Durability of Cold Formed Steel Structures used in residential and industrial construction

Abstract

Cold formed steel is an attractive alternative to traditional construction materials such as masonry and concrete owing to the advantages such as easy fabrication, light weight, reusability of the material and higher level of recyclability. Cold formed steel buildings are also appreciated for better insulation and lower energy consumption during operation. However, durability of the steel was the main concern for stakeholders as corrosive conditions can damage the material and deteriorate the condition of the building. Therefore, it is important to understand the durability of cold formed steel coated with zinc and zinc alloys. In this study, experimental data related to durability studies available in literature was collected and presented through an analysis. The data obtained from literature indicate that if the building envelop was designed appropriately to protect the steel from exposure conditions, the steel can fulfil the expected service life of residential buildings independent of environmental and climatic conditions. Therefore, this study helps to alleviate concerns regarding durability of cold formed steel in residential construction.