A new study forecasts that demands for structural steelwork will rise to 19% by 2018. The research finds that requirements for this type of construction material will grow from 818,000 tonnes in 2014 to 972,000 in 2018 with the biggest annual increase coming this year.


This news follows on from 6% increase seen in 2014 and sees the Construction Markets survey predict that growth will continue at a steadier 3% per annum.


The British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) believes that its membership has the ability to meet the increasing demand stating that although prices have seen some increase it still remains a competitive construction product.


BCSA director general Sarah McCann-Bartlett said “The strength of the industrial sector reflects the ongoing trend for on-line retailing and the growing need for warehousing and distribution facilities to support this,” she said. “Steel has a high strength-to-weight ratio so it is ideal for industrial buildings because of the ability to provide very long column-free internal spaces.”


With an overall average growth of 19%, Construction Markets anticipates that structural steel consumption in industrial buildings will see a 23% growth before 2018 with McCann-Bartlett going on to say: “The future for the UK’s structural steelwork sector is bright, and the inherent advantages of steel like speed of construction, offsite manufacturing, and cost mean that steel will continue to be the framing material of choice.”