BSRM begins manufacturing of ASTM 572 Grade 50 angles

New innovations in hybrid building designs have reduced the cost of constructions in recent days creating a favourable impact on the country's economy.
In sync with such favourable impact, BSRM has started manufacture of ASTM 572 Grade 50 angles in its rolling mill in Nasirabad, Chittagong, with a capacity of 450,000 tons per annum, company sources said.
ASTM 572 Grade 50 angles is a raw material for the manufacture of floor trusses.  
This factory alone can cater to the annual requirement of steel trusses for the housing industry.
In Europe and North America and in the Middle East truss supported floors have become the norm and accepted method of building construction. In the last 5 years, truss supported floors have made inroads and gained popularity in India as well.
The key factor in the ready acceptance and growth of the truss supported floor industry depends on the production and ready availability of high quality, high strength structural steel shapes such as Angles. These structural angle shapes have to comply with the demanding standard ASTM 572 Grade 50.The impact of the huge cost savings in housing construction by using 'truss supported floors' will have a favorable impact on the country's economy. It has been estimated, by 2050, the country's urban population will be 100 million. In 2014 it was 48 million. This implies another 52 million people will migrate to multistory concrete houses from thatched rural houses in 35 years. If the average family size of the 52 million new urban dwellers is assumed to be 5 persons, the number of new housing units will be 10.4 million," Engr. M. Firoze, Head of Product Development of BSRM Group said in a statement.
He said if the living area for each family is estimated to be only 700 square feet; this will mean 7.280 billion square feet of new housing space. If the building cost is Tk.1640 by conventional R.C. method the total cost comes to Tk.11.94 trillion. Saving 18.72 per cent of this colossal amount, by steel truss supported floors, translates in to Tk.2.235 trillion or Tk. 223,500 crores over 35 years. Thus the annual national savings will be Tk.63.85 billion.
The total cost, inclusive of construction materials and direct labor for the traditional 20 story concrete building stands at Tk. 265,334,212. The estimated cost of a steel truss supported floor 20 stories building of the same area and layout is Tk.215, 646,232.This means a saving of 18.72 per cent.
The time to construct a truss supported floor is reduced by 33 per cent as no shoring is required. If the time saving is factored as a cost element then the total savings will be even higher, over 20 per cent.
The reinforced concrete (R.C.) structure is the accepted standard, for the design and construction of residential and commercial buildings in Bangladesh. All types of structures from 2 story homes to 40 story commercial, multi-purpose buildings have been built on R.C. Design theory and construction principles.