THE ADVANTAGES OF STEEL IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF BUILDING MATERIALS

摘要

Besides the other advantages of steel, it really worth to note that the environmental advantages of constructional steel is gaining a very big importance as the sensitivities of societies for the green environment is increasing each day. It is commonly accepted fact that the steel presents a lot of positive environmental impacts as being the effective reasons of consumer preferences regarding; sustainability, refurbishment, recyclability and reusability issues. Therefore; the detailed considerations of these environmental concepts in relation with different practices and construction facilities in different countries are actually important. Recyclability and reusability properties can become very important factors, if the waste management and landfill of building wastes becomes a problem. Waste management may become a serious concern after the earthquakes, if the buildings are not resistant enough and made of brittle materials which are relatively difficult to process comparing with the recyclable and reusable material steel. So the paper will discuss the main environmental benefits of using constructional steel. In this regard; possibly encountered difficulties for a proper waste management of irreparable building stock made of massive and brittle building materials like concrete and brick will be explained. The subject will be discussed in comparison with the advantages offered in using steel as the alternative environment friendly building material. Some important environmental issues will be evaluated in considering the practical cases experienced during the latest earthquakes occurred in Turkey.