Why Steel Frame Buildings Are Good News In Dry Spells

The use of steel frame buildings is not just a question of keeping costs down or getting structures assembled conveniently quickly, although these are undoubted attributes of such buildings. Another very important feature of them is their capacity to deal with a changing climate.

Being made of non-rusting metal, these buildings can withstand the increasingly wet and stormy weather we often endure in winter, as well as the floods that can come with it. While wooden buildings may rot, these will not.

However, they may also be very useful for dealing with another growing feature of our weather. While the wet spells are wetter, the dry spells are drier, with the UK having recorded 40 degrees C temperatures for the first time in 2022, something meteorologists agree is only possible because of climate change.

The Growing Risk Of Wildfires

Hotter, drier weather makes it more likely that moorland fires can break out, which means many agricultural buildings and even homes can be at risk, unless they are made from fireproof materials.

This has been seen increasingly across the world in recent years. For example, in California, there have been several devastating wildfires in forests and scrubland in recent times, with January this year seeing outlying districts of Los Angeles being especially badly affected.

As those whose homes and business premises were destroyed pick up the pieces, they are building back differently, with steel frame buildings to the fore, US firm Forte Specialty Constructors has noted. The fireproof quality of such structures has meant they are in big demand as homes are rebuilt in wildfire areas.

Not only would this mean such structures will not burn down as easily, but a neighbourhood made up of such buildings will prevent fire from spreading easily, stopping the wildfires in their tracks.

Britain’s Moors In Danger

Britain may not be as hot as California, but the growing risk from wildfires is evident, especially on moors that can get tinder dry in very hot spells, such as has been the case throughout April and early May. While millions have enjoyed the sunshine, some places have seen fires, with a notable example hitting the Peak District Moors near Buxton.

The blaze was described as being the worst in the Pennines since 2018, when weeks of dry weather in early summer left moors vulnerable to blazes such as one that threatened properties in Stalybridge on the eastern fringes of Greater Manchester. A nearby area was also affected by a fire in March this year, which local farmers helped to fight.

Agricultural buildings may be particularly vulnerable as they will often be on or next to dry moorland, potentially placing them in very close proximity to fires. Moreover, if a whole farm comes under threat, the residential section will be a priority for firefighters.

However, by making agricultural buildings like these out of steel, the risk of a blaze taking hold is minimal, with the material even serving to shield any flammable materials inside, as well as livestock.

As our climate changes and moorland fires become an increasingly common issue, the use of fire-resistant materials may have growing importance in agriculture and even in some homes.