At any scale, construction projects require wise and careful decisions because it is definitely a matter of no turning back. Misguided decision can hurt us in many ways - wasted time, effort, and money at the least.

To figure out better, some pros and cons of Structural Steel and Reinforced Concrete are explained in different aspects as follows:

Weight

Steel elements has small, compact cross-sections making them approximately 60% lighter than concrete. Reinforced concrete members are bulky and may reach 2700 kg/m3 in weight. 

Cost

Steel Structure is economical. Huge portion of the market supply comes from recycling, making steel much cheaper than other materials. Being lightweight, it delivers huge reduction in labor cost due to easier handling and transportation and faster installation. Concrete has many ingredients such as cement, sand & gravel, water, and various additives. And to produce a reinforced concrete member, reinforcing bars must be integrated then formed and cast to the desired section. The number of ingredients and its lengthy assembly results to high construction expenditures.

According to a study, typical Steel frame Structure system costs 5 to 7% less than reinforced concrete framing system.

Strength

Steel has the highest strength to weight ratio among building materials, including concrete. Steel is eight times (8X) stronger than concrete in tension and shear; steel is resilient unlike concrete; and steel has better resistance to tensile, compressive, and flexural stress. 

Construction

Steel structures components are fabricated offsite while reinforced concrete components are mostly cast-in-situ. Using Steel Structure has a huge advantage over reinforced concrete in this scenario because fabrication of multi steel components can be done simultaneously while reinforced concrete components are cast step by step, part by part, one at a time with 28 days interval (curing) after another. 

Design

Concrete can be easily formed into limit-less desirable shapes but unlike steel, they have limited capability to span huge heights and distances. Steel Structure members can be laid-out in long segments without the need of intermediate supports, eliminating obstructions thus maximizing spaces.

Safety

Steel structure and reinforced concrete both produce structures that are strong enough to withstand fire, strong winds, heavy snows, termites, and fires. However, steel structures might have the most significant advantage over reinforced concrete structures when comes to behaving against Earthquakes. 

Lightness and ductility of steel helps the structural frame to absorb and reduce earthquake’s destructive impact. High-strength steel connections allow slight deformation at the joints but manage to hold members from separating, preventing easy collapse of the building or sections under stress.

Sustainability & Environmental Impact

Up to 90% of all Steel Structures in the market today is created from recycling. Steel can be recycled over and over without losing its strength. The Steel Industry has maintained greenhouse gases below allowable manufacturing levels and still getting better. Concrete ingredients are natural to our environment, meaning they are not harmful to our world.