Delta Steel is one of the largest service centers in the Southwest, actively supporting the structural steel supply chain for over 60 years. We offer a vast inventory of structural steel components and deep expertise to help customers find structural steel products that will best benefit their specific application.
Read on to learn about each critical step in the structural steel supply chain, from the steel mills that produce the steel components to the contractors who oversee projects from start to finish.
Steel Mills (Producers)
Steel mills are foundational to the structural steel supply chain. As the producers, they transform raw materials into the necessary building blocks for construction projects. Producers play the following roles in structural steel supply:
Steelmaking. Steel mills use iron ore as the base material to produce steel and incorporate elements like manganese and carbon to realize the intended properties. The steel mills create molten steel from the raw materials through melting and refining processes.
Shaping the Steel. Steel mills then cast molten steel into shapes like plates, channels, angles, columns, and beams. The casting is standardized to meet all industry specifications and ensure quality for easy integration into various construction projects.
Large-scale Production. Many steel mills can operate at scale, using powerful equipment and technology to realize massive production capacities. They leverage this capacity to meet the growing demand for structural steel in construction applications.
Types of Producers
Integrated mills are large-scale producers in the structural steel industry. These larger mills use basic oxygen furnaces (BOF) to manage high volumes of material during production. Integrated mills maintain complete control over the steelmaking process, from iron ore mining to producing finished products.
Mini mills are smaller-scale producers that use electric arc furnaces (EAF) to produce new components and products from scrap steel. These more specialized producers are more flexible and can often provide faster turnaround times.
Service Centers
Service centers are a critical part of the structural steel supply chain. They maintain the storage, processing, and distribution of structural steel products. Service centers can also assist in increasing schedule speeds and reducing costs to meet the demands of the industry.
Service centers have warehouses with preprocessing capabilities to deliver structural steel ready for fabrication. They typically carry several months of inventory and supply most of the structural steel used in construction applications, including fabrication projects requiring just-in-time delivery.
Fabricators
Structural steel fabricators are typically located near service centers or construction sites. The fabricators receive steel from service centers and customize it per the engineers’ specifications. They use detailed shop drawings to create the structural steel components required. This can include welding, cutting, and assembly of everything from columns to beams.
Erectors
Erectors use fabricated structural steel pieces to produce a frame, welding and bolting the components onsite based on the existing construction documents.
The ability to gauge costs is critical at this stage; one cannot assume that less weight will lead to lower overall costs. In reality, material costs typically account for 25% to 30% of the total project cost, with fabrication and erection making up the majority of the total budget.
Contractors
Contractors oversee the project, coordinating each level of the supply chain in a project management role. Building off of the steel fabricator’s quality control processes, contractors implement thorough inspections before accepting the components to confirm that they meet the required specifications.
Design engineers work alongside the contractors and fabricators to guide the design process and integrate the components into a functional, well-supported structure.
Structural Steel Supply Chain From Delta Steel
The structural steel supply chain connects the producers who work with raw materials to the service centers that prepare and distribute the structural steel to fabricators. Contractors and designers work within this supply chain to realize functional designs and meet project specifications.
For over 60 years, Delta Steel has played a pivotal role in the United States structural supply chain. We are one of the largest structural steel service centers in the southwestern United States and have supported countless construction projects.
Browse our locations and speak with a specialist to see how our solutions can support your structural steel needs.
Delta Steel is a structural steel service center that has been delivering steel components to a wide variety of industries since 1963. We are a leader in structural steel distribution in the Southeast U.S., with state-of-the-art equipment, a vast inventory, and just-in-time delivery capabilities. Structural steel is critical to many industries and applications, offering several advantages over traditional building materials. Here, we’ll discuss these key applications and benefits in more detail.
The Fabrication Process
Structural steel fabrication involves a multi-step process that turns raw steel into final building components for the construction industry. Structural steel fabrication typically follows these primary steps:
Design and Engineering: Fabrication begins with a design or blueprint from engineers. They consider several factors, including local building codes, load capacity, and weight distribution.
Material Selection: Selecting the right steel grade is critical. Structural steel comes in several grades and thicknesses, depending on the project specifications, and engineers select a steel type that ensures optimal performance and strength.
Cutting and Shaping: Raw steel sections are cut using high-precision techniques, such as sawing, oxy-fuel cutting, or plasma cutting. Clean, precise cuts prepare the steel parts for future shaping and forming processes.
Bending and Forming: Forming and bending techniques shape the component into its intended form. Metal fabricators use rolling mills, press brakes, and other advanced machinery for this step of the process.
Welding and Assembly: Metal fabricators join steel pieces with precise welding techniques that create high-strength bonds, resulting in reliable structures.
Quality Control: Strict quality control measures are implemented throughout the fabrication process, ensuring adherence to client specifications, weld integrity, and dimensional accuracy.
Painting and Protection: Fabricated structural steel components gain improved corrosion resistance and durability from protective coatings or paint before delivery to the project site.
Steel erection: Steel erectors and iron workers use the fabricated material and erect the building.
The Advantages of Structural Steel for Fabrication
Structural steel is ideal for construction projects. Builders, engineers, and architects prefer structural steel for the following advantages:
Strength and Durability: Steel offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. It allows fabricators to produce strong and lightweight structural components that can withstand high loads.
Versatility and Design Flexibility: Steel is a versatile material that can be formed into various component shapes and sizes, making it easier for architects to meet their design specifications.
Sustainability: Steel is an environmentally sustainable and recyclable material. Structural steel buildings last longer, reducing resource consumption over time.
Faster Construction: Prefabricated structural steel components can be rapidly assembled onsite compared to conventional building methods. Thus, projects can be completed in significantly less time.
Cost-Effectiveness: Structural steel has a higher initial cost than other common building materials. However, it offers efficient construction, reduced maintenance requirements, and durability that can deliver long-term savings.
Applications of Structural Steel Fabrication
Various construction applications rely on structural steel fabrication, including:
High-Rise Buildings: Tall buildings, such as skyscrapers, rely on structural steel as their backbone. Architects can create efficient load-bearing designs using structural steel’s exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. Trusses, beams, and columns made from structural steel provide the flexibility and stability tall structures require.
Commercial/Residential Buildings: Structural steel is ideal for building manufacturing facilities and warehouses. The material is capable of bearing the dynamic loads of vehicles and heavy machinery while withstanding harsh environmental conditions. Architects rely on structural steel’s versatility to achieve open layouts and clear spans. Structural steel can also be used for building condominiums, apartment complexes, and other residential structures.
Bridges: The ductility of structural steel makes it ideal for cable-stayed designs and graceful arches in bridges, railways, and highways. Steel cables, trusses, and girders offer robust stability and strength.
Oil and Gas Infrastructure: Structural steel is ideal for building oil rig structures, including riser handling systems, platforms, derrick legs, and pipelines.
Renewable Energy Structures: Structural steel is suitable for building hydroelectric power structures, solar plants, and wind turbines for renewable energy applications.
Structural Steel Fabrication From Delta Steel
Structural steel is essential to many building applications, providing significant benefits over conventional building materials. At Delta Steel, we are a leader in structural steel with over 60 years of experience in the industry. Our capabilities and locations throughout the United States allow us to build long-term relationships with clients in diverse industries. See our locations to contact the Delta Steel distribution center closest to your project site.
Utility structures like transmission and lighting poles are essential constructions throughout the country. They support hardware for electrical power, telephones, and other utilities above the ground. Using the right materials for power transmission poles makes all the difference in each structure’s cost, longevity, and installation and maintenance needs.
Learn more about the benefits of choosing structural steel over other materials to build power transmission poles, as well as the different types of structural steel available from Delta Steel.
Benefits of Structural Steel for Utility Structures
By using structural steel instead of concrete or treated wood, utility power transmission pole builders and communities benefit in the following ways:
Increased Longevity: Structural steel configurations can last for decades with minimal maintenance.
Design Flexibility: Structural steel is stronger than wood while remaining lightweight enough to accommodate various designs, such as those that can handle larger, heavier loads and longer spans. In addition to reducing the total number of poles that need to be purchased and installed, structural steel can also be pre-drilled according to custom framing and hardware requirements.
Aesthetics: Steel transmission poles resist corrosion and only require periodic cleaning and inspection to maintain their pristine appearance.
Environmental Friendliness: Utility poles made of structural steel won’t be damaged by animals, fire, or rot. As a result, they lead to far fewer catastrophic failures compared to wood poles. On top of this, most structural steel utility poles are made from recycled steel and can be recycled at the end of their useful life.
Cost-Effectiveness: Due to the longer lifespan, lower maintenance demands, and fewer replacement costs over time, structural steel transmission poles are more cost-effective over the material’s entire life cycle than alternative materials.
Popular Grades of Structural Steel for Utility Structures
Delta Steel offers four main types of structural steel materials for transmission poles. They are categorized as follows according to their ASTM compliance.
ASTM A572 Structural Steel
ASTM A572 is a very commonly used structural steel. It’s a strong, low-alloy columbium-vanadium metal that can be used in a wide array of general construction applications. Builders can choose between five different yield strength grades: 42, 50, 55, 60, or 65 ksi (kilopounds per square inch).
ASTM A871-65 Structural Steel
ASTM A871-65 structural steel is another popular high-strength, low-alloy option. The material has good resistance to atmospheric corrosion. Both sheets and plates are commonly used to build transmission and lighting poles.
ASTM A588 Structural Steel
ASTM A588 offers excellent weathering ability even without painting, as it has an inbuilt corrosion resistance that gets stronger over time. It offers the same degree of strength as carbon steel but weighs significantly less.
ASTM A709 Structural Steel
ASTM A709 structural steel is composed of iron, carbon, manganese, and other elements. Its makeup gives it excellent resistance to environmental conditions, a great strength-to-weight ratio, and excellent weldability. In addition to steel transmission poles, ASTM A709 steel is frequently used to construct bridges.
Structural Steel Supply by Delta Steel
Sturdy, reliable, and low-maintenance power transmission poles are essential to keeping customers connected. By building them from high-quality ASTM structural steel grades, companies can install extremely durable poles that don’t have a high maintenance cost, stay functional for decades, and enable easy utility expansion.
At Delta Steel, we supply our clients with multiple steel alloy grades for power transmission poles and other projects. Depending on your specific needs, our team provides high-quality plate burning, drilling, cutting, forming, and other fabrication services. We carry an extensive inventory of beams, plates, angles, bars, pipes, and sheets made from a range of metals.
The demand for structural steel is rising in several major areas of the oil and gas industry. Structural steel is critical for the development of many oil and gas applications, including oil rigs and platforms, pipelines, and a variety of equipment.
Delta Steel is a structural steel service center that has served clients in Texas for over 60 years. We work continuously to supply structural steel products and value-added services for oil and gas applications. Learn more about the variety of structural steel shapes we offer, as well as the benefits of choosing structural steel.
Benefits of Structural Steel For Oil and Gas
Structural steel delivers several benefits to the oil and gas industry. It reduces the cost and time associated with on-site construction and provides a high-quality product. Structural steel offers the following advantages:
Enhanced Productivity. Structural steel is fabricated off-site while the foundation and site are prepared, accelerating the production timeline. We carry a vast hot rolled carbon structural steel inventory and offer order flexibility so there are no additional delays or backups in production.
Superior Workmanship and Final Product. Structural steel is made to tight tolerances and consistent strength levels, complementing established design processes well. We work with experienced teams across the production cycle to provide American-made structural steel products, value-added services, and just-in-time delivery keeping projects on schedule.
Cost Efficiency. Structural steel is a cost-effective and efficient solution for the oil and gas industry. Steel frames are easily adaptable, making required modifications to existing structures possible.
Types of Structural Steel for Oil and Gas Applications
The oil and gas industry utilizes a range of structural steel products in construction and various industrial applications. Structures like oil platforms, offshore oil rigs, pipelines, and various oil and gas equipment can all benefit from steel’s tensile strength and durability.
Relevant structural steel shapes we offer include:
Wide Flange Beams. Wide flange beams are used in structural applications like constructing buildings and bridges. These beams have a nearly perpendicular flange to the web of material. We offer wide flange beams in numerous sizes, lengths, and specifications for oil rigs and oil platforms.
I-Beams. Various construction projects utilize special columns and beams. I-beams have horizontal flanges in an “I” shape that add structural integrity. At Delta Steel, we offer I-beams in numerous lengths, sizes, and specifications for oil and gas applications.
Structural Steel Channels. Various industrial applications rely on structural steel channels, including vehicle frames, tractor-trailer components, and buildings. We offer structural steel channels in many specifications, lengths, and sizes at Delta Steel, including those for oil and gas equipment.
Carbon Structural Steel Plates. Delta Steel is one of the largest carbon structural steel plate suppliers in the Southwest United States. Carbon steel’s ability to resist deterioration makes it especially useful in pipelines, oil platforms, and equipment commonly used in oil and gas applications. We can customize carbon steel products to meet your specific needs.
Why Delta Steel
When you partner with Delta Steel for your structural steel supply in the oil and gas industry, you get the following benefits:
One-Stop Shop. We stock a wide range of structural steel products to deliver a seamless solution to our customers.
Integrated Team Approach. Our collaborative effort ensures our client’s needs are met with timely, satisfactory solutions.
Just-In-Time Delivery. Holding the largest structural steel inventory in North America, we employ we provide just-in-time delivery, reducing your onsite inventory.
Going the Distance. We offer rapid solutions, ranging from our value-added services to efficient project tracking tools, in order to meet your unique project needs.
Structured Steel Oil and Gas Services by Delta Steel
Structural steel offers several advantages, including cost-efficiency, rapid construction, and superior quality. We serve the oil and gas industry with beams, channels, and steel plates for use in vital pipeline structures.
With over six decades in the business, Delta Steel is your one-stop shop for seamless solutions. We are a leading provider of structural steel throughout the Southwest with a growing number of clients in major industries.
Request a quote to speak with a team member about structural steel products and value-added services for oil and gas applications.
Oceantic Network, formerly the Business Network for Offshore Wind, is pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2024 International Partnering Forum (IPF) taking place April 22-25, 2024, in New Orleans. Industry experts from around the world will converge to share best business practices, the most advanced technical and scientific findings, and policy updates impacting offshore wind. IPF connects global leaders and businesses in the supply chain, offers unparalleled networking opportunities, and delivers the most timely and relevant updates on the industry, from technology and policy to safety and siting.
As the largest offshore wind energy conference in the Americas, IPF offers a full week of tours, workshops, trainings, networking opportunities, and new programming (including the new FloatON Summit dedicated to floating offshore wind). Meet and connect with industry colleagues, global leaders, and offshore wind trailblazers.
Located in the heart of America’s offshore energy industry, New Orleans will host 2024 IPF just as the Gulf of Mexico begins developing its offshore wind market. Gulf companies are already hard at work building America’s next energy industry and moving to integrate new technologies like green hydrogen into offshore wind. Embracing its offshore energy past and embracing the future of offshore wind, New Orleans and the state of Louisiana are emerging as a center of experience, expertise, innovation, and heart of this new industry.
With an anticipated 4,000+ attendees, 300+ exhibitors, and 250+ speakers, IPF attendance helps secure your place as a leader in the industry.
You’ll find Delta Steel exhibiting at Booth #1206. Stop by to talk to our team and see how Infra-Metals can assist you in your next project delivery by utilizing our extensive inventory and processing capabilities.
Learn more about how we address the project life cycle and how we can help reduce the overall costs of your project. Additionally we work with many of the fabrication software applications serving the structural steel industry for project management. Stop by and ask one of our team members for more information.
We’re not just another supplier. Consider us an extension of your shop. Click here for more information regarding Internation Partnering Forum 2024
As a structural steel service center, Delta Steel has established lasting, mutually beneficial relationships in nationwide metal fabrication and distribution markets. We utilize the most advanced structural steel cutting and forming technologies to achieve higher-quality products for structural steel fabricators.
Our forming, plate burning, and robotic coping machines improve efficiency and product consistency. These services add value to our core capabilities and make more complex structural steel fabrication services available to a wider range of manufacturing, construction, and other industries.
Robotic Coping
Structural steel fabrication often requires a coping process to ensure pipe, tube, and beam assemblies fit together as intended. By carefully cutting, slotting, and shaping materials, coping ensures components of all shapes and sizes fit into their settings without interference.
Manual coping is a lengthy and involved process, with little guarantee of accuracy. At Delta Steel, we use automated robotic coping machines to process structural steel components. By transferring all engineering data to a CNC robotic coping machine, we cut down on material preparation and coping time. Our robotic coping machines maximize productivity, enhance quality, improve safety, and lower costs.
Features of Our Robotic Coping Machine
We use 7-axis plasma cutting machines that provide unparalleled speed and accuracy for all shaping procedures, including weld preparation. This automated robotic coping machine maintains high production continuity, reduces dependence on manual operators, and can create highly complex geometries from raw materials.
Robotic Coping Applications
Structural steel fabrication and processing
Structural steel distribution services
Process machinery and equipment
Structural steel manufacturing & assembly
Offshore energy operations
Advantages of Robotic Coping
Greater production efficiency
Higher quality
Reduced costs
Easier, safer operation
Flexibility
Robotic Forming
Robotic forming involves bending a metal sheet or plate into a specific angle or curve, most often with a CNC hydraulic press brake and die. The press brake forces the metal into a die to achieve a desired shape (typically a “U”, “V”, “W”, or “Z”). In our facilities across the country, Delta Steel operates press brakes from 20 to 60 feet, capable of accommodating projects of almost any scale.
Forming Applications
Marine
Renewable energy
Construction
Advantages of Robotic Forming
Higher quality and consistency
Adaptability
Shorter lead times
Safer operations
Plate Burning/Plasma Cutting
Plate burning, also called plasma cutting, uses a flame or electrical arc to ignite a gas or liquid to cut through various conductive metals. The plasma cutter converts an inert gas or compressed air into plasma, which heats the metal plate beyond its melting point. The melted material blows away, leaving a clean edge and reducing the need for finishing services. We use a CNC Hi-Def plasma cutting torch to cut up to 3-inch structural steel plates. These machines feature smaller nozzles that can create tighter tolerances than standard plasma cutters.
Features of Our Plasma Machines
Delta Steel primarily relies on plasma cutters, also known as combination plasma cutting machines, which utilize a multi-tool head to perform numerous functions. Plasma machines eliminate the need to transfer materials between stations, performing all drilling, milling, cutting, and other processes with a single machine.
Advantages of Plate Burning/Plasma Cutting
Greater production efficiency
Minimal downtime
Reduced long-term expense
Permanent reduction of labor costs
Increased ROI
Plate Burning/Plasma Cutting Applications
Technicians primarily use plasma cutting for high-alloy steel, but it’s also effective for lower-alloy steels. This makes plasma cutting suitable for a wide range of industries, including industrial construction, marine and automotive repair/restoration, salvage and scrapping, and various manufacturing processes.
Why Choose Delta Steel
As one of America’s largest structural steel service centers, Delta Steel offers an extensive range of structural steel products and value added services. Each Delta Steel distribution center is custom-tailored to better serve its region, because we’re dedicated to providing the most value-adding services and high-quality materials wherever our customers need them.
NASCC: The Steel Conference is back this year to San Antonio, TX. March 20-22.
NASCC is the premier educational and networking event for the structural steel industry bringing together structural engineers, structural steel fabricators, erectors, detailers, and architects. With over 300+ exhibitors showcasing products ranging from structural design software to machinery for processing structural steel, the show has some to offer everyone including many networking opportunities. There are over 230+ educational sessions that cover topics such as the latest design concepts, construction techniques, and cutting-edge research.
You’ll find Delta Steel exhibiting at Booth #1015, near the front entrance of the tradeshow floor. Stop by to talk to our team and see how Delta Steel can assist you in your next project delivery by utilizing our extensive inventory and processing capabilities.
Learn more about how we address the project life cycle and how we can help reduce the overall costs of your project. Additionally we work with many of the fabrication software applications serving the structural steel industry for project management. Stop by and ask one of our team members for more information.
We’re not just another supplier. Consider us an extension of your shop. Click here for more information regarding NASCC: The Steel Conference
The two main materials used in modern construction are structural steel and reinforced concrete. Due to their respective benefits, steel and concrete are commonly used to complement one another in certain projects. To build the strongest, safest possible structures, fabricators and contractors should understand and choose the best possible materials.
This article will discuss the advantages of structural steel and the applications for which this material is best suited.
Advantages of Structural Steel Over Concrete
Here are some of the benefits of structural steel:
Durability
Structural steel is highly durable and can withstand the harshest weather conditions, earthquakes, fires, and other natural disasters. With a high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent ductility, steel structures maintain their durability throughout the life of the structure even amid extreme conditions. Structural steel won’t crack, warp, or shrink over time, ensuring the structure remains stable and secure.
Strength
Structural steel is unbeatable when it comes to supporting heavy loads. It is ideal for large-scale construction projects like skyscrapers, bridges, and stadiums.
Flexibility
Easily molded into various sizes and shapes, structural steel is a remarkably malleable material. This flexibility allows architects and engineers to create complex designs and structures that would be difficult to achieve with concrete. Using structural steel also means future expansions and modifications to the structure are made easy.
Cost-Effectiveness
Structural steel is a cost-effective choice for construction projects because it is quick and easy to install, saving time and labor costs. Most domestic steel mills produce innovative, purpose-built high-strength structural steel. Using these efficient steel grades can help you save on foundation costs. Structural steel is also easier to use with modeling technology, cutting the total material cost of a steel package by up to 20%.
Sustainability
Steel can be recycled through various recycling processes. Approximately 95-99% of old steel can be recycled and reused in the production of new steel.
Speed of Construction
Steel structures can be erected quickly, minimizing site disruption and allowing projects to be completed on time and within budget. This speed is particularly important in areas with limited construction seasons or tight deadlines.
When To Choose Structural Steel Over Concrete
While structural steel and concrete have advantages, there are certain scenarios where structural steel is the better choice. Here are some scenarios where choosing structural steel over concrete makes sense:
High-Rise Buildings
High-rise buildings require a material that can withstand high stresses and loads. While the stability of concrete can decline over time, steel is a stronger and more durable choice for these kinds of infrastructure.
Long Span Bridges
Steel is much lighter than concrete, making it an ideal choice for long-span bridges. It can also be prefabricated off-site and assembled quickly on-site, reducing construction time and cost.
To Save Space
Structural steel is a great choice in situations where space is a key requirement. For instance, structural steel columns and spans allow for more room than concrete pillars.
Buildings With Large Open Spaces
Buildings with large open spaces, such as sports or exhibition halls, require materials that can span long distances without intermediate supports. In such cases, structural steel can provide the necessary strength and support while allowing for flexibility in design.
Delta Steel: Reliable Structural Steel Solutions
If you’re searching for high-quality structural steel products and expert precision processing services, Delta Steel is the trusted provider you need. We’re dedicated to delivering unparalleled customer service and ethical business practices, with over 60 years of experience and quality solutions to show for it!
Our team is equipped to handle a variety of services, including plate burning, drilling, saw cutting, and forming. In addition, we take pride in providing customized solutions to meet each of our customer’s unique needs.
Structural steel beams are horizontal load-bearing components used in construction and engineering projects. They are designed to support heavy loads, including the weight of a building or bridge, and transfer them to the supporting columns. They also come in various shapes, such as I-beams and wide flange beams.
The success of any construction project hinges on making the right choices, and selecting the appropriate steel beams is no exception. The following guide will provide a starting point for acquiring the correct beams that will ensure the structural integrity of a construction project:
1. Determine the Required Load-Bearing Capacity
The first step involves a comprehensive assessment of the maximum weight and stress the beams will need to support throughout their intended use. You should consider the structure’s weight, fixed equipment, permanent features, and movable objects.
2. Consider the Type of Construction and Design Specifications
This step ensures that the selected beams align with the specific requirements of the construction project, contributing to its overall success. First is the evaluation of the type of construction involved. This could range from commercial buildings — such as offices, retail spaces, or warehouses — to industrial facilities like manufacturing or power plants. The design specifications should also be established. These encompass the architectural and engineering requirements that the steel beams must meet.
Throughout this step, collaboration between engineers, structural steel service centers, and fabricators is crucial. They can collectively determine the optimal beam types, sizes, and configurations that align with the construction type and design specifications.
3. Compare Material Properties and Select the Appropriate Steel Grade
When comparing material properties, evaluating factors such as strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and weldability is important. Consult with your structural steel service center to learn about the available steel grades and their material properties. They can provide valuable insights based on their knowledge and experience, taking into account the project’s specific requirements.
4. Consider Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Constraints
It is important to balance the desired quality and the cost of acquiring and utilizing the structural steel beams. This involves assessing the value the chosen beams bring to the project and ensuring they offer a favorable return on investment.
Discussing with other structural steel service centers with expertise in sourcing and pricing steel components is also beneficial. They can provide valuable insights into cost-saving options, such as exploring different suppliers or partners, negotiating bulk discounts, or considering alternative beam configurations.
5. Account for Additional Project-Specific Factors
Assessing the availability and lead times of the chosen steel beams ensures they can be delivered within the required timeframe. Coordination with suppliers and manufacturers becomes crucial if the project has a tight schedule or requires phased construction. Further, considering the ability of a service center to provide additional understanding of profiles and substitutions for specialty sizes can sometimes necessitate adjustments in project designs to accommodate these specifications. Depending on the nature of the project, there may also be specific codes, guidelines, or certifications that need to be adhered to.
Delta Steel: Your Trusted Partner for High-Quality Structural Steel Products
Delta Steel is the industry leader in supplying exceptional structural steel products! Our vast range of structural steel products caters to diverse construction needs. Whether it’s beams, columns, angles, channels, or plates, we offer an extensive selection of top-notch products designed to support and strengthen various structures.
Experience the Delta Steel difference and discover why we are the trusted choice for contractors, builders, and construction professionals across the industry. Contact us today to explore our services! You may also request a quote right away.
Structural steel tubing is a steel-based product utilized to construct various structures, including buildings, bridges, canopies and other structures. It is crafted from steel alloy, intended to offer stability and support to the final form. The material is an excellent choice for diverse uses, with its strength, long-lasting nature, adaptability, and corrosion resistance.
Selecting the appropriate tubing is crucial to ensure that a structure can bear the intended loads and stress levels. This requires an understanding of the factors that may impact the dependability of the final result. This article will explore the key considerations in choosing the right steel tubing for a particular application.
Essential Factors To Consider in Structural Steel Tubing Selection
Selecting the right tubing for stability and longevity should involve evaluating various factors that contribute to the suitability of the material for a particular application. Here is a closer look at the essential aspects that will significantly impact the overall performance of the finished structure:
Material Options
Carbon steel is a widely used material in the production of structural tubing due to its excellent mechanical properties and affordability. Its production starts with steel coils typically made from low-carbon steel. Low-carbon steel contains a relatively small amount of carbon, usually less than 0.3%, which provides good formability and weldability.
Tubing Methods
The choice between seamless and welded tubing can impact the performance and suitability of the tubing for an application. Seamless tubing is made from solid steel without welds or seams. This results in a smooth and consistent surface, which makes it ideal for high-pressure and high-temperature applications.
On the other hand, welded steel tubing is made from multiple pieces of steel that are welded together. This makes it a more cost-effective option as it involves roll-forming strips or sheets of steel into a tube shape and then welding the seam longitudinally. This method allows for efficient production and cost savings compared to other techniques.
Temperature Range
The temperature range specifies the maximum and minimum ambient temperatures the tubing can handle without compromising its integrity. For instance, high-temperature applications — such as chemical engineering, automotive components, aerospace equipment, etc. — require materials that maintain structural integrity without losing strength. Meanwhile, low-temperature applications — such as buildings and structures located in areas with heavy snow loads — need tubing materials that can withstand cold temperatures without becoming brittle.
Corrosion and Erosion Capabilities
Ensuring a structure can withstand environmental factors requires a tubing material and method with strong corrosion and erosion resistance capabilities. Coating, priming or galvanizing steel is often preferred when tubing is exposed to saltwater or acidic environments due to the enhanced corrosion resistance provided by these services
Budget
The expenses associated with the tubing — including the cost of materials and fabrication — often depend on the tubing type, size, and required quantity. Typically, carbon steel tubing is the most economical option, whereas stainless steel and other specialized alloys may be more costly. Nevertheless, it is critical to factor in the long-term expenses and advantages of using different materials.
Delta Steel for High-Quality Structural Steel Tubing Products
Delta Steel has been the leading provider of structural steel tubing in the market since 1963! We are dedicated to providing high-quality steel products and precise processing, which enable us to offer other services like robotic coping, plate burning, and forming. Furthermore, our top priority is maintaining ethical and professional business practices with our customers, suppliers, and employees.
