Increasing demands on security measures require a range of building-specific features. To meet these requirements, building administrators, designers and security experts need to select the right materials.
For those who are interested in reducing their individual environmental footprints, material efficiency offers opportunities for lowered rates of natural resource extraction and energy demand. At a broader national level, however, it may prove to be a less effective strategy.
Metal
Metal is a popular building material because it offers premium durability and is versatile enough to suit any aesthetic. It also has the benefit of being recyclable, which is great for the environment and can help to reduce waste.
Metals can withstand strong winds and seismic activity, which makes them an excellent choice for areas with a high risk of natural disasters. They are also able to flex under stress, which can protect tenants and equipment inside the building.
Another benefit of metal is that it is a very durable material that can last for decades. As more facility executives prioritize sustainability, metal is an excellent choice for a building’s construction and can be used to create walls, ceilings, and roofing that meet the demands of current local codes.
Wood
Wood has been used to build structures for thousands of years but, after tragic fires in urban centers like Chicago’s Great Fire in 1871, concrete and steel began to dominate the construction industry. However, engineering advances and new protective treatments are allowing builders to design more structurally sound buildings out of wood.
Wood also has lower dead weight than concrete, requiring less transportation and reducing energy costs. Its low conductivity of heat and electricity means that it’s ideal for insulating buildings in colder climates. Its acoustic properties minimize echo in living spaces, offices and halls.
In addition, timber is renewable and easily reusable if properly cared for. Once it has reached the end of its service life, it can be reshape for another purpose or recycled into energy.
Steel
Steel framing is a highly durable building material that can withstand a variety of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, and snowstorms. It is also resistant to rust, corrosion, and mold growth, making it an excellent choice for harsh environments.
Additionally, unlike other construction materials, steel is fire-resistant and does not emit toxic fumes when burning. This ensures that a steel-framed building can safely store flammable materials or products without compromising structural integrity or causing unsafe conditions for employees or occupants.
It also doesn’t attract lightning, making it a safer option for areas that experience frequent natural calamities like thunderstorms and tornadoes. Steel buildings are also pest-resistant, reducing the need for costly pesticide treatment or repairs to address damage from rodents and termites. This flexibility can save a business significant money in maintenance costs and insurance rates.
Concrete
Concrete is a popular building material that provides a number of security benefits. It’s a durable material that requires minimal maintenance, meaning that it will last longer than other building materials and reduce operating costs.
Concrete can withstand extreme temperatures from fire and help prevent the spread of flames. It also doesn’t emit noxious gases during a fire, making it safer for building occupants and firefighters.
Concrete can be mixed with various aggregate materials, including recycled industrial wastes such as fly ash, slag, ground vehicle tires, and glass. Using these materials reduces waste and helps the environment. It also allows builders to reduce energy costs since concrete regulates temperature inside buildings. These advantages make concrete a sustainable choice for any builder. It’s also a good soundproofing material for homes and offices.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a highly durable, renewable, and sustainable construction material that has earned the nickname “vegetal steel” due to its impressive strength. It is also less expensive than traditional materials like wood and concrete.
However, there are many barriers to bamboo’s application as a building material. These barriers include certification mechanisms, standards and specifications, sustainability, industrialization for production, incentives policies, and knowledge about bamboo applications.
In addition, there is little collaboration between government departments to promote the use of bamboo in the construction sector. As a result, bamboo is not widely used as a building material. This paper aims to identify and investigate the integrated relationships among characteristic barriers that affect the promotion of bamboo materials as green construction materials. The findings from this study can help top-level officials develop effective policies, standards, and specifications to encourage the use of bamboo.
Cork
Cork is a sustainable material with one-of-a-kind qualities that make it perfect for fashion and textiles. It’s soft, lightweight, durable and a natural insulator. It’s also cruelty free, which is why it can be found in a number of fashionable accessories and high-quality vegan clothing.
The cellular construction of cork provides excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. It also prevents energy loss by reducing the transfer of heat through walls and ceilings.
The process of harvesting the bark from the cork oak tree is a sustainable practice that contributes to the economic and social development of regions where it is produced. The trees grow back their bark after each removal, absorbing carbon dioxide in the process (Gil, 2010). It takes nine to twelve years for cork to be harvested.
Mycelium
Mycelium is a flexible and durable material. It can be used for everything from furniture to building insulation. And unlike animal protein, it does not require much land or water. In fact, mycelium can be grown as a substitute for meat and may also offer nutritional benefits.
While mycelium does have some potential as a replacement for Styrofoam, it has yet to find a niche within the construction industry. The process of manufacturing mycelium is complex and requires a high level of confidence in demand for the material, as well as stable supply chains for growing media.
Moreover, mycelium composites tend to have lower compressive strength than synthetic foam of the same density due to high water absorption. Thus, further research is required on the structural properties of mycelium composites to increase their usage.