A 30% reduction in foundation loads can lead to a significant overall saving in terms of construction cost. Steel construction is less than half the weight of an equivalent concrete structure, which is equivalent to a 30% reduction in overall foundation loads.įoundation costs depend on the sub-structure and factors such as underground services and represent up to 5% of the building cost. The integration of services in the structural zone leads to reduction of 100 to 300mm in floor to floor zone and hence to savings in cladding cost.Ī 5% reduction in floor to floor height can lead to one additional floor in 20, and to a similar reduction in cladding cost, which is equivalent to about 1% in total building cost. Site management costs can be reduced by 20 to 30% which can lead to a 3 to 4% saving in terms of overall building cost. Site management costs are reduced because of the shorter construction period, and the packaged nature of the construction process. In terms of overall building cost, a saving of 1% in interest charges, and 2% in early rental or use of the space is predicted. The economic benefit depends on the business operation. Summary of the economic benefits of steel construction in office buildingsĢ0 to 30% reduction in construction time relative to site-intensive construction, depending on the scale of the project. The results of a recent independent cost comparison study of multi-storey commercial buildings can be seen here. Where this synthesis has been achieved, long-span steel systems with provision for service integration dominate commercial building design. Therefore, best practice building design requires a synthesis of architectural, structural, services, logistics and constructional issues. For example, a reduction of 100 mm in the ceiling to floor zone can lead to a 2.5% saving in cladding cost (equivalent to 0.5% saving in overall building cost). Recent cost comparison studies show that the building superstructure generally accounts for only 10% to 15% of the total building cost and that the influence of the choice of structure on the foundations, services and cladding costs is often more significant. The overall building economics are fundamental on the rationale for using steel construction in the commercial building sector, where the market share for steel has been consistently approx. Steel, and in particular, composite construction has achieved over 70% market share in this sector in the UK where the benefits of long spans: speed of construction service integration improved quality and reduced environmental impact are widely recognised. The commercial sector demands buildings that are rapid to construct, of high quality, flexible and adaptable in application, and energy efficient in use. Main articles: The case for steel, Service integration, Cost of structural steelwork, Cost planning through design stages, Cost comparison studies, Health and safety 4.5.1 Operational energy use in offices.4.2 Client requirements in multi-storey office buildings.4 Key issues in the design of commercial buildings.3 Structural options in commercial buildings.2.2 Commercial buildings in suburban areas.Many solutions are possible using steel construction. Many smaller buildings are designed for natural ventilation and with a high proportion of renewable energy technologies built into them. In many large commercial buildings, a two stage construction process means that the tenant is responsible for the servicing and fit-out, and so the building structure has to be sufficiently flexible to cope with these differing requirements. Many buildings are curved or of complex architectural form, and have highly glazed façades and atria. Investment ‘value’ is the main criterion for choice of the building architecture, form and servicing strategy. Corporate headquarters for banks and other high profile companies require that buildings are built to high architectural and environmental standards. There is a strong demand for high quality office space, especially in city centres. For inner city projects, speed of construction and minimum storage of materials on-site require a high level of pre-fabrication, which steel-framed systems can provide. The dominance of steel in the multi-storey commercial sector is based on tangible client-related benefits including the ability to provide column free floor spans, efficient circulation space, integration of building services, and the influence of the site and local access conditions on the construction process.
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