is a type of complex section steel with a groove-like cross-sectional shape.
Channel steel is mainly used for building structures, curtain wall engineering, machinery and equipment manufacturing, and vehicle production.
4. Angles
Angle steel, commonly known as angle iron, is a long steel bar with an angular cross-section on both sides that are perpendicular to each other.
It can be divided into equal-sided angles and unequal-sided angles. The two sides of the equal-sided angle steel are the same width.
Angle steel can be used to form various load-bearing components according to different structural needs, and can also be used as connecting parts between components.
Impact of beam type on cost
Before choosing to use high frequency welded H-shaped steel for construction, many people are worried about the cost.
Coupled with the fact that steel structures themselves are more expensive than other traditional structures, everyone is more concerned about this issue.
The following is an introduction to the relationship between the cost of H-shaped steel and steel structures.
1. High frequency welded H-shaped steel spacing:
According to some data, under standard loading conditions, the spacing between high-frequency welded H-shaped steel columns is better than 8~9m.
When exceeding this value, the total steel content of the steel structure will increase, including but not limited to wall strips and frames, causing wasted costs.
When the load increases, the column spacing needs to be reduced correspondingly. For equipment with a capacity of 10 tons or more, column spacing of 6 to 7 meters is best.
If it is necessary to use unequal column spacing for special reasons, the shorter sides should be on both sides rather than in the middle.
2. Steel structure span
When the height of the high-frequency welded H-shaped steel columns and the load are fixed, the span within the range can be increased, which not only reduces costs but also makes the space spacious, resulting in rich overall returns.
However, this must be done under reasonable conditions. Do not overstretch the gap and cause general imbalance of the steel structure.
3. Roof slope
According to the data, different roof slopes will affect the amount of steel used.
For single-span steel frames, you may choose to increase the roof pitch to reduce the amount of steel used, while for multi-span steel frames, cost savings should be achieved in the opposite direction.
Generally speaking, there are many factors that affect the cost of metal structures. To save costs, we can focus on the overall effect from the beginning of the design process.
Factors Affecting Steel Beam Prices
There are too many factors that affect the price of steel and too many uncontrollable factors to give you a specific answer.
The main factors that affect the price of steel are the following:
1. Differences in raw material costs
The price of steel reflects its value. “You get what you pay for” applies to all products. All products have costs, and the cost of cheap steel will not be very high. Low cost means no quality guarantee.
Can you continue to do business selling steel without quality assurance?
2. Different brands
If we want to do good business, we must choose steels with moderate prices, differentiated products and guaranteed quality.
3. Different times
Weather also affects the price of steel. For example, during holidays and events, the price will be relatively cheaper than usual. If you're not in a rush, it's best to wait until the holidays to buy.
We all know that the more you buy, the bigger the discount, so this is also an aspect that affects the price of steel!
4. Coating and surface treatment
We know that using different coatings and surface treatments will result in different production costs for steel and, naturally, different prices.
5. Size
This is easy to understand. Different sizes of steel such as length, width, height and thickness have different costs per unit of length.
6. Import and export tariffs
Import and export tariffs will change with market conditions, so import and export tariffs at different times are different, and therefore the price of steel is also different.
7. Transport
Using different transportation methods and distances will result in different transportation costs for steel and ultimately the price of steel will be affected.
The greater the distance, the greater the cost.
Buying tips and strategies
What details should be observed when purchasing steel?
1. Steel is currently widely used and brings great convenience to many productive and vital activities.
Of course, to ensure its use value, quality control must be strictly applied during the selection process.
To avoid choosing lower quality steel products, two details cannot be ignored.
2. Two details that cannot be ignored when buying steel:
1) Steel surface.
High-quality steel surfaces are like mirrors, with no feeling of particles, irregularities or scratches.
The smoother the surface of the steel, the purer the material used; otherwise, it indicates that the material contains more impurities and should not be purchased to avoid unnecessary problems during use.
2) Thickness.
Steel selection should be based on actual usage requirements, as the thickness of the steel affects its load-bearing capacity. If used in large buildings, thicker steel with better load-bearing capacity should be selected, otherwise accidents may occur due to the steel being too thin.
To ensure the quality and safety of using steel, the above two points are key factors that cannot be ignored when purchasing steel.
It is expected that consumers can understand and ensure the selection of suitable steel products.
Selecting the Right Steel Beam Supplier
Steel is widely used in construction projects, with high quality requirements and unit prices, making steel procurement an important part of corporate purchasing management. Steel procurement directly affects the cost, quality and progress of the project.
Therefore, for steel procurement personnel, it is particularly important to understand what pitfalls to watch out for in steel procurement.
Steel Price Information:
Always pay attention to steel price information. Steel prices fluctuate frequently and only by closely monitoring price trends can procurement costs be reasonably reduced.
Based on the urgent demand for products, choose spot or futures trading. Generally, futures prices are cheaper than spot prices.
Supplier choice:
The choice of supplier must consider factors such as delivery time, payment terms, price and supplier credibility.
Some may have low prices, but no credit conditions or long delivery times; others may have higher prices but shorter delivery times or credit terms. From a practical point of view, it is better to choose a supplier with its own logistics system.
Weight calculation:
Steel weight calculation methods include theoretical weight calculation and actual weighing methods. Purchasing personnel must master these calculation methods and weight deviations must not exceed 5%.
Steel procurement contract:
The steel procurement contract must clearly specify the quality standard, specification parameters, quantity, measurement, payment method, acceptance criteria, delivery time, responsibilities for breach of contract and other terms.
Steel product inspection:
Engineering inspection of steel structures focuses on the appearance, specifications, quality, quantity or weight, warranty certificate, etc. of the steel structure.
Conclusion
In general, the cost of steel sections is influenced by several factors, including the type, size and market demand for the sections.
However, due to their high strength, durability, versatility and other characteristics, steel sections are still a popular choice in the area of construction and structural applications.
It is important to consider not only the initial cost of steel sections, but also their long-term benefits, such as reduced maintenance costs and improved safety.
With proper planning and budgeting, steel sections can be a smart investment for any construction project.
