LECTURE OVERVIEW We l e a d

• Audience will comprehend the sustainability

aspect of steel construction and its impact on
social, economic and environment.
• Audience will be able to elaborate on the
fabrication procedures of steel structural
members based on the specific production
techniques.
• Audience will be able to describe the
considerations incurred in the construction of
steel structural framework.
SUSTAINABILITY We l e a d
 SUSTAINABILITY We l e a d

• SUSTAINABILITY is
generally defined as the
capacity to endure through
time.
SUSTAINABILITY We l e a d

ECOLOGY

SUSTAINABILITY-
LONG TERM
CULTURAL MAINTENANCE POLITICS
OF WELL BEING
IN TERMS OF:

ECONOMIC
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT We l e a d

• IT refers to a mode of human

development in which the use
of resources is aimed to meet
human needs while ensuring
the SUSTAINABILITY of natural
systems and the environment
• It is so that these needs can be
met not only in the present,
but also for future generations.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT We l e a d
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT We l e a d

• Dinosaur roamed the earth for 185 Million

years since the Meszoic Era
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT We l e a d

• Ants has been roaming the earth since 60

million years ago and still in existence today
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT We l e a d

• Human?

Source: Mail Online, 19 June 2010

SUSTAINABILITY OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
We l e a d

ECONOMIC

SUSTAINABILITY

ENVIRONMENT SOCIAL
 ECONOMIC IMPACT We l e a d

• The construction of steel

structure is relatively more
economic as compared to
reinforced concrete structure.
• Cost saving is derived from:
– Rapid construction process
– Relatively lower self weight and
higher load bearing efficiency of
steel structure as compared to RC
structure
– Rapid completion and
commissioning of building for
operation
 SOCIAL IMPACTS We l e a d

• The production of steel

structure components in the
factory environment provides
steady job opportunities to
the local workforce.
• With that, the steel
construction industries offer
the employees long term
personal and skill
development opportunities.
 SOCIAL IMPACTS We l e a d

• Besides, the on-site

installation of steel structure
is less disruptive to the public
community in terms of low
noise level and rapid
installation process.
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT We l e a d

• The construction of steel

structure has minimum impact
on the environment as it offers:
– Prudent use of natural resources
– Low embodied energy
– High rate of recycling
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT We l e a d

• Prudent use of natural

resources.
– The use of steel in building
construction enable long spanning
structure hence reducing the need
for intermediate columns and
structural foundations.
– Steel structure components can 5 10
be reused or recycled at the end Reused
of the life span of a steel Recycled
Disposed
structure. 85
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT We l e a d

• Embodied energy.
– Embodied energy is the total
energy consumed in the
manufacturing process,
construction, reuse, recycling
and disposal of a construction
material.
EMBODIED ENERGY OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
We l e a d

Steel structure components are

usually prefabricated and delivered
REDUCE to site for installation. This practice
reduces wastage during site
fabrication

REDUCTION
OF
EMBODIED
ENERGY
THROUGH
Steel structure is conceptually a
RECYCLING REUSE
system consist of multiple steel
components jointed together.
Hence, steel structures can be
Steel structure components are 100 % dismantled piece by piece at the
recyclable. Repeated melting, casting end of the service life of a steel
and rolling have no detrimental effect on structure building. Dismantled
the quality of material. Hence, 50% of components can be reused for
steel production worldwide is based on subsequent construction after
recycled steel material. some refurbishment.
***
 LECTURE OUTCOME We l e a d

• Audiences will be able to comprehend the

various processes in the fabrication of steel
structure components.
 INTRODUCTION We l e a d

• Steel framed building is

favorable due to speedy on-site
construction (especially for
factory building).
• In order to achieve the fastest
rate of construction, the steel
structure designer will need to
work closely with the steel
fabricators.
 INTRODUCTION We l e a d

• Steel structure design shall be

performed based on the
available production capacity
of the steel fabricators.
• Hence, it is essential for the
steel structure designer to
understand the various
production limitations of the
steel fabricators when
producing the construction
specification for a steel
structure
 OVERVIEW We l e a d

ECONOMY OF
FABRICATION

WELDING

FABRICATION
OF STEEL
STRUCTURE

SURFACE
BOLTING
PREPARATION

CUTTING
 ECONOMY OF STEEL STRUCTURE
FABRICATION We l e a d

• The fabrication cost of a

steel structure comprise
between 10-23% of the total
cost of a steel structure
building depending on the
type of structure built.
TYPE OF BUILDING % OF TOTAL BUILDING COST
HIGH RISE STEEL STRUCTURE 10
BUILDING
PORTAL FRAMED INDUSTRIAL 19
BUILDING
SIMPLE BEAM AND COLUMN 23
STRUCTURES
(LOW RISE BUILDING <3 STOREY)
 ECONOMY OF STEEL STRUCTURE
FABRICATION We l e a d

• Based on the fabrication cost

(% of total cost), it is clear
that the economy of steel
structure fabrication
increases with larger scale of
the building framework
 WELDING We l e a d

• Steel structure components

are usually connected using
the fusion weld.
• The fusion welding process can
be carried out on the site or at
the steel workshop.
 WELDING We l e a d

• During fusion welding, the

welding rod is subjected to
high temperature up to
melting point of the rod.
• The temperature of the rod is
raised by passing a high
current through the welding
rod which is in contact with
the steel member’s surfaces.
 WELDING We l e a d

• Welding work for structural

steel framework shall be
carried out only by certified
and skilled welders.
• This is because the quality
of welding has a great
influence on the structural
integrity of a steel structure
framework.
 BOLTING We l e a d

• Bolted connection is
normally used for connecting
structural steel WHEN:
– The steel members has to be
disassembled for the purpose
of maintenance service (e.g:
Crane rails) or potential
relocation (e.g: High tension
cable towers).
– The project duration is limited
and speedy on-site
construction is required.
 BOLTING We l e a d

• The fabrication of bolted

connection is more time
consuming and labor
intensive as compared to
welded connection.
• This is because the fabrication
of bolted connection requires
the drilling of bolt holes and
installation of bolts
 BOLTING We l e a d

TYPES OF STEEL
BOLTS

CLOSE
STRUCTURAL FRICTION GRIP
TOLERANCE
BOLTS BOLTS
BOLTS
-Black coloured bolt -High tensile strength -This type of bolt is
-Relatively lower -Used for connection similar to structural
strength which resist shear by bolt but manufactured
-Used for light duty clamping action. with smaller tolerance
steel structure -Friction grip bolt shall for both strength and
be properly tensioned dimension.
for maximum shear -Normally used for
resistance. application where
limited slip connection
is required (e.g: Truss).
 BOLTING We l e a d

• Bolt hole forming process is

mandatory for steel
structure members
connected using the bolted
connections.
• There are two approaches
for hole forming namely:
– Computer numerically
controlled (CNC)
– Manual method
BOLT HOLE FORMING SEQUENCE We l e a d

MARKING OF BOLT HOLE LOCATION

USING MARKING UNIT

PUNCHING OF BOLT HOLE BY

HYDRAULIC PUNCH PRESS (1000kN
Capacity)

HYDRAULIC SHEARING OF PUNCHED

BOLT HOLES (5000kN Capacity)
 CUTTING AND SHAPING TECHNIQUES
We l e a d

CUTTING AND
SHAPING

ARCH SHEAR AND COLD

FLAME CUT
PLASMA CUT CROP SAWING
Cut is made on the Cut is made on the Structure members -Cut is made on
steel member steel member are cut by cropping steel member
using high using arch plasma or shearing using using mechanical
temperature which is produced hydraulic shear. saw (circular, band
cutting torch by electric current or hack type)
conducted through
ionized gas stream.
 SURFACE PREPARATION OF STEEL
STRUCTURAL MEMBER We l e a d

• Structural steel sections from

rolling mills usually have
surface contaminants such as
rust, oil, mill scale and other
surface contaminants.
• In the steel manufacturing
sector, Blast Cleaning Method
is used to remove the surface
contaminants.
 SURFACE PREPARATION OF STEEL
STRUCTURAL MEMBER We l e a d

• The method involves blasting

dry steelwork with steel shot
or grit at high velocity.

Steel member is Primer paint

Loading of steel passed through Retrieval and coating of steel
High velocity member in the
member on the oven for recycling of steel
shot blasting spray chamber
in feed conveyor moisture shots
removal for corrosion
control

***
 LECTURE OUTCOME We l e a d

• Audiences will be able to understand the site

practices in the construction of steel structure.
• Audiences will be able to relate steel
construction practice to the concept of
sustainable development.
SITE PRACTICES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
STEEL STRUCTURE We l e a d

SITE PRACTICES

CONSTRUCTION LEVELLING AND CONSTRUCTION

SEQUENCE PLUMBING TOLERANCES
 CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE We l e a d

Placement of steel column on grid point

Tilting Check Survey

Erection of steel beam connecting the steel

columns

Beam Level Survey

Installation of the complete set of bolts or

welding for the beam column connection
 LEVELLING AND PLUMBING We l e a d

• Prior to the installation of

the complete set of bolts
and welding, levelling and
plumbing has to be
performed.
• This is important to avoid
the time cost incurred for
removal of weld or bolts in
the event that error is
detected during levelling
and plumbing.
 LEVELLING We l e a d

• Levelling- A procedure
performed to ensure
horizontality and clearance
height of beam structural
members.

• Levelling is essential to
enable proper installation
of the slab structure on top
of the structural beams.
 LEVELLING We l e a d

• Rough levelling are usually

performed on steel beam
structural member using the
levelling spirit during the
installation of the beams.

• Accurate Levelling of a steel

structure framework is
usually performed using
electronic theodolite.
 PLUMBING We l e a d

• Plumbing is a technical
procedure performed in the
construction of steel
structure to ensure
verticality of steel columns.
• The verticality check of steel
columns is performed by
comparing the line of the
neutral axis of a steel
column against a standard
reference vertical line.
 PLUMBING We l e a d

• The standard reference

vertical line is provided by:
– The vertical axis of theodolite
or
– A free hanging wire with a
heavy mass attached to its
end.
• In modern day steel
construction, the free
hanging wire method of
plumbing is becoming
obsolete
 PLUMBING We l e a d

• With the improved accuracy

of the survey devices, both
plumbing and levelling are
usually performed using the
total station.
• The use of the optical
method greatly improved
the efficiency of levelling
and plumbing process.
 CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCE We l e a d

• The most important

construction tolerance to
be monitored during the
construction of steel
structure is the positional
tolerance and internal
accuracy.
 CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCE We l e a d

POSITIONAL
REFERENCE

ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHED
COLUMN LINES SITE LEVELS
(ECL) (ESL)
POSITIONAL TOLERANCE AND INTERNAL
ACCURACY We l e a d

• The positional tolerance of a

given steel structure column is
defined against the gridlines
called established column lines
(ECL).
• The maximum allowable offset
of column longitudinal axis from
a given coordinate point of the
ECL is 5 mm in both X and Y
directions.
POSITIONAL TOLERANCE AND INTERNAL
ACCURACY We l e a d

• The stringent tolerance

limit imposed for the
erection of column is
because a slight deviation
of the column location will
result in a major
subsequent deviation of
the structural beams.
POSITIONAL TOLERANCE AND INTERNAL
ACCURACY We l e a d

• The positional tolerance of

structural beams are defined
against (Established Site
Levels) of the foundations or
finished floor level.
• Upon the completion of the
connection of beam to the
column, levelling verification
will be made for both ends
of the beam.
POSITIONAL TOLERANCE AND INTERNAL
ACCURACY We l e a d

• The levelling verification is

performed to:
– Ensure the horizontality of the
beams.
– Check the level of the structural
beam against the specified level
in the construction drawing.
• The level of the structural
beam is checked with
reference to the Established
Site Level (ESL)
POSITIONAL TOLERANCE AND INTERNAL
ACCURACY We l e a d

• The maximum allowable

deviation of both the as-
built ESL and structural
steel beams is 10 mm.
• In the event that the
deviation of the as built ESL
and level of structural steel
beam exceed the allowable
deviation, a reconstruction
is mandatory.
***
STEEL FABRICATION AND CONSTRUCTION
VIDEO CLIP We l e a d
 Thank you

Presented by
DR CHEAH CHEE BAN | SENIOR LECTURER
SCHOOL OF HOUSING, BUILDING AND PLANNING