SCI Steel Day highlights construction efficiency

Entitled ‘Transforming construction using steel to deliver greater productivity’ the Steel Construction Institute’s (SCI) annual event, held at the Royal College of Physicians in London, showcased how steel is ideally placed to meet the UK Government’s objective to transform construction to improve efficiency.

Speakers from both the SCI and member companies highlighted the cost, time and energy savings that have been achieved through innovations in manufacturing and digital technologies.

Expedition Engineering Senior Director Chris Wise spoke on marginal gains in construction, an industry strategy to deliver more value with less cost.

He said the industry could make huge material savings by manufacturing and using a ‘Perfect’ steel beam design for most projects. This concept involves a beam with tapered ends, that uses less material but still offers the necessary structural support.

“There is no need for beams to be the same depth along their entire length. They only need depth where the main loadings are encountered, which is usually in the middle,” he said.

Ramboll Principle Engineer Paul Astle delivered a speech on the new Civil Engineering Building for the University of Cambridge. Its steel-framed design was refined to make it efficient and allow further buildings to be added in the future.

Further speakers highlighted advances in light gauge steel construction, steel modular buildings and how the Steel Bridge Group wants the sector to become more cost-efficient.