Mezzanine floors designed and installed by Steelwork Engineering

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Increase space and improve efficiency with a mezzanine floor

Mezzanine floors offer a cost effective way to increase space without the expense or inconvenience of moving to larger premises. Here at Steelwork Engineering we’ll use the dimensions of the space you have to design, manufacture and install a mezzanine flooring solution which can be extended or altered as your requirements change.

Mezzanine flooring is ideal for use in a wide range of buildings and industry sectors, including manufacturing, retail, business, production, warehousing and distribution.

The wide ranging benefits of mezzanine flooring

Installing a mezzanine floor can help you improve the efficiency of your business by making the most of wasted space and helping you adapt to changing markets. A mezzanine floor could offer you the capability to double your floor space and be used for everything from storing stock or supplies, or creating additional office space or a staff room.

Contact Steelwork Engineering – the mezzanine flooring specialists

Here at Steelwork Engineering we have more than a quarter of a century’s experience in the design and installation of mezzanine flooring. We’ve designed and installed mezzanine floors in a wide range of locations, including retail units, warehouses, leisure centres and office premises. Our experienced design team have the expertise to create flooring to meet your individual requirements, including open mesh flooring, timber deck flooring and solid metal plate flooring. In addition, our flooring can also be installed with a range of additional features, such as handrails or glass balustrades.

If you would like to find out more about the benefits of installing mezzanine flooring, or to arrange a consultation appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

steel handrails and staircases

Versatile steel handrails designed to meet your unique requirements

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The advantages of steel handrails and staircases

Here at Steelwork Engineering we design and manufacture a wide range of staircases and access products which will allow you to access different the different floors in your building, or to provide escape routes and storage areas.

Steel handrails are crucial to the design of the majority of staircases, mezzanine floors and access ladders and with this in mind, we thought we’d explore the benefits of steel handrails.

Handrails must, by their very nature, be strong and durable enough to support people whilst they move up and down stairs or use walkways and ladders. A flimsy material simply won’t do the job so a strong handrail is an important way to help reduce the risk of serious falls. Structural steel is the ideal material for handrails because it is strong, versatile and easy to maintain.

Steel offers a strong, low-maintenance option

When it comes to designing a staircase or access ladder it’s important to use a material that is as strong as possible. Stairs tend to incur a high level of footfall and by using a robust material such as steel; the staircase will have a greater tensile strength. In addition, because structural steel is weatherproof, it is the ideal choice for external stairs and fire escapes etc.

Cost effective steel handrails

In comparison to other materials, structural steel rails offer a relatively cost effective option. Steel doesn’t need to be painted or varnished and because it won’t rust or corrode, maintenance and repair costs are non-existent or minimal.  Steel will retain its good looks no matter how often it is used, helping you save time and money.

Strength and good looks combined

Not only is structural steel incredibly strong, it also looks great, helping to explain why it is such a popular material with architects and designers. Steel staircases and handrails can be designed to suit buildings of all shapes and sizes, offering a sleek, contemporary look in homes and business premises.

Steel handrails and staircases designed and installed by Steelwork Engineering

If you would like to find out more about our range of steel products and services, why not get in touch today?

steel staircase

Reach new heights with a steel staircase

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If your business premises would benefit from a new staircase, why not consider installing a steel staircase, rather than a traditional timber or concrete one? Steel staircases offer a number advantages and with this in mind, we thought we’d run through some of the main benefits.

Steel staircases offer straightforward installation and a reduction in costs

The fabrication process used to create steel staircases is highly flexible which means that they can be designed and built to fit buildings of any size or shape. In addition, once a steel staircase has been constructed, the installation process is normally very quick and simple, leading to a reduction in costs.

When it comes to maintenance – or lack of maintenance – steel staircases offer a clear advantage over timber staircases in particular, as no staining, varnishing or sealing is required. In addition, because they are resistant to changes in temperature, so they won’t warp, bend or twist. Steel staircases will never fall victim to woodworm or rot and because the steel is pre-treated, there’s no danger of corrosion or rust.

We create unique steel staircase designs to meet to your requirements

There’s a misconception that a steel staircase will look very ‘industrial’ but this is not the case. Thanks to the versatility offered by steel, steel staircases can be designed to look elegant, grand or stylishly simple. Whether you’re looking for a staircase to give your premises that wow factor, or are looking for a heavy duty, practical staircase, steel offers the ideal solution.

Contact Steelwork Engineering by calling 01535 630100

Steel staircases designed and manufactured by Steelwork Engineering are built to last. We have the expertise to create a wide range of bespoke staircases, specially created to match your individual requirements. If you would like to find out more about the benefits of steel staircases, then why not contact us today for further information?

Steelwork Engineering steel fabricated buildings

Why use steel?

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Steelwork construction by Steelwork Engineering

Steel is rapidly becoming the building material of choice for a whole range of construction project;, from long-span bridges through to high-rise buildings and industrial units. The advantage which steel offers to the construction industry are widely recognised by architects and building contractors alike, so with this in mind, we thought we’d run through some of the benefits it could bring to your next project.

  • Cost: there’s no doubt that cost is one of the major advantages of using steel in construction. In fact independent studies have shown that in the construction of a typical city centre office building, choosing to build the frame and upper-floors using steel frame was 12% cheaper than using concrete.
  • Efficiency: creating efficient steel designs maximises the high strength-to-weight ratio of steel, providing larger, more versatile column-free internal spaces.
  • Fast construction times: Steel offers the earliest possible on-site start plus an earlier payback on your investment, providing possible time-related savings which can equate to up to 5% of the overall value of the project.
  • Safety: steel is safer for construction teams as accurate fabrication work is carried out off-site. Steel is only brought onto a site as and when it is required, reducing the risk of accidents and the need for on-site storage.
  • Sustainability: last and by no means least, it’s worth bearing in mind that around 99% of constructional steel used in the UK has either been reused or recycled. Steel can be used numerous times without loss of quality, ensuring sustainability for the future.

Contact Steelwork Engineering

Here at Steelwork Engineering we provide a wide range of steel products and services, including structural steelwork, mezzanine floors, steel refurbishment, walkways, racking and gantries. If you would like more information on any aspect of our services, or to find out more about the benefits of using steel in your construction project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

 

steel stairs and handrails

Steel – the backbone of industrial economies

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Steelwork Engineering steelwork manufacturing

Iron and steel has been in production for many hundreds of years and from humble beginnings steel manufacturing is now the backbone of modern, industrial economies. It is now impossible to visualise a world without steel and whether it is used in machines, engines or construction, it has a presence is almost everything we use and make.

Versatility and strength of steel

Steel offers unparalleled strength and versatility. The strength-to-weight ratio of steel and its ability to be recycled into new products has helped to make steel the ultimate future-proof product and one that is already playing a crucial role in the circular economy’s development.

Structural steel is so tough because it is an alloy of iron and other materials which have had the majority of carbon extracted. Steel needs to be strong and as such is available in varying grades, each of which has its own specific chemical composition and properties, designed to meet the requirements of different applications.

Nowadays steel is made using two major processes: basic oxygen steelmaking and electric arc furnace manufacturing. Converters (modern furnaces) have the capability to take up to 350 tonnes of iron ore, coking coal and steel scrap before converting it into steel in just 15 minutes or so. Electric arc furnaces pass a powerful electric current through cold scrap metal; with modern electric arc furnaces having the capability to make up to 150 tonnes of steel at a time.

Molten steel has to be allowed to solidify into basic shapes – slabs, billets or blooms – before it is rolled or formed into finished products. Continuous casting machines are used to draw steel downwards from a mould where it can be automatically cut into the lengths required. To change the shape of a material with the strength of steel, the thickness must be reduced; resulting in flat products or long produces.

Despite the fact that steel has been in production for many hundreds of years, the production process continues to develop and evolve in an effort to reduce costs and minimise any impact upon the environment.

Steel construction services provided by Steelwork Engineering

Here at Steelwork Engineering all of the steelwork we use is manufactured to the highest standards and to meet CE Marking legislation, to enable us to provide our clients with strong, durable products. If you would like to find out more about the benefits of using structural steel, or to discuss your requirements, please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

steel stair access steel staircases

Steel construction goes full circle

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Steel’s place in the circular economy

The idea behind a circular economy is a simple one: resources are used for as long as possible to extract maximum value, before materials and products are recovered and regenerated to be used once again. Where does steel construction fit in? Steel has unparalleled circular economy credentials and because it is has long been valued as a material which is strong, durable, versatile and recyclable, it is unique.

The concept of a circular economy promotes products with long lives. Rather than investing in cheap, disposable products, the circular economy maintains products at their highest value and utility for as long as is possible. This means that the longer a product lasts then the fewer raw materials will be required, leading to a reduction in waste. Not only are steel construction products intrinsically durable and will last a very long time, they can also be successfully reused once their first life is over.

The recyclability, flexibility and adaptability of steel

Recyclability is a key component of a circular economy and steel is 100% recyclable and is currently the most recycled industrial material on the planet. Steel can be recycled without loss of quality and although all new steel could be made from recycled steel, this isn’t possible due to insufficient supplies of scrap.

Another important component of a circular economy is a reduction in materials. Steel is lightweight yet incredibly strong which means that significantly fewer materials are required to construct steel framed buildings. Flexibility and adaptability are also vital and because steel fabricated buildings can be constructed to provide flexibility through designs created to allow for easy rearrangement of internal layout, this further confirms steel’s circular economy credentials.

Contact Steelwork Engineering for advice and information

If you would like to find out more about the benefits of using steel in a construction project, or to talk through your requirements or project ideas, why not get in touch with Steelwork Engineering today?

 

 

steel spiral stair access

Steel’s dominance of the multi-story buildings sector continues to rise

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The dominance of steel in the multi-storey commercial buildings sector isn’t down to a design trend or word-of-mouth; it is based upon real benefits, such as the ability to provide open-plan floor spaces free from columns and integrated building services. The majority of multi-storey buildings are constructed in inner city areas and it is the speed of construction and the minimal storage of on-site building materials offered by steel framed buildings, which help to account for its continued popularity.

Structural steel creates flexible spaces

City centres in particular call for high quality, flexible office spaces. Whether used for open-plan offices and buildings for banking or shopping centres, buildings which provide high environmental architectural standards are in exceptional demand.

A wide range of solutions are possible when steel is used to construct multi-storey buildings. Building large commercial building calls for a two-stage construction process, with the tenant responsible for fit-out and installation of fixtures. This means that the structure of the building itself has to be sufficiently adaptable to cope. Concern for the environment continues to be an incredibly important consideration for architects and construction companies alike; thanks to the higher proportion of renewable energy technologies which can now be integrated into steel framed buildings, almost anything is possible.

Economic benefits of steel construction in multi-storey buildings

Using steel in construction has the potential to reduce construction times by up to 30%, resulting in considerable cost savings. Site management costs are also reduced thanks to the reduction in construction times whilst long span steel construction provides highly flexible spaces, offering long-term flexibility, helping to minimise the loss of future rental income.

Thanks to off-site fabrication, quality is improved because prefabricated components are manufactured in factory-controlled conditions. This means that projects are less dependent on on-site trades or external factors such as unpredictable weather conditions, helping to keep construction times and costs to a minimum.

When it comes to quality, safety, sustainability and value, structural steel is pretty hard to beat. If you would like to find out more, why not contact us today for further information?

steel fabrication services

Steel delivers value across the length and breadth of Britain

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From the Forth Bridge constructed back in 1890, through to London’s Cheesegrater and Leandenhall Building, structural steel can be found in iconic buildings and infrastructure throughout the UK. Why is steel so popular? From ease of long-term maintenance and value retention, through to flexibility and sustainability, evidence of the advantages of structural steel isn’t hard to find.

Outstanding buildings made from steel

A number of outstanding buildings have appeared over the last year or so – all made possible through the use of structural steel. From a warehouse construction project in Bristol which, when completed, will be the single largest building in the South West, through to the largest retail development project in Oxford over the last ten years, steel continues to showcase its construction programme and cost advantages.

The advantages of steel in construction

The advantages of using steel in construction is something we’ve discussed in previous blog posts and it’s thanks to these advantages that steel is now widely used in the majority of modern construction projects. Offering unbeatable construction times, lower costs and flexibility of design, steel is increasingly selected in projects encompassing everything from factories and shopping centres, through to schools, hospitals and bridges.

Although steel construction has come a very long way since the Victorian era and the building of the Forth Bridge, quality still remains a major feature of this form of construction. Whilst a great deal has changed; modern steel buildings can be manufactured in off-site controlled conditions, for example – structural steel buildings have and always will be, built to last. Surely the fact that the Forth Bridge is still standing almost 130 years later is testament to this?

Contact Steelwork Engineering to find out more

Here at Steelwork Engineering we are specialists in steel fabrications and if you would like to find out more about our services, or to discuss your project, why not get in touch with us for further information?

steel house extensions

What is steel fabrication?

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As regular readers of our blog will know, we often talk about steel fabrication and with this in mind; we thought we’d take a closer look at what it means.

Steel fabrication is simply the process which is used to manufacture separate steel components which, once they have been assembled and joined together, form a complete steel frame.  Steel frames can be made from either standard sized steel sections, or if standard section sizes aren’t appropriate, fabricated sections can be manufactured to order.

The way in which steel sections are fabricated has changed a great deal over the years and whereas once a tape measure would be used, the majority of steel section manufacturers now use computer aided design and detailing. Computer aided design (CAD) is software which is used to design each section and is linked directly to CAD controlled machinery on the factory floor. Not only does the use of CAD dramatically increase the speed of manufacture, it also offers huge benefits in terms of accuracy and quality.

Steel fabrication services from Steelwork Engineering

Here at Steelwork Engineering we manufacture a wide range of steel portal frames, steel extensions and pitched roof buildings, ready to be erected on site. Suitable for the construction of everything from small agricultural buildings through to shopping centres and industrial units, our steel fabrication services have been developed to offer our customers reliability, quality and efficiency.

Alongside our steelwork fabrication and installation services, we also provide a design and build service which has the potential to help you make significant savings during the pre-build phase of your project. Our team of designers and draughtsmen have the expertise to design your building for you and because they are experienced of working with SES, you’ll have the reassurance of knowing the relevant standards will be met.

Contact Steelwork Engineering to discuss your steel fabrication project

If you would like to find out more about our steel fabrication services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

steel fabrication services

Structural Steel Design Awards 2017

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The shortlist for the annual Structural Steel Design Awards has been announced by the British Constructional Steelwork Association and Steel for Life.

Held each year to showcase and highlight the appeal of using structural steel in construction projects, this year’s awards feature a range of stunning buildings across the UK.

From the highly distinctive The Curve in Slough, The Leadenhall Building in London and Central Square in Leeds through to a stunning staircase for the Wellcome Collection and West Croydon Bus Station, the 17 finalists offer a stunning representation of a wide range of structural steel buildings. The Structural Steel Design Awards demonstrate some of the ways in which structural steel can be used to create highly distinctive buildings, in projects covering everything from education buildings and infrastructure facilities, through to commercial developments, electricity pylons and bridges.

The benefits of structural steel

Despite the fact that the construction industry is currently facing undeniably tough market conditions, the range of finalists clearly demonstrates the versatility and growing appeal of structural steel. As regular readers of our blog will know, here at Steelwork Engineering we’re always keen to promote the benefits of using structural steel in building projects and these awards offer a great way to demonstrate just how durable, energy efficient and adaptable steel really is.

To find out more about the awards and the projects shortlisted, please visit Steel Construction Info’s website.

Contact Steelwork Engineering

If you would like to find out more about our structural steel design, manufacture and installation services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to speak to one of our team.