Different Types of Steel used in Construction by Top Contractors

There are different types of steel used in the construction industry. Steel is an iron alloy composed of carbon content ranging from 0.03% to 1.075%, and often other elements. Many people get confused between Steel and iron. The difference between Steel and iron is that iron is used as the base metal to produce Steel.

One of the significant advantages of Steel is that Steel has high tensile strength and low cost. Thus it becomes an essential component for constructing buildings, infrastructure, construction tools, etc. Steel is also one of the most produced raw materials in the world, according to the data steel production value exceeds 1.3 billion tons a year.

Importance of Steel in Construction

1- Steel is relatively cheap when compared with other alternative construction materials.

2- Steel structures are fire-resistant compared to a rustic design as wood is a combustive material and is lower fire-resistant when determined with RCC structure.

3- Working with Steel on a construction project can be pretty straightforward. Because of simple-to-make portions of a steel structure, it’s hassle-free to install and assemble them at work, and there’s no need to estimate and cut off corridor hard.

4- Steel structures can repel outside weights, for example, earthquakes and cyclones providing much safety and stability.

Best Types of Steel Used in Construction

1- Rebar Steel

Steel rebar, often known as reinforcing or fortifying Steel, is used as a strain device in reinforced concrete or masonry structures. Rebar steel can hold the structure together even under enormous pressure. Rebar steel is available in various yield strengths, necessary elasticity, chemical composition, and elongation percentage parameters.

Types of Rebar Steel

• Plain steel wire for concrete reinforcement.
• Epoxy-coated steel bars for welded deformed Steel.
• Plain bars and rail steel deformed bars.
• TMT steel bars.
• Stainless Steel.
• Low-alloy steel.
• Axel steel.
• Low carbon steel bars.

2- Structural Steel

Structural Steel is a category of Steel that is used as a construction material for making structural steel shapes. A structural steel shape is a profile that is formed with a specific cross-section and follows certain standards for chemical composition and mechanical properties. One advantage of structural steel is that it is very ductile, sturdy, and durable. Structural steel can be molded in almost any shape, depending on the construction.

Structural steel shapes, sizes, composition, strengths, storage practices, etc., are regulated by standards in most industrialized countries.

Types of structural steel

• Carbon Structural Steel
• High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) Steel
• Cold-Formed Steel
• Corrosion-Resistant High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel
• Heat-Treated Carbon Steel
• Stainless Structural Steel
• Quenched and Tempered Alloy Steel

3- Mild Steel

Mild Steel, also known as MS, is the most prevalent Steel used in the construction industry. It’s incalculably strong and long-lasting. Mild Steel helps in making a solid foundation for any type of structure.

Mild Steel is beneficial in construction because of its strength. It does not break when bent and is exceptionally flexible and malleable. Mild Steel also has high plasticity and can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes without generating cracks in the Steel which provides extra safety to the structures.

4- Alloy Steel

Alloy steel is divided into two types “High Alloy Steel” and “Low Alloy Steel.” High alloy steel is used to hold liquids, mining materials, chemicals, and pharmaceutical equipment. In contrast, Low alloy steel is suitable for various applications, including seamless rolling ring forging and studying outlets.

Major advantages of alloy steel are its hardenability, reduced grain growth, excellent temperature resistance, and a cheaper steel building alternative.

5- Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is made up of carbon, manganese, silicon, and sulfur and phosphorus impurities. Carbon steel’s strength and elasticity are determined by the amount of carbon present in the alloy. When the carbon concentration increases, the Steel gets very much harder and stronger. Carbon steel has numerous benefits such as being available in a variety of forms to meet the needs of different project types and having a high resistance to corrosion, scaling, heat, and fire.

Types of Carbon Steel

• Low Carbon
• High Carbon
• Medium Carbon

6- Light Gauge Steel

Light gauge steels are made up of thin sheets that adhere to strict specifications. A very basic example of light gauge steel is the Light gauge steel joists, both are widely accessible in hardware stores, and they are both flexible and safe.

Grades of Steel System

Indian standards rely on the combination of international and national standards. Following are the key systems involved:

International Standards

AISI/SAE: The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) system is widely used in India, particularly for common steel types.  

ASTM: ASTM International’s system with letter-number designations is also relevant in India for specific steel applications.

National Standards 

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): BIS is India’s national standardization body. It is mostly similar to international standards, but it incorporates slight changes to suit local needs and manufacturing practices.

Grades of Steel

Grades of steel are used to know the different types of steel. The types can be differentiated on the basis of their chemical composition, physical properties, and applications. The grades can vary by standardization. Following are the grades of steel: 

1. Carbon Steel Grades

• Low Carbon Steel (Mild Steel): It contains up to 0.3% carbon content.
• Medium Carbon Steel: Contains 0.25%-0.60% carbon.
• High Carbon Steel: Contains 0.60%-1.00% carbon. 

2. Alloy Steel Grades: Alloy steel contains alloying elements like chromium, nickel, and vanadium to improve different properties. 

3. Stainless Steel Grades: Stainless steel contains 10.5% chromium which helps in corrosion resistance.

What is fire resistant steel?

Fire-resistant steel is made to maintain its structural integrity and load-bearing capacity to bear high temperatures during the fire. This steel avoids deformation, buckling, and collapse when there is a fire. It ensures safety of buildings during fire incidents.

Types of fire-resistant steel: 

1. Structural Fire-Resistant Steel (FRS)

2. Stainless Fire-Resistant Steel

3. High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) Fire-Resistant Steel

4. Coated Fire-Resistant Steel

Types of steel used to make buildings & houses

While making buildings, there are specific kinds of steel used. Types of steel may also vary based on the size and scale of the structure. But following are some common steel used to build houses.

1- Mild Steel

2 – Rebar Steel

3- Structural Steel

4- Rebar Steel

5- Alloy Steel

6- Carbon Steel

How to buy steel?

We are availing some of the best companies and their buying link in the following section. These are some of the best companies that avails TMT Bars in the Indian market. 

1) Tata Tiscon 550 SD

Tata Tiscon is one of the most trusted steel company out there. It has India’s first GreenPro certified rebar manufacturing. With many other features, it is a reliable company.

Buying link – https://tatatiscon.co.in/

2) Jindal Panther Fe 550 D TMT Bars

Jindal Panther, with continuous innovation and better technology, is one of the best-known steel manufacturers out there.

Buying link – https://shop.jindalpanther.com/

3) JSW Neosteel 550D

JSW manufactures steel with sustainable practices, and it is one of the leading steel suppliers in India.

Buying link – https://www.jswneosteel.in/

4) Radha TMT 550 D LRF

Radha groups avails some of the best and top-notch steel products in Indian construction industry.

Buying link – https://www.radhatmt.com/

5) JYOTI Tempcore SG Rebars

JYOTI Tempcore SG Rebars is one of the growing steel suppliers and manufacturers in India. They provide best quality steel products.

Buying link – https://www.madhavkrggroup.com/tmt-bars.php

6) Prime Gold TMT

Prime Gold being the leading steel manufacturer in India that avails high-end quality products.

Buying link – https://www.primegoldgroup.com/

7) SAIL TMT

SAIL, being one of the largest steel manufacturing companies, offers high quality steel products in India.

Buying link – https://www.sail.co.in/en/products/sail-tmt

8) Vizag TMT 500D

Vizag Steel has the very first shore based Integrated steel plant in India. It offers top-grade steel products.

Buying link – https://www.vizagsteel.com/index.asp

9) Kamdhenu NXT

Kamdhenu uses cutting edge technology to produce steel products. It offers superior steel products.

Buying link – https://www.kamdhenulimited.com/kamdhenu-nxt-tmt-bars.php

Also Read: https://www.elegantsteels.com/top-5-tmt-bar-manufacturers-in-india-at-a-glance/

Conclusion

For the development of modern civilization, Steel has played a vital role. Steel is a viable and cost-effective alternative to other construction materials. Advantage of using steel as a construction material is that it provides safety, sustainability, and stability to the structure. A contractor should always understand the different types of steel used in construction and should choose them according to the nature of their project.

FAQs

1 What are some essential types of steel used in construction sites and how to differentiate between them?

There are some primary types of steel used in construction like Rebar Steel, Structural Steel, Mild Steel, Alloy Steel, Carbon Steel, and Light Gauge Steel. Every steel has its different components and features and you can differentiate between them by its composition, strength, durability, and suitability for specific applications. 

2 What advantages does it provide to use steel in construction?

Steel has many advantages in construction. It offers strength and durability. It can resist fire. Working with steel is straightforward due to its simple-to-make portions and hassle-free installation process. It is time and cost efficient.

3 What is the right way to choose the right type of steel for different projects?

Contractors should consider various factors when selecting the appropriate type of steel for their projects. They should consider project requirements and then choose suitable steel. Other than that, a quality check is necessary. Strength and durability are factors to consider while checking quality. It is also necessary to consider cost effectiveness and time efficiency.

4 What are some common steels used in building houses?

Common types of steel used in building houses include Mild Steel, Rebar Steel, Structural Steel, Alloy Steel, Carbon Steel, and Light Gauge Steel. These types vary based on the size, scale, and specific requirements of the structure. Each type offers unique properties and advantages, catering to different aspects of construction.

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