Steel is a sustainable material used in automobiles, household appliances, and manufacturing to name a few. Gaining in popularity as a building material for businesses and homes around the world, here are 10 fun facts about steel you might not know.
- More than 95 percent of the water used for making steel in North America is recycled.
- Almost 69 percent of all steel is recycled in North America each year – more than paper, aluminum, plastic & glass combined. North America’s average recycling rate has been in excess of 60 percent since 1970.
- When liquid iron is converted into steel it reaches 1,700 Degrees Celsius, significantly hotter than volcanic lava.
- Weathering steels are designed to rust, with the oxide coating providing protection, eliminating the need for painting.
- Steel products are durable and last a long time. The average lifetime for steel products is approximately 40 years.
- In Canada, it is a tradition for engineers to wear a steel ring on their pinky finger to remind them of the obligations of their profession.
- Steel is made by removing impurities from iron. Stainless steel is actually already corroded by chromium, which stops it rusting.
- Steel’s first major demand came from the railroads.
- It takes more than 40 trees to build a wood-framed home. A steel-framed home—eight recycled cars. In addition, steel-framed homes won’t crack, warp, twist, rot, split or settle.
- Steel doors can provide up to 10 times more protection against intruders than wooden doors and are also fireproof.
Interested in learning more about how a steel building can work for you? Start a conversation with a Bunger Steel specialist today!