Stainless steel is one of the most environmentally-friendly metals used in construction today. Modern construction has created unlimited use and application for this indispensable material that has set the norm for certain parts of a building like canopies, facades, railings, balustrades, doors and the like. With the proper stainless steel and finish, a building will remain attractive throughout its life even if it spans a hundred year. Moreover, stainless steel can often be restored to its original appearance or reused in other application.

Al Abbar Stainless Steel Co. is at the forefront of steel and stainless steel processing in the Middle East. As the construction sector escalates in the region, sustainability in architecture and green construction played a key role in the design of future buildings. The company offers and advocates the use of stainless steel in building design as a response to sustainability and the environment.

One of the characteristics that makes stainless steel ‘green’ is its corrosion resistance. This metal’s high scrap value and low corrosion rates ensure high recycling levels even after a long service life. Moreover, stainless steel also maximizes the life of other materials preventing premature failure of systems designed with stone, masonry or wood.  Knowledge and use of stainless steel’s many applications and advantages can help create a greener built environment.

STAINLESS STEEL AND LEED
Interest in green construction has grown significantly with emphasis on evaluation of entire buildings as well as building materials. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System raise many questions that are directly or indirectly related to metal of choice. This include recycled content, potential for product reuse, impact on energy and water consumption, product or coating emissions, impact on indoor air quality, thermal comfort, durability, maintenance requirements and impact on indoor light.

Here are some common questions and answers about the environmental friendliness of stainless steel.

Recycling
In 2002, the International Stainless Steel Forum estimated that the typical recycled content of stainless steel was about 60%. Although it is important to recognize that stainless steel is 100% recyclable and there is no down cycling no matter how many times it is recycled, there isn’t enough scrap available to recycle. Stainless steel is typically in use for twenty or thirty years before it is recycled. Its long service life and rapid historic growth in stainless steel production make it impossible for stainless steel “heats” to have a very high recycled content. The percentage of recycled metal that is used in the average “heat” a metal produced is where recycling rates are based.  

Corrosion resistance, scrap metal value, the type of application, and the presence and type of coatings determine whether an average piece of metal will be recycled. Metal components with significant metal mass loss due to corrosion may have negligible or no scrap value. Stainless steel is used for applications that are designed to last a long time, which limits re-melting frequency, but high scrap values, avoidance of coatings, and negligible corrosion rates ensure that most of the stainless steel that is put into service will eventually recycled.

Corrosion
When environment friendliness is a concern, it is critical to select metals, like stainless steel, which do not require coatings, but do provide a high level of corrosion protection. These materials will not need to be replaced over the life of the building, and they will not shorten the life of other building materials through their failure. Stainless steel is more corrosion resistant than other common architectural metals and is not affected by pollutants that will corrode them such as nitric acid, carbonic acid, and ammonia, which can be found in acid rain. If the right stainless steel and finish are selected and it is properly fabricated, installed and maintained, there will not be a corrosion problem.

Enhancing the Indoor and Outdoor Environment
Stainless Steel is ideal for interior applications because no coatings are required and there are no emissions. With proper selection, ductwork made of stainless steel will not perforate due to corrosion and can be thoroughly sanitized. Reflective stainless steel panels can be used to bring natural light into buildings. Specifying an effective, long lasting stainless steel termite barrier can eliminate termite pesticide treatments and may reduce the cost of insurance coverage. Cleaning stainless steel does not require chemicals that are hazardous to workers or the environment. Furthermore, stainless steel is an important part of industrial and automotive emission reduction systems.

Long Service Life
Materials that continue to provide excellent performance over the life of the building or structure have a much lower life cycle costs and are more environmentally friendly because they do not require replacement or contribute to landfill waste. Stainless steel is a relatively new material with the oldest applications dating to mid-1920’s, which was not long after its invention. One example of an older stainless steel roof is on the Butler County Court House in Pennsylvania. Its Type 302 stainless steel roof has provided about 80 years of trouble and maintenance free service despite adjoining an industrial plant.

Conserving Natural Resources
Stainless steel conserves natural resources in many ways. Less mining is required because corrosion rates are very low and real recycling rates are very high, so replacement of existing metal is negligible. In structural applications, material requirements are reduced is designers capitalize on stainless steel’s superior high temperature performance and if higher strength stainless steel are used to reduce section size. For example, in roofing applications it is possible to use thinner panels to reduce heat gain and air conditioning costs by specifying stainless steel. Stainless steel sunscreens reduce air-conditioning costs, which saves energy and stainless steel solar cells help to generate clean energy.

Stainless steel water mains are less likely to leak due to corrosion or to break during earthquakes, even after very long service lives.

The corrosive by-products from stone, masonry, Redwood, Cedar, plywood and other wood products can cause rapid corrosion of other metals. Stainless steel anchors, fasteners and other components are not corroded by these materials and their service life is maximized.

Restoration
The Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building are both excellent examples of the ability to restore stainless steel to its former glory. Both have been cleaned about every thirty years, and there was considerable surface deposit accumulation between cleanings. These buildings were cleaned with a mild detergent and water solution, which contained a degreaser to remove hydrocarbon deposits. A fine, abrasive solution that did not scratch the finish was used when necessary to remove more adherent surface deposits. No aggressive or environmentally hazardous materials were required, and there was no need to use products whose fumes might be offensive or hazardous to either the cleaners or building tenants. The same cleaning method is used regularly on newer buildings, which receive frequent cleaning.

Products manufactured from stainless steel are an excellent choice for protecting the environment and creating comfortable, attractive structures. Although independent data comparing the life-cycle environmental impact of different materials are not yet available, there is no question that stainless steel will receive high ratings. The environment and aesthetic performance of stainless steel is dependant on selecting an appropriate stainless finish and design.

Al Abbar Stainless Steel Co. can provide advice and assistance on the subject of stainless steel by providing information on stainless steel types, design and finish that best suit your project requirements while conforming to green building standards like LEED and advancing environmental concerns.

Send us your concern: AAST@alabbargroup.com

acknowlegements: Catherine Houska, Consultant, Nickel development Institute, USA