Structural Engineering inc.
Structural Steel Engineering
SROLL TO DISCOVER
What Is the Role of Steel in Building Construction, and Why Do We Even Use It?
Steel is a cornerstone of modern construction, offering versatility and strength for projects of all scales. From guardrails, balconies, and steel staircases to moment frames that accommodate long-span openings in residential buildings to robust steel frameworks for commercial, manufacturing, and industrial buildings, structural steel provides the flexibility and strength to create open and resilient structures.
Construction projects use steel in two primary ways: first, to enhance the flexibility and strength of other structural materials, such as timber, and second, as the primary structural framing when the project's nature or building codes require it for safety, durability, and regulatory compliance.
Nowadays, fire safety in the Los Angeles area is a significant concern; steel provides much higher safety and resistance than other materials like wood. Many cities have strict fire codes that require fire-resistant and non-combustible materials like steel, mainly for commercial, industrial, and certain residential buildings, and egress stairs that need to be durable in fire events. Additionally, structural steel's strength and flexibility make it essential for large-scale projects, including high-rise buildings, bridges, infrastructure, stadiums, arenas, and industrial facilities.
Why choose AYCO for structural steel engineering?
At AYCO, steel structures are one of our core specialties. Our expert team employs cutting-edge structural analysis techniques and advanced 3D modeling tools to achieve outstanding results. We strictly adhere to the latest standards, including the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) code, California Building Code (CBC), and ASCE 7, ensuring our designs meet the highest safety and performance benchmarks.
Every project is carefully modeled and drafted in Autodesk Revit, enabling seamless collaboration with architects, MEP engineers, and the broader design team. Our thorough construction documents complement our detailed BIM models, streamlining workflows and ensuring smooth project execution. We also have extensive experience in steel detailing services, allowing us to provide accurate shop and erection drawings for fabricators. This expertise allows us to effectively integrate our BIM modeling with steel design and detailing services, ensuring accuracy and efficiency throughout the project lifecycle. Our team has substantial experience designing a wide range of steel structures, including manufacturing warehouses, horse stables, barns, egress steel staircases submitted as deferred submittals, anechoic steel chambers, steel moment frames for retrofit solutions, and light-gauge structures used in commercial buildings.