STEEL

CONSTRUCTION
Cost
2 COST
Tata Steel Europe
The European operations of Tata Steel comprise Europes
second largest steel producer. With the main steelmaking
operations in the UK and Netherlands, they supply steel and
related services to the construction, automotive, packaging,
lifting and excavating, energy and power, aerospace and other
demanding markets worldwide. The combined Tata Steel
group is one of the worlds largest steel producers, with an
aggregate crude steel capacity of more than 28 million tonnes
and approximately 80,000 employees across four continents.
British Constructional Steelwork Association
BCSA is the national organisation for the steel construction
industry: its Member companies undertake the design,
fabrication and erection of steelwork for all forms of
construction in building and civil engineering. Associate
Members are those principal companies involved in the direct
supply to all or some Members of components, materials
or products. Corporate Members are clients, professional
ofces, educational establishments etc which support the
development of national specications, quality, fabrication
and erection techniques, overall industry efciency and good
practice.
Tata Steel and the British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) have worked closely
together for many years to promote the effective use of structural steelwork. This collaborative
effort ensures that advances in the knowledge of the constructional use of steel are shared with
construction professionals.
Steel is, by some margin, the most popular framing material for multi-storey buildings in the UK
and has a long track record of delivering high quality and cost-effective structures with proven
sustainability benets. Steel can be naturally recycled and re-used continuously, and offers a
wide range of additional advantages such as health and safety benets, speed of construction,
quality, efciency, innovation, offsite manufacture and service and support.
The steel sector is renowned for keeping speciers abreast of the latest
advances in areas such as re protection of structural steelwork and
achieving buildings with the highest sustainability ratings. Recent
publications have provided detailed guidance on Fire Protection and
CE Marking and what it means for the construction sector. Guidance
is provided on all relevant technical developments as quickly as is
possible.
The sectors go to resource website www.steelconstruction.info -
is a free online encyclopedia for UK construction that shares
a wealth of up-to-date, reliable information with the construction
industry in one easily accessible place.
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COST 3
Cost Planning 4
Cost Planning Structural Steelwork - How to Get it Right 4
Steel Insight Series
Getting Started - Creating Initial Estimates 7
Why creating robust initial estimates is important
Initial estimates - overview
Initial estimates - a useful methodology
What factors can affect initial estimates?
Building function and facilities
Location and site constraints
Market conditions
Analysing Options During Concept Design 12
Analysing Options During Design Development 13
Methodology during design development
Types of steel frame
The design of the frame
Quantifying the frames weight
Section sizes and availability
Connections and ttings
Erection costs of the frame
Fire protection
Other elements
Methodology for Costing Specialist Systems 19
Examples of specialist systems
Summary 20
Cost Tables 21
Cost Comparison 23
Introduction 24

Building 1 - A Typical Business Park Ofce Building 25
Programme Comparison 26
Logistics and Buildability 28
Cost Comparison 29
Key Costs per m
2
GIFA 29
Summary 30
Building 2 - A Typical City Centre Ofce Building 31
Programme Comparison 33
Logistics and Buildability 35
Cost Comparison 36
Key Costs per m
2
GIFA 36
Embodied Carbon Comparison 37
Summary 39
Contents
4 COST
Cost Planning Structural Steelwork
How to Get it Right
The conguration and material of a buildings frame are usually chosen early in the design
process changing them later can have signicant programme and cost implications and a
consequential impact on the design of other major building elements.
It is therefore crucial to support informed decision-making with realistic cost information at the
early stages of the project.
Steel frames consistently capture a market share in the multi-storey non-residential building
market of around 70% and cost advantages are often cited as a key reason in selection of the
framing material. It is therefore very important to understand how to cost it accurately.
Cost Planning
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Steel Insitu Concrete Precast Concrete Load-bearing Masonry Timber
Market Share for Structural Frames in Multi-Storey Buildings
COST 5
This guide is designed to take building professionals through each stage of the cost planning
process and it sets out the primary considerations when cost planning during the initial design
stages, through option analysis and into detailed design to support informed decision-making
throughout the design process.
It is based on the Steel Insight articles prepared by Gardiner & Theobald, which are published
quarterly. Cost information in the hardcopy version of this publication is current at Q4 2013.
The cost data is updated each quarter and the latest gures are available on
www.steelconstruction.info. The electronic version of this document is also updated
quarterly with the latest cost data so it too is always up-to-date.
Setting elemental
target costs
Option
analysis
Costing
during
detailed
design
Design progression
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6 COST
Steel Insight Series
Published on a quarterly basis, Gardiner & Theobald have written 9 articles in this series thus
far. This guide covers content included in articles 1, 2, 3 and 9.
Following the methodology set out in this guide, more detailed guidance on the key
factors for specic sectors can be found in articles 4-8, covering multi-storey buildings and
buildings for the education, industrial, healthcare and commercial sectors, respectively. The
impact of topics primarily associated with each sector has also been included.
Article List
1. Pricing of structural steelwork
2. Cost planning through design stages
3. Comparative cost study - Multi-storey ofces
4. Cost planning of steel framed multi-storey buildings
5. Education buildings
6. Industrial buildings
7. Healthcare buildings
8. Multi-storey commercial buildings
9. Cost planning structural steelwork
Topics
Thermal mass (article 5)
Embodied carbon (article 6)
Vibration (article 7)
Fire protection and service integration (article 8)
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COST 7
Getting Started Creating Initial Estimates
Why creating robust initial estimates is important
In most projects, the decision on the structural frame material is made early in the design
process. From that point the frame is unlikely to change, as to do so could have signicant
programme implications and impact on the design of other major elements such as
foundations, nishes and cladding.
While cost is not the only reason project teams choose a particular frame type, it is a key
consideration, and realistic cost information is important at this early stage to support their
decision-making.
Getting it wrong can mean the incorrect frame solution may be chosen, which can result in
higher costs for both the frame and other related building elements. It can also have an effect
on buildability, logistics and the whole construction programme and, as the frame construction
is usually a critical path activity, any increase to the construction programme will have an
associated impact on project cost.
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8 COST
Initial estimates - overview
Initial cost estimates are
usually based on outline
architectural design
proposals, and the cost
consultant may therefore
only have a limited amount of information to work with.
As information is limited, measurement will generally only consider overall oor areas
and cost consultants typically use cost models, benchmarks and other historic data to
inform a rate per m
2
gross internal oor area (GIFA) for the frame and other building
elements.
At this point, it is important to understand how to adapt benchmark or standard
ranges to suit the project rather than arbitrarily using the highest or lowest rate of a
range.
As more information becomes available, different structural options can be
analysed and compared, including specialist systems to aid the developing
design. Rather than simply comparing the cost of the different frame
components, these cost analyses also need to consider the impact the frame
might have on other elements, such as substructure, cladding and M&E services installations to
enable a holistic comparison.
As the design develops further and more information becomes available, more detailed cost
planning can be undertaken as the cost consultant can quantify key components and test the
initial allowances against the actual building.
At this later stage, the cost estimating methodology for a structural steel frame shifts from
using a cost per m
2
of oor area, based on adjusted benchmark rates, to quantifying the steel
elements and pricing per tonne.
But when preparing cost estimates, it is also important to include allowances for other factors
that may not yet be quantiable, including allowances for connections and ttings, the
required re resistance period and re protection materials needed, and how the frame will be
constructed on-site.
Setting elemental
target costs
Option
analysis
Costing
during
detailed
design
Design progression
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COST 9
Initial estimates a useful methodology
The tools for a cost consultant during the early design stages of any project are cost models,
benchmarks and historic cost data.
At this stage, estimated costs will be expressed elementally as a rate per m
2
GIFA.
Typical cost ranges for different frame types can be developed through cost models, but a
number of key factors will change from project to project and their impact on the cost of the
frame will therefore vary between projects.
It is important to not just use the highest rate of a standard range,
instead a good understanding of the project and how the standard
ranges should be adapted to suit the project specic factors is required.
To do this most effectively, the cost consultant needs to ask
relevant questions of the design team to gain an understanding
of the projects cost drivers for the frame and to approach
steelwork contractors for current and future market prices, as
this provides a more accurate estimating base than relying
on indices to adjust benchmark or historic rates.
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10 COST
What factors can affect initial estimates?
They can include:
Building function and facilities
Location and site constraints
Market conditions
Procurement route
Building function and facilities
The proposed usage of a building inuences the design of the frame in many ways, including
the design loadings, grid, oor-to-oor heights and whether clear spans are required.
This means the overall weight of frame material varies from building to building. For instance,
a simple low eaves industrial portal framed building might have a steel frame weight (or
intensity) of 40kg/m
2
GIFA, while the frame for a multi-storey ofce with long spans to
minimise internal columns may weigh more than twice that. Using the same cost range for
both buildings would be misleading and either signicantly underestimate or overestimate
the cost, depending on the steel intensity chosen.
A cost consultant therefore needs an understanding of what the building will be used
for, and what the oor-to-oor height will be a GIFA rate is based on the oor area,
and will not account for signicant variances in oor-to-oor heights from those used
in standard cost models. This enables the most appropriate standard cost range to be
selected as the base for the initial frame elemental target cost.
While standard cost ranges based on previous project data are useful tools, it is still crucial to
nd out as much about the facilities and function of the building as possible. For instance, an
open plan ofce will require fewer columns, requiring longer spanning beams and heavier steel
sections, which can increase the overall weight of the frame, (and its cost) while an out-of-town
business park type ofce may have a shorter and more regular grid and a lower overall cost.
Projects with a range of different spaces such as atriums and boardrooms will have different
grid and loading requirements to a building with a repetitive, regular grid and loadings, which
will also impact on overall frame weight and cost.
The consultant may also need to consider whether there are any specialist spaces with special
acoustic or vibration control requirements, such as those needed in hospital operating theatres, as
this also impacts on the frame design and is unlikely to be contained within standard cost ranges.
Consulting with the architect and structural engineer can help conrm the design assumptions
and principles used when determining the rate to be included in early estimates for the
structural frame.
Setting elemental
target costs
Option
analysis
Costing
during
detailed
design
Design progression
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COST 11
Location and site constraints
The location of the project and site conditions have a major impact on the potential
costs.
The most commonly used guide to cost indices for different locations is the
Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) from the Royal Institute of Chartered
Surveyors. It is important to adjust the rate for the proposed location to make
sure that the different local market conditions are taken into account using a
City of London benchmarked rate (BCIS index 120) for a new project in Cardiff
(BCIS index 98) would signicantly affect the accuracy of the estimate.
The site itself also has a direct impact on the proposed buildings design and cost in many ways.
For instance, it may affect the oor plate conguration, building height and the regularity of the
structural grid.
A regular, repeating grid is the most cost efcient option, and if non-standard sections or a
wide range of different sections and connections are needed, the project will be more complex
and therefore more expensive as fabrication costs will be higher.
Some buildings have specialised requirements, such as retaining a historic faade, close
neighbours or poor ground conditions to overcome and if these require complex structural
solutions such as transfer structures and heavy fabricated beams, the bespoke fabrication
costs will push up the overall cost and may also add to installation time and cost.
Building height and site footprint will also cause variations in costs. For example, a
multi-storey building with small oor plates will have a heavier steel frame per m
2
GIFA
than a low rise building with larger oor plates of the same overall area.
The cost consultant should also take note of logistics and access as this affects the
cost of erecting the steel frame. Even where two buildings have a similar frame
design, costs will differ if one is in a congested city centre while the other is in
an easy-access business park as the logistics and access arrangements will vary
signicantly.
Working in built-up areas may also mean restrictions to working hours, noise,
deliveries, access and use of cranes. These all inuence installation costs and can increase
the construction programme with associated expense to the project.
Market conditions
Cost consultants should also consult with the supply chain to make sure their estimate reects
the supply chains detailed knowledge of order books and material prices, now and in the
immediate future.
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12 COST
After the initial construction
budget has been developed
and the design progresses
into the concept design
stages, it is good practice to
review a number of alternative structural solutions for both frame and oors.
The different options can include reinforced insitu concrete, post-tensioned concrete, precast
concrete, timber and structural steelwork and a number of sub options for each type of material
including different oor types. Often the number of options to consider can be between ve
and 10, although it is good practice to reject options if initial considerations prove that they
are unworkable or will be uneconomical, for example larger spans using reinforced insitu
concrete that will result in prohibitively large members.
The key at this stage is to set out the cost of the alternative frame and oor solutions
proposed based on a holistic review of not only the structural elements but the impact of
each option on other building elements and programme too.
The different frame options can impact on the cost of the foundations due to differing
frame weights and congurations, on cladding costs due to the differing requirements
for horizontal structural zones and therefore overall building height and on services
installations due to differing services zones, routes and strategies.
Once comparative costings for the alternative options are completed, it is common to convert
the costs back to a cost per m
2
GIFA so that they can be more readily compared with the
original elemental budget allowance, and between the alternative solutions.
As the options analysis is concluded the impact on programme should also be
considered, which could affect preliminaries costs, the impact on a requirement to hand
over the building by a certain date and whether the favoured option is consistent with
the design intent for the building.
Analysing Options During Concept Design
Setting elemental
target costs
Option
analysis
Costing
during
detailed
design
Design progression
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COST 13
Analysing Options During Design Development
Initial elemental cost
estimates enable a target
budget for the frame to
be developed and option
analyses during concept
design enable the project team to decide on the key elements of the building design, including
frame material and conguration.
Once those have been agreed, the details of the design can be developed and putting a realistic
costing on all options for major elements in the building is important so correct choices can be
made. For the steel frame, this can include the consideration of specialist systems
to optimise oor-to-ceiling heights or integrate services and comparisons of
possible re protection methods for the structure.
As the design progresses, detailed information on the proposed frame becomes
available from the structural engineer drawings showing the frame conguration,
cores and shear walls, columns and beams, section sizes and types, oor construction
types and the strategy for integrating mechanical and electrical services.
As it becomes possible to quantify these elements within the building and allocate rates
to the measured items, the methodology of costing the structural steel frame changes.
Instead of being costed by using a rate per m
2
GIFA, the individual steel framing elements
are measured and a rate per tonne applied.
Methodology during design development
Once the project progresses into the detailed design stage, cost estimates of structural
steelwork break the design down into individual components columns, beams, special
sections etc. Connections and re protection are usually then considered separately.
Cost consultants need to make sure they understand each of the design drivers for each
element of the structural frame in order to arrive at the most appropriate rate per tonne to
apply to each of the structural elements.
The checklist needs to include:
Types of steel frame The design of the frame
Quantifying the weight of the frame Section sizes and availability
Connections and ttings Erection costs of the frame
Fire protection Other elements
Setting elemental
target costs
Option
analysis
Costing
during
detailed
design
Design progression

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14 COST
Types of steel frame
Each building and site has individual
requirements, and there are many choices
for the structural products used to form the
steel frame.
When producing cost estimates while the design is developing, information should be sought
on the proposed structural products and systems along with any related considerations that
could inuence the choice, such as the strategy for integrating services.
The most widely used structural steel products are rolled I-sections, known as universal
beams (Tata Steel - Advance UKBs), and universal columns (Tata Steel - Advance UKCs). Other
commonly used products are structural hollow sections (Tata Steel Celsius and Tata Steel Hybox),
which can be square (SHS), circular (CHS) or rectangular (RHS).
Fabricated plate girders are used to support heavy loads or span long distances beyond the
capability of the largest standard rolled I-sections, for example in bridges. They are usually
I-sections made up of plates welded together to form the anges and web.
For very long spans, built-up trusses comprising horizontal, vertical and diagonal members are
often used to achieve the most economical solution, e.g. in the roof structures of very large
industrial buildings.
Cost consultants should receive information on which member types are proposed in the
design. Because different products have different fabrication and erection requirements, the
rates per tonne differ.
The specic building conguration proposed can also affect the volume of steel used. For
instance shallower oors can be created using UKCs or Tata Steels Slimdek system. This could
double the weight of steel needed compared with a more traditional approach with deeper
oors using UKBs, but will decrease the height of the building, which may lead to signicant
cost savings for the cladding. Fire protection costs will also be reduced due to the inherently
greater re resistance of heavier steel sections.
The design of the frame
In designing a frame, primary column locations are usually determined by the architectural
layouts, which then determines where the other primary members go.
The size and weight of the steel members is determined by:
Dead load - the buildings own weight
Live load - loads imposed on the building during its use, which vary for different functions
Wind load this loading will vary depending on the location of the building
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COST 15
Quantifying the frames weight
When the primary and secondary members have been sized and selected, the cost consultant
will measure the length of each structural member and multiply it by the relevant weight
(in kg/m) to give the total weight of the frame elements.
The weight per metre should be provided by the structural engineer, however for certain
sections it may not be apparent so reference to standard steel section property tables will be
necessary e.g. angles, channels and hollow sections.
The cost of each element of the structural frame
is then calculated by applying a rate per tonne to
each of the different components, then totalling
them. This rate includes all elements of the cost
of the section the raw material, detailing,
fabrication, transportation and erection.
It is often assumed that a frame with the
minimum tonnage will be the cheapest. As the
chart shows, while raw materials typically account
for 30-40% of the total frame cost, fabrication
costs also account for the same proportion.
As well as considering the overall weight of the frame, it is also therefore important to
understand the components of that frame. The rate per tonne for more complex frame designs
is likely to be higher than for a standard frame, because non-standard sections, complex
connections or specialist systems have higher fabrication and steelwork contractor design
requirements. Indeed, steelwork contractors costs are driven just as much by the man hours
required to fabricate the frame as by the amount of material they use.
Section sizes and availability
Availability can also make a big difference to the potential cost of proposed products for a
structural frame.
A product that looks lighter or more cost-effective on paper may in fact be more expensive than
a heavier alternative section if it has limited availability and it may delay the programme if
sufcient quantities cannot be sourced in time.
Popular sections may be manufactured three or four times more often than less common sections,
and sometimes it is more cost-effective to use heavier options if they are more readily available.
A cost consultant should talk to a steelwork contractor early in the process to identify any
products or systems where availability may be an issue, so this can be fed back to the design
team or incorporated in the cost estimates through adjusted allowances.
Proportional factors of total frame cost
Fire
protection
10-15%
Erection
10-15%
Fabrication
30-40%
Raw Material
30-40%
Steelwork Design 2% Transport 1%
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16 COST
Connections and ttings
When the primary and secondary
members have been designed, quantied
and costed, the consultant needs to
consider allowances for those items that
cannot yet be quantied, including connections and ttings.
A separate allowance usually a percentage - is generally included for additional plates
and fabrication at column bases, beam to beam and beam to column connections, bracing
connections, column splices and haunches etc.
In a typical multi-storey building, ttings and connections can make up 5-10% of the weight
of the frame, but can account for a higher proportion of the total frame cost because the
cost of connections is largely related to their complexity as well as their weight.
The most cost-effective approach has a high level of standardisation and repetition to take
advantage of reduced material costs, quicker and cheaper fabrication and ready availability.
For complex structures standard connections cannot always be used and in these cases cost
allowances will need to be higher.
Site conditions can also increase the proportion of the connection cost of the total frame -
for example, if spliced beams are required to enable steel structures to be erected in existing
buildings.
The key is to achieve the best balance between material cost and the cost of fabricating the
connections. Initial designs may try to reduce costs by using the lightest columns, but this may
mean extra welded stiffeners are needed, adding cost and weight to the design. Small increases
in the beam or column weights may mean the stiffeners can be omitted, reducing fabrication
costs and therefore the total cost of the frame.
Erection costs of the frame
Erection of the steel frame typically accounts for around 10-15% of the total frame cost, so
the cost consultant should always consider whether the building or site will have features that
could affect the erection cost.
The amount of repetition, piece count, type of connections and site access can all have a
signicant impact on the cost of constructing the frame and the construction programme.
For example, a long span layout may weigh more, but it will be erected faster than a short
span frame because it has fewer beams and columns.
Similarly, repetitive structures not only bring cost savings during fabrication - a repetitive
grid with standard components also reduces construction time.
Setting elemental
target costs
Option
analysis
Costing
during
detailed
design
Design progression
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COST 17
Fire protection
Fire protection typically accounts for around 10-15% of the steel frame cost in commercial
multi-storey buildings, so the re resistance of the structure and the choice of re protection
materials are a key consideration.
The procedure for determining re protection is covered in the recent publication Steel
Construction: Fire Protection that can be downloaded from www.steelconstruction.info.
As with all construction materials, when temperatures increase in a re, steel begins to lose its
strength. Fire protection ensures that the structure meets the required re resistance period to
allow occupants to safely evacuate the building.
Fire resistance periods for buildings are expressed in terms of the length of time the structure
must remain structurally sound in a re and they depend on the type of building, its occupancy
and the size of the steel members.
It can be more economical to use slightly heavier structural members, which require less re
protection than lighter sections because of the increased thickness of the steel. This may allow
the re resistance period to be achieved with less re protection material and a reduced overall
cost.
For large or complex projects, a specialist re engineered approach may give the most economic
solution. This considers where the actual risks in re are, rather than relying on the simpler
prescriptive one size ts all guidance from the Approved Documents. This approach can lead
to reduced re ratings for some elements of the structure and lower costs of re protection,
without compromising safety.
When the re resistance period for the project has been established, the selection of the
appropriate re protection materials is also important different methods have signicant
cost differences. It may be useful to seek advice from the supply chain before the design is
nalised.
A mix of different re protection methods may often be used on a project, so allowances for re
protection should be discussed with both the structural engineer and architect as the method
adopted will depend on both performance and aesthetic requirements.
There are a number of re protection materials available, including:
Intumescent coatings - now the predominant method for re protection in the UK, these are
thin lm coatings that swell when heated to insulate the steel. Less than 1mm thick provides
60 minutes re resistance, and up to 90 minutes resistance can be achieved at a competitive
cost. Up to 120 minutes is available at a premium.
Boards - often used where the structure will be visible, such as to exposed columns. They
provide a clean, boxed appearance and can be pre-nished or suitable for decoration. They
can be relatively expensive and slower to apply than alternatives.
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18 COST
Cementitious sprays these have now
almost disappeared from the UK re
protection market. The nish is not
considered visually appealing and, as
spraying is a wet trade, it can require surrounding areas to be sealed off, increasing the time
on-site.
Concrete - Concrete encasement was the most common form of re protection for structural
steelwork until the late 1970s, but the time, cost and impact on the usable space of the
building means it is seldom used today. It may still be used where resistance to impact is
important, such as in some car parks and industrial buildings. Using concrete to ll structural
hollow sections is sometimes used to provide the necessary re resistance and increase the
sections load carrying capacity.
Other elements
Cost consultants also need to include separate cost allowances for preparation and coating
works (primers, corrosion protection etc.) as well as connections to other structures.
80%
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1992 1997 2001 2005 2010 2012
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Market share of Fire Protection Systems
Setting elemental
target costs
Option
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Costing
during
detailed
design
Design progression
80%
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COST 19
Methodology for Costing Specialist Systems
Sometimes, a number of structural solutions can be adopted, or the structural frame may
need to address a specic design requirement such as minimised structural oor zones or
integration of services. In these cases, it is common to evaluate the cost benets of using a
more specialist system such as shallow oor construction or cellular beams.
When preparing these costings, it is crucial to consider the impact the use of the specialist
system could have on the cost of the other building elements and not to limit the comparison to
the structural frame costs in isolation.
Some elements of specialist systems may mean they add cost to the structural frame,
particularly as they are often more complex and procured from more limited sources. However,
because they can create benets such as a quicker programme, or enable shallower oors
which reduce cladding costs, the overall cost for the building can be lower than using an
alternative measure to achieve the same design objective.
The supply chain can provide valuable information on the availability and cost of products
and specialist systems, feedback on the complexity of the proposed structure and its
connections and current lead times.
Examples of specialist systems
Where long spans are needed, oor beams often need to be deep to provide the
necessary stiffness. This requires heavier steel sections and can signicantly increase
the structural oor zone.
One solution typically adopted for multi-storey commercial buildings is to use lighter
sections fabricated from steel plates or rolled sections to form cellular beams with pre-
formed openings.
The depth of these sections is exible to suit design requirements, and the majority of services
can be easily routed through the openings so they are contained within the structural zone,
therefore reducing the oor-to-oor height compared to using UKBs.
A cellular beam costs more per tonne than a standard rolled section, but it can reduce total
frame weight by 30% over longer spans. This has an impact on substructure, and by creating
a shallower oor and services zone the overall height of the building can be reduced to save
cladding costs.
In shallow oors, Slimdek uses a rolled asymmetric beam that is contained within the oor slab
to enable a at soft. Shallow oors can also allow oor-to-ceiling heights to be maximised
without affecting the height of the building.
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20 COST
Summary
Choosing the frame material
and conguration of a
project is a key early design
decision, usually based on
initial outline information
and comparative budget costings.
Realistic cost information is vital in supporting decision-making even in the earliest stages
changing the frame type later can have a severe impact on the programme implications and
design of other major building elements.
Cost models and benchmarks are key tools at these early stages. Cost consultants need to
develop a thorough understanding of both the project and the historic cost data used so they
can adapt standard cost ranges to suit the projects specic factors.
This should involve considering a number of key cost drivers including building function,
sector, location and site constraints, as well as current market conditions and the proposed
procurement route.
When undertaking cost analyses of alternative structural options or systems, it is important not
just to review frame costs in isolation. The impact that frame choice has on related building
elements, such as substructure, cladding and M&E installations, must also be accounted for in
comparative costings.
Once the frame type has been selected and the design developed, the initial budget will be
tested against the emerging design of the actual building through a quantication of the key
components.
At this stage, the key cost drivers considered during early estimates, such as function and
site constraints, will be reected in the designs used for cost planning. It is also important to
consider factors such as section sizes and availability, connections, re protection requirements
and construction methodology to ensure that an appropriate rate per tonne is selected.
Consideration of these key factors throughout the design stages along with early consultation
with the supply chain can help make sure that realistic costing of the steel frame and associated
elements is maintained and improved as the design develops.
Setting elemental
target costs
Option
analysis
Costing
during
detailed
design
Design progression
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COST 21
As Figure 1 shows, over the last quarter, the indices for cement and precast concrete have
remained stable, while both concrete reinforcing bar and structural steel have marginally
decreased (by 0.97% and 0.95% respectively) and concrete prices have increased 1.93%
over the quarter. Looking across the last six months, cement and structural steel have been
largely constant, while concrete and precast concrete have both seen increases of c.1.6%,
largely related to increases in aggregates costs, while concrete reinforcing bar material
price has seen a decrease of 3.6%.
The continued general stability in the material prices of these frame materials, combined with
continued market pressures in many regions of the UK, has also been reected in tender prices;
consequently, the structural steel frame cost table has remained constant (Table 1).
Looking across UK construction as a whole, signs of recovery are becoming more visible, with
construction output volumes increasing by 2% in the year to July 2013, predominantly due to a
rise in new work (5.8%) in contrast to a 3.6% fall in repairs and maintenance during the same
period.
Across the UK both public and private new housing showed strong growth, recording their
highest volume since Q4 2007.
Further condence in economic growth, most notably in London, is reected in Gardiner &
Theobalds 4th Quarter 2013 Tender Price Annual Percentage Change forecast, which forecasts
tenders will increase by over 10% in the next three years in London and the South East.
Average tender rates across the UK are forecast to increase by 2.5% for 2014, with the regional
picture for 2014 remaining mixed but with all areas forecast to see a year-on-year increase in
Cost Tables
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Figure 1: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Construction Cost indices (August 2013)
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22 COST
tender pricing, with Greater London and the South East at 3% and Wales and Scotland at 1.5%.
Tender ination on average across the UK for 2013 is forecast to be 0.5%, with many regions
remaining at while Greater London and the South East experience some recovery. This mixed
picture would suggest that tender pricing looks set to be relatively constant on average for
the remainder of the year and it is therefore unlikely that upwards pressure on steel prices
will generally be reected in tender returns as tender pricing strategy will remain key to
securing work.
The forecasts for 2014 and 2015 do, however, show strong signs of recovery, particularly in
London and the South East and consideration should therefore be given to the inclusion of
ination allowances for estimates for projects that are expected to be tendered next year and
beyond.
Table 1: Benchmark rates at Q4 2013 on GIFA basis
Type BCIS Index 100 City of London
Frame
Low rise, short spans, repetitive grid/sections, easy-access (Building 1) 75-100/m
2
90-120/m
2
High rise, long spans, easy-access, repetitive grid (Building 2) 125-150/m
2
140-170/m
2
High rise, long spans, complex access, irregular grid, complex elements 145-170/m
2
165-190/m
2
Floor
Metal decking and lightweight concrete topping 40-58/m
2
45-65/m
2
Precast concrete oor and topping 45-60/m
2
50-70/m
2
Fire protection (60 min resistance) 7-14/m
2
8-16/m
2
Portal frames
Low eaves (6-8m) 45-65/m
2
55-75/m
2
High eaves (10-13m) 55-75/m
2
65-90/m
2
Table 2: BCIS rates for different locations
Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index
City of London 120 Leeds 93 Birmingham 100 Glasgow 108 Liverpool 92
Nottingham 93 Newcastle 89 Manchester 96 Belfast 66 Cardiff 98
To use the table
a) identify which frame type most closely relates to the proposed project
b) select and add the preferred oor type
c) add re protection if required.
As highlighted, before using such standard ranges it is important to conrm the anticipated frame weight and
variables such as the oor-to-oor heights with the design team to determine whether they are above or below the
average and to adjust the rate used accordingly.
Similarly, all of the other key cost drivers of complexity, site conditions, location, function, logistics, programme and
procurement strategy should be considered in turn before selecting the rate to be used.
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COST 23
STEEL
CONSTRUCTION
Cost Comparison
24 COST
Introduction
The study compares two typical ofce buildings - a business park ofce (Building 1) and a city
centre ofce (Building 2) - across a number of aspects for different structural solutions.
It aims to provide a useful comparison for reference when considering the options available
during the design and selection of a structural frame, and builds on previous comparisons by
reecting changes in construction techniques and structural frame solutions.
Decisions on frame material and conguration are based on a number of factors - not just cost
so the study also considered the programme and buildability of each option, and included
embodied carbon impacts for Building 2.
Three independent expert teams scoped and delivered the cost comparison.
Gardiner & Theobald
provided cost information for each frame option
Peter Brett Associates
identied and designed representative framing solutions, and carried out the embodied carbon
assessment
Mace Group
considered buildability, logistics and programme
Cost Comparison
COST 25
Building: A rectangular three-storey business park ofce
Location: Out-of-town business park
Gross internal area: 3,200m
2
Floor-to-ceiling height: 2.8m
Floor plate width: 18m
External envelope: Brick outer skin supported by a steel angle off the slab edge with an
inner leaf of cold-rolled metal studwork built directly off the slab
Windows: 35% of faade
Ventilation: Mixed mode
Detail: One central core, 2nr lifts, one external metal escape stair. Floor-to-
oor heights include for a 150mm ceiling and lighting zone and a
150mm raised oor zone

Peter Brett Associates (PBA) established the structural grid at 7.5m x 9m, based on an optimum
grid for a typical business park ofce not dictated by site constraints. Four frame types were
considered:
1) Steel composite beams and composite slab
2) Steel frame and precast concrete slabs
3) Reinforced concrete at slab
4) Insitu concrete frame with post-tensioned slab
For all options the foundations were designed as unreinforced mass concrete pads. The core
construction is steelwork cross-braced framing with a medium density blockwork inll for the
steel options and concrete shear walls for the concrete options.
For both steel options, the 30 minute re resistance is provided by intumescent coating to
beams and bracing members and boarding to columns. For the concrete options, the internal
columns are plastered and painted for aesthetic purposes.
Building 1 -
A Typical Business Park Ofce Building
26 COST
All options include a part-open and part enclosed roof plant area and lift motor room. The two
steel framed options have a lightweight steel deck roof, while the concrete options continue the
concrete slab construction of the lower oors.
The oor-to-oor heights for the steel framed options include an 800mm service zone below
the metal deck (300mm clear beneath the beams) and the concrete options allow for a 600mm
services zone beneath the slab.
Programme Comparison
While cost is a key driver in decision-making when comparing alternative frame materials and
congurations, programme and buildability impacts are should also be considered when selecting
the frame material.
Mace undertook the programming analysis for each option (see Figures 2 to 5) and to ensure a
robust comparison, included preceding and succeeding trades to the frame elements.
The programme durations for construction of the ground oor slab (two weeks four days),
external faade (15 weeks) and internal works to a CAT A nish (18 weeks per oor) were
assumed to be the same for each option.
The study assumes the internal t out starts on the ground oor and progresses up the building
with three weeks between the start of the next oor - an overall duration of 24 weeks for each
option.
The substructure duration was also considered in detail for each option. Both steel options
required nine weeks due to the similar quantity of work, but to reect the higher volume of
groundworks, the reinforced concrete at slab required 10 weeks three days and the post-
tensioned option ten weeks.
The programmes for the frame and upper oor construction are similar for both steel options.
The precast slab requires slightly larger foundations than the composite option, but this is
largely offset by the reduced number of steel members in the precast option.
It is quicker to lay steel decking for the steel composite option because multiple numbers
of decks can be loaded out at any time while the precast planks are limited to one per lift.
However, this is offset by the time needed to stud weld each of the decks, which is slower than
grout lling between precast planks. Both also then require a concrete topping.
Ultimately, the advantages and disadvantages of each steel option largely cancel each other out,
providing very similar programme periods for both the frame and overall construction. The steel
composite option, though, provides the quickest frame and overall duration by one week, due
to the speed of laying and distributing the steel decks.
COST 27
Figure 2: Building 1 - Steel composite beams and slab frame programme
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Steel Composite
Groundworks and Slab
Steel Frame and Decks
Slab Pours
Roof Works
External Faade
Internal Works
45.4
9
6
1.3
4.4
15
24
Figure 3: Building 1 - Steel composite beams and precast concrete slab frame programme
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Steel + Precast Slabs
Groundworks and Slab
Frame + PC Decks
Slab Pours
Roof Works
External Faade
Internal Works
46.6
9
6.6
1.1
4.4
15
24
Figure 4: Building 1 - Reinforced concrete at slab frame programme
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Reinforced Concrete
Groundworks and Slab
Concrete Frame and Slabs
Roof Works
External Faade
Internal Works
48.6
10.4
8.6
4.4
15
24
Figure 5: Building 1 - Reinforced concrete frame and PT concrete at slab frame programme
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
PT Concrete Flat Slab
Groundworks and Slab
Concrete Frame and Slabs
Roof Works
External Faade
Internal Works
48.1
10
8.3
4.4
15
24
28 COST
The programmes for the frame and upper oor construction are also similar for both concrete
options, as the processes involved in constructing the structure are the same. The main variant
is within the slab construction, with the post-tensioned option providing a slightly quicker
duration because there is less reinforcement to place. It is also quicker to lay foundations for
the post-tensioned option as the structure is lighter so the extent of excavation and concrete
pouring to the foundations is less.
Of all four options, the steel composite frame provides the fastest method of frame construction
and overall programme for Building 1.
Logistics and Buildability
Mace also undertook a logistics analysis for the frame options, and this has been reected in
total building costs through the preliminaries analysis.
For both steel options construction is phased, with the excavation, foundations, drainage and
service ducts, ground oor slab and erection of the steel frame and steel or precast decks
occurring in four phases.
A single mobile crane (c. 50t) is used for material distribution and loading as full perimeter
access to the building is available, and the placing of concrete or structural screed to oors
would use a concrete pump.
For both concrete options construction occurs in two zones, each with three phases. The
sequence includes the excavation, concrete foundations, drainage and service ducts, ground
oor slab, reinforced concrete columns, formwork and propping for slabs, reinforcement or PT
strands and placing of insitu concrete slabs using a concrete pump starting in zone 1 before
zone 2.
A tower crane located centrally on the building perimeter is assumed to be the most productive
means of material distribution because it can distribute to both construction zones. The cost of
the tower crane base has been included in the preliminaries costs, but there may be oversailing
issues with a saddle jib crane.
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%diference from lowest +3% +7% +6%
45.4
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48.6
48.1
Programme comparison
COST 29
Cost Comparison
Gardiner & Theobald provided the costs for the study based on market testing and recently
tendered projects. The costs in Table 3 are all at Q4 2013 prices, and exclude fees, VAT, project
contingency and FF&E/AV allowances etc.
They are based on construction in the City of London to allow direct comparison with
Building 2, but they can be adjusted for different locations using BCIS location factors (Table 4).
The study recognises the importance of considering all elements of the total building cost,
not just the cost of the structure, as some elements are affected more by the choice of
structural frame than others.
The whole building cost rather than structural frame cost alone was therefore considered with
the substructure, roof and external cladding costs assessed individually for each option.
Key Costs per m
2
GIFA
The impact of the construction programme for each option has been considered in the total
building costs the steel options benet from lower preliminaries costs because of their shorter
construction programmes.
The steel composite beam and slab option has both the lowest frame and upper oors cost and
lowest total building cost. This option also has the lowest substructure costs of all frame options
due to the lighter frame weight and the lowest roof cost due to the lightweight steel roof deck.
The structural zone and oor-to-oor height, while not the lowest of all the options, does not
raise cladding costs compared to the other options, as only the concrete post-tensioned at slab
option has a notably lower oor-to-oor height and reduced area of cladding.
As described in the Cost Tables section, the continued general stability in the material prices of
frame materials combined with continued market pressures in many regions of the UK, has also
been reected in tender prices; consequently, the cost model table for Building 1 has remained
constant.
Table 3: Building 1 rates at Q4 2013 on GIFA basis (City of London BCIS Location)
Steel composite Steel + Precast
Concrete Slabs
Reinforced
Concrete Flat Slab
Post-tensioned
Concrete Flat Slab
Substructure 52/m
2
55/m
2
67/m
2
62/m
2

Frame and Upper Floors 140/m
2
151/m
2
153/m
2
150/m
2

Total Building 1535/m
2
1561/m
2
1628/m
2
1610/m
2

Table 4: BCIS rates for different locations
Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index
City of London 120 Leeds 93 Birmingham 100 Glasgow 108 Liverpool 92
Nottingham 93 Newcastle 89 Manchester 96 Belfast 66 Cardiff 98
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Frame and oor comparison
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30 COST
As Table 3 shows, the steel composite beam and slab option remains the most competitive for
Building 1, with both the lowest frame and upper oors cost and lowest total building cost.
Conversely, the reinforced concrete at slab option has both the highest frame and upper oors
cost and highest overall building cost. The frame and oors cost is c. 10% higher than the
steel composite and the total building cost is around 6% higher. This option has the highest
substructure costs because of the heavier frame weight, the highest roof costs and the highest
preliminaries costs due to the longest programme.
A review of the steel and precast concrete slab and post-tensioned at slab concrete options
also highlights the importance of considering total building cost when selecting the structural
frame material during design.
The post-tensioned option has a marginally lower frame and oor cost than the steel and
precast option (150/m
2
compared to 151/m
2
), but on a total building basis, the steel and
precast slab option has a lower cost (1,561/m
2
compared to 1,610m
2
). This is due to a lower
roof cost and lower preliminaries resulting from the shorter programme.
So on comparison of all four options, the steel composite beam and slab frame has the lowest
frame and oor and overall building cost. This is followed by the steel and precast concrete
oor slab option, with the two concrete options higher.
Summary
The cost and programme analysis of all four frame options for Building 1 shows the steel
composite beam and oor option has both the lowest cost and the shortest programme,
followed by the steel and precast concrete oor slab option.
The frame and oor cost for the steel framed options are c. 10% lower than for concrete and
the overall building cost is up to 6% lower than for concrete.
Even taking an average of the two steel options and an average of the two concrete options,
the steel option costs are over 4% lower for both frame cost and total building cost.
In addition, both steel framed options can also be constructed in a shorter time frame than for
the concrete buildings - on average over 5% quicker.
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52
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Substructure comparison
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1535
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Total building comparison
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COST 31
Building: An eight-storey L-shaped city centre ofce
Gross internal area: 16,500m
2
Floor-to-ceiling height: 3.0m
External envelope: Unitised curtain wall system in storey-height panels 1.5m wide with
feature ns/solar control. Solid areas are lined with cold-rolled metal
studwork, insulation and plasterboard.
Ventilation: Four pipe fan coil air conditioning without natural ventilation
Detail: Double height reception area, central core and internal secondary
escape stair

PBA established the structural grid at 7.5m x 15m based on experience of similar city centre
schemes, and this was used for both of the following frame options:
1) Cellular composite beams and composite slab
2) Post-tensioned band beams and slab, insitu columns.
Both options use CFA piles, with three to four piles per column pile cap. The core construction
is steel cross-braced framing with a medium-density blockwork inll for the steel option and
concrete shear walls for the concrete option.
Building 2
A Typical City Centre Ofce Building
32 COST
Buildings of this type normally include a basement, but for continuity between the options,
the buildings in the study are assumed to start from ground oor with no impact from any
basement construction considered.
The 60 minute re resistance is provided to the steel framed option through intumescent
coating to beams and bracing members and boarding to columns, while the internal columns of
the concrete option are plastered and painted for aesthetic reasons.
Allowances have been made in both options for a part-open and part enclosed roof plant area
and lift motor room. The plant area is a fabricated steelwork portal frame with composite metal
panel cladding and the roof decks for both options continue the oor construction of the lower
oors.
The overall oor-to-oor height for the steel option is 4.18m, which includes a 700mm zone for
services distribution through the beams with 400mm diameter holes allowed at 600mm centres.
The overall oor-to-oor height for the concrete option is 4.375m, which includes a 475mm
clear zone below the concrete band beams for services distribution, as recommended by the
Concrete Centre.
Both options also include allowances within the oor-to-oor heights for a 150mm ceiling and
lighting zone and a 200mm raised oor zone.
COSTS 33
Programme Comparison
Maces programming analysis for Building 2 looks at both the frame durations and the whole
building construction durations.
The substructure works start with the CFA piling, followed by excavation for the pile caps and
lift pits. For the steel option, the structural frame is erected on a oor-by-oor basis with the
steel decking installation, stud welding and concrete oor toppings following on.
For the concrete option, the columns and walls progress as soon as the ground oor slab is
cast, and each oor slab is constructed in two pours, with the concrete shear walls completed
progressively with each oor.
The durations for construction of the ground oor slab (four weeks three days), external faade
(16 weeks) and internal works to a CAT A nish (21 weeks per oor) were assumed to be the
same for each option.
The internal t out starts on the ground oor and progresses up the building, with a two week
lag to the start of the next oor, giving an overall duration of 39 weeks two days for each
option.
34 COST
While the substructure and ground slab construction have the same programme period
- 20 weeks - for each option, the steel frame has a signicantly shorter frame and oor
construction (16 weeks compared to 28 weeks for the concrete option), so the internal t out
can start earlier.
This means the cellular steel option provides a signicantly shorter frame construction and
overall programme for Building 2 compared to the post-tensioned concrete option, with a
saving of 12 weeks for the frame and eight weeks across the programme.
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Programme comparison
Figure 6: Building 2 - Steel composite beams and slab frame programme
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
CellularSteel Composite
Groundworks and Slab
Steel Frame and Decks
Slab Pours
Roof Works
External Faade
Internal Works
72.4
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16.4
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39.2
Figure 7: Building 2 - Post T band beam frame programme
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
PT Concrete Band beam
Groundworks and Slab
Concrete Frame and Decks
Roof Works
External Faade
Internal Works
80.3
20.4
28.3
5
16
39.3
COST 35
Logistics and Buildability
The logistics for both the cellular steel and post-tensioned concrete options are similar, with
the substructure works progressing from the main core pile caps working out in two directions
for both options.
Both frames use a lufng jib tower crane of around 50m radius situated outside the building
footprint, used for distribution of the steel frame and oor decking for the steel option and for
reinforcement and formwork distribution for the concrete option. The lufng jib also helps to
overcome the oversailing issues common in city centre locations.
The superstructure works for the concrete option progress in two phases with two or three
pours required for the oor slabs.
Pumps would be used to place the oor slab concrete for the post-tensioned option and for the
lightweight concrete topping for the steel option. Both options use an external hoist for t out
material vertical distribution.
36 COST
Cost Comparison
The Building 2 cost study also considered whole building cost alongside frame and oor costs,
with the substructure, roof and external envelope reviewed in detail, while basement costs were
excluded from the study.
As the frame material choice also impacts on programme, the results of the Mace programme
and logistics analysis were also included when determining preliminaries costs.
All costs in Table 5 are at Q4 2013 prices and are based on construction in City of London.
Key Costs per m
2
GIFA
The continued general stability in the material prices of these frame materials combined with
continued market pressures in many regions of the UK, has also been reected in tender prices;
consequently, the cost model table for Building 2 has also remained constant.
Table 5: Building 2 rates at Q4 2013 on GIFA basis (City of London BCIS Location)
Steel Cellular Composite Post-tensioned Concrete Band Beam
and Flat Slab
Substructure 56/m
2
60/m
2

Frame and Upper Floors 194/m
2
210/m
2

Total Building 1861/m
2
1922/m
2

Table 6: BCIS rates for different locations
Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index Location BCIS Index
City of London 120 Leeds 93 Manchester 96 Belfast 66
Nottingham 93 Newcastle 89 Liverpool 92 Cardiff 98
Birmingham 100 Glasgow 108
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Substructure comparison
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Total building comparison
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Frame and oor comparison
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COST 37
Embodied Carbon Comparison
Cost and programme are key criteria in assessing design options, but for many
projects the comparative environmental credentials are also important, so
PBA carried out an embodied carbon assessment for both frame options for
Building 2.
Embodied carbon covers the cradle to cradle carbon dioxide (CO
2
) emissions
over the whole life cycle of the building, including end of life considerations
but excluding the operational carbon occurring during the buildings use.
The study focuses on the emissions from the structural elements as they
represent the main carbon differences between the options but as with the
cost and programme comparisons, also considers the whole building.
To ensure a balanced approach, readily available industry data on materials
emissions from Target Zero and Concrete Centre publications have been
used. Non-structural embodied carbon emissions are based on benchmark
information and are consistent across both frame options.
Transport emissions are based on the Department for Transport statistics for
average length of haul per commodity and on Concrete Centre data on the
average delivery distance of ready-mixed concrete to construction sites.
In assessing the emissions from the construction and demolition activities
on-site, UK Environment Agency data, the Mace construction programming
information and an estimated period for demolition have been considered.
End of life scenarios have been selected to reect current practice, where 99% of the structural
steel and 82% of the concrete reinforcement are recycled and 100% of the concrete is down-
cycled to provide granular ll material.
300
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150
100
Cost study
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205
253
Figure 8: Building 2 cradle to cradle
embodied carbon comparison
Life cycle phases:
Extraction
Manufacture
Transport
Construction
Maintenance
Replacement
Deconstruction
Reuse and recycling
Cradle to gate assessments
do not consider end of life
Cradle to gate v cradle to cradle
Cradle
to gate
}
}
Cradle to
cradle
End of life scenarios
Not all materials are the same
38 COST
The results of the study are shown in Figure 9: Building 2 cradle to cradle embodied
carbon comparison
PBA started by assessing the buildings in line with the cost study and using only
Portland Cement for the concrete mix. This showed that the embodied carbon was
signicantly lower for the steel frame than that for the concrete frame - the steel
option had an embodied carbon over 23% less than the concrete option.
However, as cement replacement is often used to reduce sustainability impacts, the
embodied carbon was also assessed using 30% cement replacement with y ash
and ground granulated blast furnace slag.
This level of cement replacement is considered to be reasonable without having
a signicantly adverse impact on construction programme because of increased
curing time.
In this case, the embodied carbon reduced to 184kgCO
2
/m
2
for the steel option
and to 204kg/CO
2
/m
2
for the PT concrete option. Though the difference between
the steel and concrete options was reduced, it was still signicant with the steel
frame having around 11% less embodied carbon than the post-tensioned concrete
frame.
300
250
200
150
100
30% Cement replacement
k
g
C
O
2
/
m
2
S
t
e
e
l

C
o
m
p
o
s
i
t
e
P
T

C
o
n
c
r
e
t
e

F
l
a
t

S
l
a
b
% difference +11%
204
184
Figure 9: Building 2 cradle to cradle
embodied carbon comparison
Thermal mass is independent of framing material
The thermal mass is provided by the concrete in the oor plate
Admittance is the rate at which a material can absorb heat
Admittance declines when concrete thickness >90mm
All ooring systems have sufcient concrete depth
Over a 24 hour diurnal cycle the performance of common steel
and concrete ooring systems are comparable
Thermal mass the facts
0 40 80 120 160 200 240
4
3
2
1
0
Normal weight
Lightweight
Thickness (mm)
A
d
m
i
t
t
a
n
c
e

(
W
/
m
2
K
)
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S
COST 39
Summary
The cellular steel composite option has both a lower frame and oor cost and lower total
building cost than the post-tensioned concrete band beam option.
On a total building basis, the steel option benets from lower substructure costs due to the
lighter frame weight and a lower roof cost due to the cost of the steel deck compared to the
post-tensioned slab.
The steel option has a lower oor-to-oor height (4.18m compared to 4.375m) which results
in around a 5% lower external envelope cost due to the smaller area of cladding and also
has lower preliminaries costs due to its shorter programme. This contributes to its lowest
overall total building cost.
Overall, the frame and oor cost of the steel option is over 8% lower than the concrete option
and over 3% lower on a whole building basis.
The study also highlights the importance of considering total building cost, not just structural
frame cost, because the structural frame material and conguration impacts on many other
elements, including the substructure, roof and external cladding.
The total building costs for the steel options are over 3% lower than the concrete options due
to the frame and upper oor costs, as well as smaller foundations, lightweight roofs, lower
storey heights reducing cladding costs and reduced preliminaries costs.
Furthermore, the construction durations of the steel framed solutions are shorter than the
concrete framed buildings at 11% for Building 2.
Over three key assessment criteria, the study has shown that steel framed solutions can
outperform concrete options and provide lower cost, shorter programmes and lower embodied
carbon.
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Produced for
The British Constructional Steelwork Association
www.steelconstruction.org
and
Tata Steel
www.tatasteelconstruction.com
by Barrett, Byrd Associates
www.barrett-byrd.com
November 2013
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