We build a steel structure building, of course, we hope the service life will be as long as possible. However, the long service life shows the steel structure‘s high quality and economic value. So how can we ensure and prolong the service life of steel structure buildings?
We all know that the service life of generally reinforced concrete buildings is about 60 years, and the service life of brick-concrete structures is about 50 years. How do you know the service life of steel structure buildings? The steel structure has high strength and excellent durability. If the quality passes the standard, there will be no problem in the service life of more than 100 years. The Eiffel Tower we are most familiar with, is a good example. From what aspects should we ensure the service life of steel structure buildings?
The main factors affecting the service life of steel structure buildings are as follows:
1. Steel structure building materials
Most of the buildings must be steel structures, mainly composed of steel. Therefore, the quality of the steel directly affects the quality of the building. The strength of steel is primarily related to the magnitude and nature of the force. Therefore, using steel with good power and sound design is the first step to ensure the quality of steel structure buildings.
2. Welding quality affects the service life of steel structure buildings:
Welding is indispensable for installing steel structure buildings. Although bolts can connect most, welding cannot be avoided. Whether welding in the factory or on the installation site, it will affect the quality of the steel structure building. Because the high temperature of welding will change the properties of the steel structure components’ properties, affecting the steel’s strength and may cause damage to the weldment.
3. Anti-corrosion of steel structure
The unique nature of steel makes the anti-corrosion requirements must be high. Like wooden frames are afraid of moths, steel structure is most fearful of rust. Corrosion causes uneven corrosion on the steel surface, and local corrosion causes stress concentration, prompting the steel structure to fail in advance. Therefore, steel corrosion is the most crucial part of ensuring the service life of steel structure buildings. Of course, as the current technology becomes increasingly mature, the anti-corrosion of steel structures is also guaranteed. The most commonly used method is anti-corrosion coating. Therefore, the steel components are painted according to the process. The selection of appropriate anti-corrosion paint and the paint’s thickness will affect the components’ anti-corrosion effect in the later stage.
4. Steel structure fire protection
Steel structure buildings are most afraid of high temperatures. Once a fire occurs, it may cause huge losses or even cause life safety problems. Therefore, fire protection of steel structures is also an essential step. Fire prevention measures for steel structures mainly include: spraying fireproof paint on the surface of the steel structure; wrapping the surface of the steel structure with a fireproof board or covering it with a layer of flexible heat insulation material; wrapping the periphery of the steel structure with concrete, mortar, etc. Fire prevention measures cannot fully deal with larger fires, but they can extend the time for people to escape.
5. Maintenance of steel structure buildings
Regular maintenance and maintenance should be carried out while using steel structure buildings, significantly improving the service life of steel structure buildings. Under normal circumstances, inspection and maintenance are carried out once a year to determine whether the steel structure building is corroded, whether the paint is damaged, whether there is water leakage, damage, cracks, etc. If problems are found, repair them in time. Do not use sharp or hard objects like steel wool to clean the exterior walls. Clean up branches and dust on the roof in time to avoid backlogs.
After the steel structure building is installed, the structure cannot be changed without permission, parts cannot be disassembled, and partition walls cannot be added or reduced.
The above factors are closely related to the service life of steel structure buildings and should be considered in advance when building steel structure buildings. To achieve this, it is not difficult to prolong the service life of the steel structure. The most important thing is finding a professional, experienced steel structure company with the best suggestions and solutions.
