Steel shows intelligence

What architects and other construction professionals need to know about costing steel features in a Steel Intelligence series article in the January issue of RIBA Journal that also looks at tender price trends.

The costing article, by BCSA’s Chris Dolling, highlights the key steps in the cost planning process that designers and contractors need to be aware of to avoid unexpected shocks. The article spells out the impact that early design decisions like choice of framing material can have on later choices on items like foundations and cladding. The impact of these early design decisions on the construction programme is also considered.

The latest tender price forecasts from Gardiner & Theobald are revealed in the same article, and a rise of 3.5% in average tender rates across the UK is anticipated for 2015 following 4% in 2014. London rises are to be higher, with 4.5% in 2015 following 6% in 2014. The trend of rises is expected to continue for the following three years.

With cumulative rises of around 22% over five years from 2014 expected it is important to keep talking to the supply chain to avoid unexpected shocks. Structural steel prices have been holding steady in the second and third quarters of last year while concrete and cement prices have risen by 3% and 5% respectively, and the BCSA expects structural steelwork prices to rise only steadily in comparison to likely spikes in the prices of other materials.

Also featured in Steel Intelligence is Network Rail’s Reading Station where the large span and off site fabrication potential of steel was taken advantage of on a project that involved building over a live railway line. Construction of the Grimshaw Architects design, with Tata Steel Projects as structural engineer, was entrusted to main contractor Costain/Hochtief joint venture with Cleveland Bridge and Bourne Construction Engineering supplying the steelwork.

The new Stonehenge visitor centre also features, praised for providing a striking contrast with its elegant lightweight steelwork compared to the ‘powerful steelwork’ at Reading Station. The superior strength to weight ratio of steel came into its own for the canopy and columns of the Denton Corker Marshall design, with Sinclair Knight Merz (now Jacobs) as structural engineer, Vinci Construction as main contractor and with steelwork supplied by SH Structures.

View the supplement here