Steel dominates UK frames market

The UK market for multi-storey and single storey structural frames remains dominated by steel solutions according to the latest independent research by Construction Markets, which shows steel increasing market share in these key sectors last year.

The research, which has been carried out annually since 1980, shows that the overall market for multi-storey buildings fell in 2016 by 2.5%, but steel increased its share of that market by about 1%. The single storey non-domestic buildings market, where steel commands a market share of 88.5% compared to just under 87% in 2015, showed growth of over 1%.

The total market for structural frames in Great Britain is estimated at just over 41.5Mm² of floor area, a 2% rise on the previous year. Steel took the largest market share, of over 45%, with in situ concrete at less than 6%, timber 11.5% and precast concrete at just over 1%.

Multi-storey non-domestic buildings account for over 21% of the total frames market, dominated by steel with a market share of over 66% which was a rise from just over 65% in 2015. In situ concrete held a share of under 20%, the research shows.

In the offices segment of the multi-storey market – which accounts for almost 34% of the total multi-storey market – steel’s market share rose by over 3.5% to almost 72%.

The residential buildings market rose by 5% overall and steel increased market share by 0.1%. Within the residential category the market for high rise apartments was particularly strong during the year, rising by 46.5%, and steel’s share rose slightly.

Overall, the single storey ‘sheds’ market saw growth of over 3% and steel’s share of that market rose by just over 1%. The industrial buildings segment – which accounts for over 50% of the total ‘sheds’ market – saw a rise of over 11%, and steel’s market share grew to 98.2%.

In the market for single storey conventional braced frames there was an overall market fall of over 10%, but steel’s market share rose slightly. The key markets in this sector are education, almost 44% of the market, and leisure, almost 25%, and steel increased its share of both.