Steel-concrete girder of the future. Sustainable, economical and aesthetic construction

The well-known lightweight steel-concrete beam Deltabeam is now also available from recycled steel: Deltabeam Green. This makes it sustainable and thus this solution contributes to the sustainability score of the building in which it is used. 

Originally from Finland, Peikko provides joining technology for concrete construction. The company's innovative solutions are used by precast concrete manufacturers, contractors, structural engineers, architects, building designers and project developers, among others. Sales and marketing coordinator Joris van Hezewijk said, "Our products enable constructive and innovative solutions that enable our customers to build faster, safer and more economically."

Advantages

The patented steel-concrete beam Deltabeam was designed some thirty years ago. Van Hezewijk: "It is a lightweight steel girder. That offers advantages in transport and lifting at the construction site, among other things. On site, the Delta Beam is filled with concrete. The biggest advantage is that the beam is mounted flat in the floor. This makes it easy to install pipes under the floor and creates more usable space under the beam. And aesthetically, it is also just more beautiful to have a beam lying flat in the floor."

In addition, this technique saves money. For high-rise buildings, for example, this solution can save up to many tens of centimeters per floor, and in the construction of underground parking garages there is less need to dig deep. This also saves many costs for the removal of sand and, in many cases, well drainage.

Fire resistance

In addition, the beam has other major advantages: it is inherently fire-resistant, where other beams still require treatment. Periodic fire resistance treatments are also not necessary with the Deltabeam. 

Van Hezewijk: "We can design it up to 180 minutes of fire resistance. The beam is filled with concrete. Together with the fire reinforcement that runs the length of the beam, this makes the beam fire-resistant." Another big advantage is that you can use it to make very large spans, up to 14 by 14 meters. "In one project a beam of 18 meters has even been used. This means you have to place fewer columns, which architects often like. This makes construction not only cheaper, but also more spacious and beautiful." 

More sustainable 

Deltabeam steel-concrete beams from Peikko have been used in more than 15,000 projects worldwide over the past decades. Since two years, it is also possible to produce this beam from over 90% recycled steel: the Deltabeam Green. "This beam offers great prospects for sustainable construction and the corresponding BREEAM and LEED scores. It is the exact same beam with the same benefits, but made from recycled steel. This makes it much less impactful on the building's carbon footprint." 

Of course, this old steel must also be remelted and welded. Peikko does this with renewable energy. This also makes the production process sustainable. Van Hezewijk: "And should the customer want it, we can also use green transport to the construction site. Now still on biodiesel, soon we may switch to electric." 

In short, the Deltabeam is sustainable from production to transport. In some projects, this can make all the difference to the BREEAM score.