Building for the Future

Environmentally conscious developers and builders are increasingly turning to steel in a bid to protect their investment, the lifecycle of their properties and the environment. Although products made from COLORBOND® steel have been used in Australia for many years to ensure the longevity of the built environment, the lifecycle of buildings and in particular their recyclability is moving rapidly up the industry agenda.

Steel is the most recyclable material in the world, being 100 percent recyclable, with approximately 60 percent of steel used in Australia produced from recycled scrap such as old cars, construction materials and household appliances. According to the International Iron & Steel Institute, more steel is recycled globally than all other materials combined, with over one million tonnes being recycled every day worldwide.

In Australia, scrap merchants process about 1.9 million tonnes of ferrous scrap, most of which is recycled in Australia. Steel scrap is now a major component in the production of new steel and the Australian steel industry, which has always been a conscientious recycler, keeps looking for ways to reuse scrap steel, a trend also driven by greater community and industry awareness of the benefits of recycling. To support this, BlueScope Steel, the manufacturers of COLORBOND® steel, is committed to recycling as much steel as possible.

For the building community, recycling represents a significant consideration when specifying materials and their long term benefits. This is why eco-homes are springing up all over Australia with roofing, walling, framing, water tanks and fencing all made from steel. However, steel isn't just found in niche environmental developments, but is increasingly being used in office buildings, project developments, retail and industrial developments. It is allowing planners and builders of all projects to easily and cost effectively factor in environmental considerations.

"Recyclability has become a very important consideration today," said Manu Siitonen of BlueScope Steel. "Everybody involved, from the designer through to the end user of the building appreciates that the materials surrounding them have not been wasted from previous use, and may well continue indefinitely."

"Also, the properties of the steel remain unchanged no matter how many times it gets recycled," explains Manu.

In addition to its recyclable qualities, steel presents other significant benefits to developers and builders. Its durability is today considered essential to the long life of a building and its structural, and aesthetic, integrity.

COLORBOND® steel for Roofing is able to stand up to the extremes of Australian weather and is consequently gaining rapid popularity in hailstorm hit areas. In other products too, such as fencing, this durability means materials will retain their looks for longer, adding long-term value to developments.

Internally, steel gives strength to Steel House Frames and offers a higher strength to weight ratio than alternative framing materials. It is totally impervious to termites and because it does not shrink, steel framed buildings avoid settling problems often found in new buildings using other framing systems, such as warped walls, nail pops and squeaky floors.

"An average suburban home can be built with steel framing from eight scrapped cars, and if framed with ZINCALUME® steel, BlueScope Steel offers a 50 year Warranty* to protect the homeowner's investment," said Manu. "This is important as people now feel good about the very core of their building and therefore it's longer term security. If the roofs, walls and even fences are also made out of steel, this sense of security is heightened even further."

"The life of a building now incorporates these important environmental considerations and the scale of recycling shows that waste is increasingly unacceptable these days. Both industry and the public are building for the future, something that will give us great financial, architectural and environmental benefits."

*Terms and conditions apply. See Warranties for Peace of Mind