Steel Deck Sustainability
The Sustainable Choice
Metal decking has many environmental advantages over other comparable construction materials. Steel is a durable material with a long lifespan and low maintenance requirement, reducing the need for replacement or repairs and the overall environmental impact of the project. Additionally, steel is highly recyclable, with a recycling rate of around 90%, reducing waste sent to landfills and conserving natural resources.
The common steel deck profiles allow sheets to be nested with each for transportation, minimizing dunnage and allowing for optimal truck loads. In conjunction with steel deck’s high strength-to-weight ratio, optimal truck loads help to reduce carbon emissions associated with transportation of materials to the job site. Steel deck’s superior strength- to-weight ratio also means less material is required to achieve necessary levels of strength and stability for a given project, further reducing the environmental impact.
Overall, the environmental advantages of steel roof deck and floor deck make them a sustainable and attractive choice for construction projects, contributing to the conservation of natural resources and reducing the impact of construction on the environment.
Environmental Product Declaration
Several SDI member companies provide their own Environmental Product Declaration documents, which provide facility-specific environmental impacts of their steel deck products.
An industry average Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for steel deck that has been created to provide building designers and owners with the ability to compare steel deck products to other building materials.
EPD Background Report
Explore the life cycle assessment methodology and industry-average data behind SDI’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for steel deck manufactured in North America.
Weights and Volumes of Steel and Concrete for Roof and Floor Applications
Download steel deck weights and concrete weights and volumes for roof and floor applications to support accurate takeoffs for embodied carbon life cycle assessments.
Sustainability 101: Life Cycle of Steel Joists and Deck
The efficiency, strength, versatility, and cost-effectiveness of open web steel joists and steel deck are well known in civil engineering. This webinar will focus on their production process, environmental impact, and sustainability. It will cover life-cycle stages, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and how these materials can help meet sustainability goals, support a circular economy, and promote zero-waste policies.
Navigating Sustainability
The article explains life cycle assessments, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and considerations for evaluating the environmental impacts of steel building products, including steel roof and floor deck.
AISC
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) provides additional information on steel’s sustainability and benefits as a building material.
The Steel Deck Institute and our membership are committed to a sustainable future with transparency. For more information, please reach out to the Steel Deck Institute or individual member manufacturers.
