How to increase the lifespan of steel structures by 30%
The lifecycle of a steel frame building project begins with design, fabrication, and installation, followed by operation and usage, and ends with either an upgrade or demolition. In the construction industry, it is very difficult to determine the exact lifespan of a structure. In practice, the lifespan of special structures (such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum) is generally assumed to be over 100 years, while that of reinforced concrete buildings or solid steel frame buildings is over 70 years. For industrial factories, the lifecycle typically ranges from 7 to 10 years.
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The lifecycle of a steel frame building project begins with design, fabrication, and installation, followed by operation and usage, and ends with either upgrading or demolition.
In the construction industry, it is very difficult to precisely determine the lifespan of a building. In practice, the lifespan of special structures (such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum) is generally assumed to be over 100 years. Reinforced concrete buildings and solid steel frame buildings typically last over 70 years, while industrial factories often have a lifecycle of just 7 to 10 years.
Many high-rise steel buildings around the world have stood for decades, such as:
Empire State Building, New York: Built in 1931, 102 floors, 381 meters tall
Sears Tower (now Willis Tower), Chicago: Built in 1974, 110 floors, 442 meters tall
Aon Center, Chicago: Built in 1973, 83 floors, 346 meters tall
Williams Tower, Houston: Built in 1973, 108 floors, 442 meters tall
So, what is a steel frame building? How can we extend its lifespan?
Manufacturing Techniques:
The fabrication of steel structures has never been as advanced as it is today, with numerous cutting-edge technologies such as: automatic welding, 3D welding, robotics, 3D drilling, integrated welding systems, and especially shot blasting using metallic particles to clean the surface before painting. This process helps slow down corrosion and can increase the lifespan of the structure by up to 30%.
Shot Blasting for Surface Cleaning:
Metallic particles are blasted at high velocity onto the surface to remove dust, rust, and contaminants, while also creating a rough surface texture that improves paint adhesion. Shot blasting is commonly used to prepare steel surfaces for painting. Compared to traditional methods (e.g., using wire brushes), this process can be 3–4 times more effective.
Benefits of Shot Blasting:
Shapes the surface geometry and creates the required surface roughness for better paint adhesion
Increases surface strength and reduces residual stress from previous operations
A reliable and cost-effective method for any surface, even complex geometries (requires minimal fixturing and operator skill)
Environmentally friendly processing method
For comprehensive solutions in prefabricated steel building construction, please contact Khang Thinh via email at info@nhathepkhangthinh.vn or hotline +84 254 3 676 479 for immediate assistance!
*** This article is intended to provide general information about the pre-engineered steel building and steel structure industry only. For further details or clarification based on your needs, please contact Khang Thinh directly.
