Strength

• Steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any residential building material, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Buildings framed with steel beams are more earthquake- and hurricane-resistant.
  
  

Versatility

• Steel beams are easily machined, can be cut to different lengths and widths, and can be bent or curved. This greatly increases the design possibilities of a building. Combined with the light weight of the beams, framing can be an easier and simpler process.
  
  

Additional Facts

• Steel beams are also resistant to fire, impervious to damage by termites and do not require chemical treatment. Galvanized steel beams do not rust. Recycled steel can be used to make steel beams. However, labor costs for steel framing tend to be high. Greater skill and and experience are necessary.