Steel at BAU. "Green Thinking for Green Steel Buildings"

contents

europe

Germany is Europe´s biggest construction market. 11 million tonnes, or around 25 percent of European steel output is consumed in Germany, two million tonnes of which is used for construction. At BAU in Munich, which takes place from 12 to 17 January 2009, steel producers, wholesalers, processors and organisations will be highlighting how innovative products contribute towards sustainable building processes and structures. A range of steel solutions for the different aspects of construction will be showcased under the motto of 'Green Thinking for Green Steel Buildings'.

Visitors to BAU 2009 will be able to find out more about which steel products are suited to which applications in Halls B3 and A2, where the leading steel-producing and steel-processing companies and associations will be exhibiting.

Overview of the uses of steel
One of the main ports of call for builders, building owners, architects, engineers and the building trades is the stand in Hall B3 of the Stahl-Informations-Zentrum of Düsseldorf. Experts will be on hand here to give independent advice on the processing and use of steel in construction.

A main theme at their display is renovation and modernisation of existing buildings. A critical factor in this type of project is the condition of the existing building. If the foundations cannot take higher loading, for example, then any plans to build an upwards extension will have to be revised. One solution in this case is to opt for a lightweight system with slim, cold-formed steel profiles and roof and façade panels also in steel.

When renovating roofs, the choice falls increasingly frequently on tiles of coated fine steel sheet – the low weight and higher strength of these tiles enables very light, slim roof constructions. Without doubt steel is a sustainable building material: it has a long service live and, when a building has to be demolished, steel is 100% recyclable without loss of quality. These are important ecological criteria.

A co-exhibitor at the stand of the Stahl-Informations-Zentrum is IFBS-Industrieverband für Bausysteme im Metallleichtbau e.V., which will be informing about the proper use of sandwich panels and trapezoidal and cassette profiles, in particular as regards the need for energy-efficiency in building.

Stainless steel
The Informationsstelle Edelstahl Rostfrei (Stainless Steel Information Centre) is organising a joint stand at which over 20 companies working in stainless steel will be presenting new developments in materials, surface qualities, building profiles and systems. This display, in Hall B3, is being held under the banner of 'Better with Stainless Steel'. For renovation and modernisation work, stainless-steel reinforcement and fixings, as well as railings and handrails are much in demand, for example in swimming pools.

Thanks to its very long service life, stainless steel offers cost-effective, sustainable solutions for (solar) roofs and roof drainage, façades, windows and doors, load-bearing constructions, in building systems as well as for decorative interior fittings. Not only in new-builds, but also in renovation and modernisation work. In addition to the exhibits presented by the various suppliers, the Informationsstelle Edelstahl Rostfrei will be providing independent advice in all matters connected with the use of stainless steel.

Sustainability in industrial and commercial construction
BAUEN MIT STAHL (exhibiting in Hall A2) is an advice centre on the use of steel in construction. At BAU its focus will be on the theme of sustainability in industrial and commercial construction. Around 60 percent of the building volume in non-residential construction is accounted for by this area, a classic domain for steel construction. Experts will be available at this stand to discuss in detail how to achieve sustainability in this type of structure. They will be presenting new approved hall systems which facilitate the whole planning process and meet the quality standards required by the new energy-efficiency regulations.

Further information will be available on this at BAU 2009 in stand presentations and in a trade forum on 'Industrial and commercial construction – Sustainable building with steel' (Wednesday, 14.01.09, ICM Hall 4). As a member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB – German Society for Sustainable Building) BAUEN MIT STAHL will also be pointing out ways of using steel to meet the strict sustainability criteria of the DGNB´s German Quality Seal for Sustainable Building.

A number of steel producers have already announced presentations or activities that are being organised for their stand at BAU 2009:

The companies in the ArcelorMittal Group (Halls B3 and A2) will be presenting their broad spectrum of modern steel solutions and products for the construction industry. The emphasis in Hall A2 is on rolled profiles for steel construction and steel-composite construction. One new product is the Angelina Beam which has sinusoidal openings in the web that give high flexibility and enable large span widths. At the stand in Hall B3 the focus is on thin-walled elements for walls and façades. In addition to trapezoidal and cassette profiles, a new product is being presented – Arsolar Plus, a photovoltaic system.

Innovative applications in roofs and façades of surface-finished fine sheet are being presented at the stand of ThyssenKrupp Steel AG (Hall B3, Stand 109). These include the architecturally sophisticated Hoesch Arched Roof and the new façade system Hoesch Matrix, which were developed for high-quality commercial and administration buildings. Sandwich components with optimised joint geometry are setting standards in future-oriented building with steel. In addition to ReflectionsOne the architectural design scope is extended by the new coating system Pladur Relief. ThyssenKrupp Steel is presenting a major new advance in the form of a new metallic coating of zinc and magnesium, fully authorised by the building authorities. This coating gives improved corrosion protection and supports sustainable use of resources in terms of the materials used.

Exhibited under the umbrella of Salzgitter AG (Hall B3) are wide-flange beams, special profiles, sheet-piling systems and examples of preprocessing, in line with the motto 'Delivered ready to assemble – just in time' of Peiner Träger GmbH. Salzgitter Mannesmann Line Pipe GmbH is exhibiting its pipe ranges for steel construction. Salzgitter Bauelemente GmbH is presenting its range for wall and roof claddings. And, Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel GmbH will be giving an overview of its programme of services.

Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes (Hall B3) will be presenting seamless hot-finished structural hollow sections with circular, square or rectangular profile, for use in quality construction. The focus is on bridge-building, as many well known and prize-winning bridges have been built using these profiles.

At many other stands of steel- and stainless-steel-processing companies visitors in Halls B3 and A2 can gather information about new products in steel construction, high-performance components of surface-finished steel sheet, new profile geometries (including of high-strength steel grades) and about cost-effective building systems.

write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Exhibition News :: home page