| One major question that arises when
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| | Steel buildings almost always require
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| constructing a new building is whether to
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| | additional fireproofing to meet fire
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| use steel or concrete. Both materials
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| | codes. That said, a steel building in its
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| have inherent positives and negatives.
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| | most basic form will not protect against
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| They differ in terms of cost, ease of
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| | a fire, explosion or earthquake as well
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| use, the amount of time required to use
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| | as a concrete building.
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| them, availability and many other
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| | However, advanced engineering and
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| factors.
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| | protections such as spray-on
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| When you are constructing a new building,
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| | fireproofing, and high-quality sprinkler
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| safety issues are one of the most
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| | systems can greatly increase a steel
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| important considerations. You will want
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| | building's ability to withstand a fire.
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| to be confident that the structure you
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| | Also, the choice of other materials used
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| are creating can withstand natural
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| | when constructing a steel building can
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| disasters, floods, or even terrorist
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| | make a big difference. For example, a
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| attacks. You will also want to know how
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| | steel building that was built with a
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| well your building will fare in a fire,
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| | large amount of wood will be more
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| which begs the question: will concrete or
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| | susceptible to fire.
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| metal buildings fare better in a fire?
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| | Steel is non-combustible, but can
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| In a fire, how well a building maintains
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| | potentially bend in a hot fire, putting
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| its structural integrity is crucial.
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| | the structural integrity of the building
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| Obviously, a burning building is a big
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| | at risk. Conversely, steel's ductility
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| problem. A burning building that
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| | can be a benefit to safety. In an
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| partially collapses is a total disaster.
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| | earthquake zone, steel buildings are more
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| One of concrete's main benefits is that
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| | common because they can better withstand
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| it can endure fire for a long time
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| | massive shock. In an earthquake or a
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| without losing its structural integrity.
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| | large explosion, stiff concrete walls are
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| Concrete's thickness and lack of
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| | more likely to fall than concrete.
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| ductility make it a good safeguard that
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| | Steel is often used to build rigid frame
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| can keep a fire from becoming worse.
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| | that allow builders to cover large spans
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| Thick concrete walls are also able to
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| | with less support. This is a very
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| withstand very high temperatures without
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| | beneficial characteristic in many ways,
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| deforming or cracking. They can also
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| | but it can increase fire risk by creating
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| potentially block explosions.
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| | a large, open space for a fire to spread
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| Concrete walls and partitions effectively
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| | throughout. It seems as though a basic,
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| split a building into compartments,
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| | concrete structure will hold up better in
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| separating different areas from each
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| | a regular, high-heat fire than a steel
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| other, reducing property damage and
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| | structure. However, if the fire is more
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| making it easier for firefighters to
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| | complicated, (such as it has experienced
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| contain a fire. Concrete buildings
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| | earthquake aftershocks or has been
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| generally are less expensive to insure
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| | affected by explosions), perhaps a steel
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| because of this.
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| | structure would be the better option.
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