• Versatility also includes the range of options to fire proof a steel structure. Not only with fire-resistant coverings (cladding, coating), but also structural integration, concrete encapsulation, filling with concrete, filling with water, fire-retardant paint, dimensioning for fire-safety, applying steel to the building’s exterior, or leaving façades open.

• There are no fire resistance requirements for the main supporting structure for halls up to 5 m in height, and no safety measures are required.

• Steel itself is nonflammable and produces no smoke. The actual behavior of a complete steel construction depends on its composition. Coatings or insulation, for example, also influence the fire and smoke behavior of a steel wall cladding panel.

Bearer of architecture

• Steel offers freedom in architecture. Steel allows for unlimited variation in main shapes, floor plans, and finishes in a structure. Buildings take on the exact character and appearance the architect has in mind; from open and transparent to closed and intimate; from explicit to subdued. The urbanistic integration can range from logical component within the context to pleasant surprise for the environment.

City marketing? With steel!

• There are dozens of processing techniques to turn a steel semi-finished good into a specific construction product. Techniques for steel plate include press brake forming, stamping, roll bending, roll forming and deep drawing, shearing, punching and cutting, welding, double seaming, or bolting.

• Steel can be used almost anywhere. Primarily due to the light weight and manageable dimensions of the components, steel even enables construction on weak substrates or small, enclosed locations.

• Giving your building its own identity is an easy task with steel. There is a wide range of steel types, steel grades, and finishing options available for façade and roof cladding.

• There are plenty of options for extra protection against wind and weather: pickling, blasting, galvanizing, applying metallic coatings, and aluminizing.

Excellence through silence

• Steel guarantees good acoustic insulation. A high level of acoustic insulation can be achieved in double or multiple-layer floor structures by disconnecting the layers using expansion joints or spring elements between the upper and lower layer.

• Steel responds to societal developments and trends. The individualization of society brings with it a diversity of housing types and patterns. Steel can be used to create personalized houses and apartments: tailored to family size and composition, lifestyle, status, and aspirations. Housing consumers can become involved in decisions on appearance and layout of their future home in the earliest design stage.

A timeless material

• Steel is timeless. In the first half of the previous century, steel frames were frequently used in Dutch housing construction, as it enabled a high construction speed with low construction costs.

• Steel is a safe choice, even if the building’s purpose and use are not predetermined. The building can be quickly customized when a buyer or lessee is found, regardless of whether it is an office, warehouse, workshop, or showroom.