The crucial role of hot rolled steel in pre-engineered buildings

When constructing Pre-Engineered Buildings (PEBs), one material that is used for its structural integrity is the hot-rolled steel. With its exceptional strength, versatility, and cost-effectiveness, hot-rolled steel plays a crucial role in ensuring the durability and stability of structures.

Hot-rolled steel undergoes a specific manufacturing process involving heating the metal above its recrystallisation temperature and moving it into various shapes and sizes. This process enhances the material's mechanical properties and makes it highly malleable, allowing for easy fabrication and customisation.

Definition and characteristics
PEBs are a construction method that involves designing and fabricating building components and assemblies in a controlled manufacturing environment before transporting them to the construction site for assembly. Key characteristics of PEBs include:

Engineered design: PEBs use Computer-Aided Method( CAD) software, ensuring precision and efficiency in structural calculations and layout.

Standardised components: PEBs often utilise standardised, mass-produced features such as steel columns, beams, roof trusses, and wall panels, which are manufactured to fit precise specifications.

Quick assembly: PEBs are known for their fast construction times. The pre-fabricated components are easily assembled at the construction site, reducing the project timeline.

Cost-efficiency: Standardisation and efficient manufacturing processes make PEBs cost-effective regarding material usage and labour costs.

Customisation: While many components are standardised, PEBs can still be customised to suit the specific needs and aesthetics of the project.

Why is hot-rolled steel used in PEBs?

Hot-rolled steel is a primary choice for making the mainframe components of buildings, including columns and beams. This preference is due to the specific properties and advantages that hot-rolled steel offers:

Strength and durability: Hot-rolled steel is known for its exceptional strength and durability. It can withstand heavy loads and provides structural integrity, making it well-suited for supporting the weight of buildings.

Malleability and formability: During the hot rolling process, steel becomes more malleable and can be easily shaped into various profiles and sizes. This makes it ideal for creating the large structural components like columns and beams required in construction.

Cost-efficiency: Hot-rolled steel is often more cost-effective than other materials when it comes to manufacturing large structural members. Its availability in standardised sections reduces the need for extensive on-site fabrication. Hot rolling ensures that steel sections have uniform properties throughout their length, providing consistency in structural performance.

Speed of construction: Hot-rolled steel components are pre-fabricated and readily available, so they can be quickly assembled on-site. This accelerates the construction process, reducing project timelines.

Load-bearing capacity: Hot-rolled steel's high load-bearing capacity allows for creating open and spacious interior designs without excessive support columns, enhancing architectural and functional flexibility.

Structural integrity: Hot-rolled steel's properties help maintain the structural integrity of the building, even in adverse conditions such as seismic activity or extreme weather.

How is hot-rolled steel employed in the PEBs?
Hot-rolled steel is commonly used to create various shapes such as I-beams, H-beams, U-channels and V-columns in the construction of prefabricated buildings. Here's how these shapes are typically used in the construction of prefabricated buildings:

I-beams: I-beams are characterised by their distinctive 'I' shape. They are commonly used as horizontal beams in building frames. I-beams distribute the load evenly along their length, making them ideal for supporting heavy loads like roof and upper floors.

H-beams: H-beams have a shape that resembles the letter 'H' and are often used as vertical columns or posts in building frames. Their wide flanges provide excellent load-bearing capacity, making them suitable for supporting the weight of the building's structure.

U-channels: U-channels have a shape resembling the letter 'U.' They are typically used for various structural and non-structural purposes, including framing and supporting smaller loads within the building, such as wall panels and cladding.

V-columns: V-columns have a shape resembling the letter 'V' and are designed to provide additional support and stability at key structural points within the building. They are often used at the intersections of beams and columns to enhance structural integrity.

Pre-engineered buildings are known for their efficiency in terms of time-saving construction methods. Hot-rolled steel further contributes to this efficiency by enabling faster assembly on-site due to its ease of fabrication. The precise dimensions achieved during the rolling process ensure accurate fitting during installation, reducing construction time significantly.
Furthermore, hot-rolled steel exhibits excellent durability and longevity. Its inherent resistance to corrosion and structural degradation ensures that pre-engineered buildings made with this material can withstand the test of time. This durability factor translates into reduced maintenance costs and increased overall lifespan of the structure.