The comparative cost of steel and concrete building frames...

...the facts

Steel still the rst choice framing solution

The latest update to the independently produced cost comparison study for commercial buildings proves that structural steel framing solutions are faster to build and more cost effective than reinforced concrete alternatives.
Comparison of UK Floor CostsfComparison ofConcrete steel Frame and and concrete rame and oor costs Buildings A and B - Average of all Schemes Buildings A and B - average of all schemes 170.00

Steel framed Concrete framed

150.00

Concrete: 164.25 Steel: 131.96

/m2 GFA

130.00

110.00

90.00

70.00
1995 H1 1995 H2 1996 H1 1996 H2 1997 H1 1997 H2 1998 H1 1998 H2 1999 H1 1999 H2 2000 H1 2000 H2 2001 H1 2001 H2 2002 H1 2002 H2 2003 H1 2003 H2 2004 H1 2004 H2 2005 H1 2005 H2 2006 H1 2006 H2 2007 H1

The study, conducted by a team including Davis Langdon, Arup and MACE, considers two typical modern commercial developments (see table below). A range of steel, composite and concrete based frame solutions for both buildings were fully designed, costed and programmed, with prices current in June 2007. This independent study was rst carried out in 1993 and is the established industry standard. The building design and construction methods are regularly reviewed and updated to reect modern practice. The latest results are summarised below and more information can be found at www.corusconstruction.com/coststudy

Building A
2,600m2 ofce, Manchester
Frame and oor cost (/m2 GFA) Frame construction time (weeks) Overall building cost (/m2 GFA) Overall construction time (weeks)

Composite Slimdek (steel steel beam shallow oor and slab solution) 108 136 7 1187 42 6 1201 40

Long span cellular beams 133 6 1228 41 Long span cellular beams 149 13 1896 66

Reinforced concrete at slab 156 8 1253 44

Insitu frame with precast oors 130 8 1228 43

Building B
18,000m2 ofce, London
Frame and oor cost (/m2 GFA) Frame construction time (weeks) Overall building cost (/m2 GFA) Overall construction time (weeks)

Composite Slimdek (steel steel beam shallow oor and slab solution) 123 151 13 1881 67 13 1883 67

Reinforced Post tensioned concrete ribbed at slab concrete slab 182 194 18 1973 76 19 1951 76

The cost of a frame and oor is a relatively small part of the total cost of a development. However, the selection of a steel frame reduces timescales and has a benecial effect on other major variable cost items such as foundations, cladding and services, leading to signicant cost savings for the overall project.

Concrete framed

Construction costs relative to ination

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly Department of Trade and Industry) produces monthly statistics tracking construction material costs. The graph below shows them plotted against GDP ination to provide a comparison in real terms. Raw material costs relative to ination
50 40 30
Real cost change %

Steel sections

Ready mix concrete

Reinforcement bar

20 10 0 -10 -20 -30 -40

1995 H1 1995 H2 1996 H1 1996 H2 1997 H1 1997 H2 1998 H1 1998 H2 1999 H1 1999 H2 2000 H1 2000 H2 2001 H1 2001 H2 2002 H1 2002 H2 2003 H1 2003 H2 2004 H1 2004 H2 2005 H1 2005 H2 2006 H1 2006 H2 2007 H1

When looking at the constructed component costs over the same period, it can be seen that the relative costs of re protection and metal decking have fallen in cost since 1995, which has helped maintain steels competitive position over concrete. Constructed component costs relative to ination
Structural steel

50 40 30 20

Insitu concrete

Fire protection
Metal decking

Placed reinforcement

Real cost change %

10 0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50

1995 H1

1995 H2

1996 H1

1996 H2

1997 H1

1997 H2

1998 H1

1998 H2

1999 H1

1999 H2

2000 H1

2000 H2

2001 H1

2001 H2

2002 H1

2002 H2

2003 H1

2003 H2

2004 H1

2004 H2

2005 H1

2005 H2

2006 H1

2006 H2

2007 H1

Construction market prefers steel

Cost effectiveness is one of the many advantages of structural steelwork. This position is reected in another long established independent industry-standard survey, which has measured the relative market share of structural frames annually since 1980. The most recent results show that steel is preferred as a framing solution for over 73% of multistorey commercial buildings, whilst insitu concrete accounts for 18%. The remaining 9% of the market is attributed to load bearing masonry, pre-cast concrete and timber.

Market share for steel and concrete frames UK multi-storey buildings

80.0% 70.0% 60.0%
Floor area %

50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0%

Steel
10.0%
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984

Insitu concrete
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

More information
For further detail please visit: www.corusconstruction.com/coststudy

Telephone: 01724 405060 www.corusconstruction.com

Telephone: 020 7839 8566 www.steelconstruction.org