Keeping buildings secure is an important part of any company’s security agenda. This includes preventing theft, vandalism and violence in the workplace.
The right material selection process can make a huge difference in achieving this goal. Here are 10 tips to help you get started.
Steel
Steel is a popular building material for its durability. It can be used for the skeleton of buildings, including roofs and walls, and it is also a common choice for the framing of doors and windows. Steel is also a safe building material because it offers protection from theft, vandalism and other intrusions. This is important because it can save businesses money by lowering their insurance costs.
While no building is truly fireproof, steel comes close. Its resistance to the spread of fire is beneficial because it allows the structure to remain standing longer than a wood building, which could collapse in the event of an accident or a natural disaster. It also makes the building easier to evacuate, which could be crucial in an emergency situation.
Another benefit of using steel in your building is its resilience against harsh weather conditions. Steel is a highly durable material that can withstand extreme wind, snow and rain without any damage. Its strength and durability are especially valuable in areas that experience frequent seismic activity, such as Ottawa and Southwestern Ontario. Its ductility, which is the ability to bend, is a major asset in such an environment as well, as it can absorb more energy than weaker materials like concrete. It is also easy to repair, which can help businesses resume operations quickly after an earthquake or severe weather incident.
Wood
Wood has been a popular building material for centuries, but new materials are challenging its dominance. However, it continues to attract a premium from consumers looking for sustainable buildings that are easy to repair in the aftermath of unfortunate natural disasters.
One of the main reasons why many builders prefer to use wood is because it is a renewable resource that can be recycled again and again. Additionally, it is a greener construction material than concrete and steel, producing fewer greenhouse gasses (GHGs) and pollutants throughout its life cycle.
In addition, wood is a great insulator, requiring less energy to heat a structure than other materials. It also absorbs carbon dioxide and can help offset climate change by reducing GHG emissions. Furthermore, the manufacturing process of wood requires less energy than other industrial materials, and it produces fewer air pollutants as a result.
The flexibility and durability of wood allows it to withstand earthquakes and wind, and its strength makes it more resilient than other construction materials. In addition, wood can be easily shaped to create open spaces and enhance interior design.
Laminated wood, or mass timber, is a sustainable alternative to lumber and studs that can reduce the amount of waste in construction projects. In addition, it can be prefabricated in a factory and shipped to the job site, making it easier for builders to complete projects on time. Moreover, the use of laminated wood can eliminate the need for a large number of wood framing components and reduce unethical deforestation.
Composite lumber
Many people like the look of real wood, but sometimes they want the benefits of a more durable and weather-resistant material. Composite lumber offers a blend of natural and man-made materials that provide durability and aesthetics similar to real wood. It’s also less likely to crack, splinter or be affected by mold, making it a good choice for outdoor structures.
The type of composite material can vary depending on the brand, but many of them use a combination of wood fibers and inorganic materials like plastic. These materials are bonded together with a variety of additives that offer specific performance characteristics like weather resistance and strength.
Some types of composite wood are made from recycled materials, such as Oriented Strand Board (OSB), medium-density fiberboard and particle board. These are made by binding strands, chips or shavings of wood with moisture-resistant adhesives under high heat and pressure. Others are fabricated from natural wood products, such as plywood and block board.
Another popular option for exterior building materials is PVC, or plastic lumber. This is made from a combination of virgin and recycled plastics, including polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Some kinds of PVC are capped with a layer of natural wood, such as trex, to add to their durability and appearance. This wood-plastic composite is much more resistant to UV damage than uncapped plastics.
Fly ash
Fly ash is a byproduct of coal combustion and has been recycled into building materials. It is an environmentally friendly way to recycle a material that would otherwise be disposed of in landfills, and it provides a number of benefits for the building industry.
The primary benefit of fly ash is its pozzolanic and cementation properties. When mixed with cement, it can enhance the performance of concrete in terms of strength, water resistance, and durability. It can also reduce the cost of concrete by decreasing the amount of cement needed. It can even help prevent rebar corrosion by reducing calcium hydroxide and increasing the permeability of concrete, which makes it less susceptible to chloride penetration that leads to rusting.
Some concerns about the use of fly ash include its potential to contaminate the environment and a possible health risk. Studies in high rise buildings have shown that the addition of fly ash can increase radon levels in the air, which can be dangerous to workers who are in the building during the day and at night.
The toxicity of fly ash can be minimized by using a properly beneficiated ash. This process ensures uniformity of the chemistry and physical characteristics of the fly ash. This ensures that it meets the quality requirements set forth in ASTM C618.