Secondary Steel Fabrication: Your Ultimate Guide

Secondary steel is a fundamental part of any construction project, used to create a range of important supporting and functional elements of a build. While primary structural steel is essentially used for everything that supports a building’s weight and holds it up, like a steel substructure, beams and columns, secondary structural steel is used to create products that attach to a building’s primary framework. Secondary steel components provide additional support, reinforcement and usability, such as stairs and mezzanine floors. 

In this blog, we provide a comprehensive overview of secondary steel fabrication, covering its many different applications, materials used, and everything you need to know about the process.

Main types of secondary steel fabrication

Secondary steel has a huge number of uses across different industries, but the main products it’s used for include: 

  • Decking – To construct durable and cost effective floors and roofs.
  • Lintels – A supportive beam above doorways and windows that help to distribute weight and ensure structural integrity.
  • Stairs and staircases – For both indoor and outdoor use, steel stairs and staircases provide safe access between levels. 
  • Mezzanine floors – Used to create additional floor space in commercial buildings, providing a safe platform for work and maximising the building’s footprint. 
  • Walkways – To provide efficient routes and access around a building, with slip resistant surfaces available to enhance safety.
  • Balustrades and railings – Key safety features for balconies and walkways.
  • Cages, trolleys and stillages – For the safe holding and movement of inventory and equipment in warehouses.

 

Secondary steel staircase

What is secondary steel making

Alongside the key differences in application and usage, manufacturers produce primary and secondary steel through different processes. While structural steel is typically made of high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steel with a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF), manufacturers create secondary steelwork from scrap iron and carbon, typically producing it using an electric arc furnace (EAF)

 

The EAF is used in secondary steel manufacturing to reduce the scrap iron before it’s blended with the carbon. The use of scrap metals means secondary steel is typically less expensive to produce and is therefore a more cost effective route for smaller components. For a more in-depth exploration of different manufacturing processes, visit our Primary Steel vs Secondary Steel blog.

 

Whether it’s primary or secondary steel you require for your project, you can be certain that you’re in safe hands with CSM. We are certified to ISO 9001:2018, BS EN 1090, and ISO 8384 standards, meaning we value and uphold compliance and high quality in all that we do.

 

Main processes used in secondary steel fabrication

As an expert steel fabricator, we’re well practised in the broad range of techniques and processes needed to fulfil the requirements of different secondary steel projects. We specialise in a range of precision welding techniques including Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Metal Active Gas (MAG), Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) and brazing. 

 

Our advanced bending and forming capability enables us to process metal sheets up to four metres long to create durable products of the highest quality. To top it off, we can offer a range of finishing methods, including drilling, hole punching, stamping, grinding and polishing, to ensure that the finished product perfectly matches your specifications.

secondary structural steel

What industries use secondary steel structures? 

Secondary steel fabrication is integral across almost all industries, from agriculture to consumer goods. At CSM, we mainly handle secondary steel projects across:  

 

  • Construction

    From key structural supports to mezzanine floors and staircases, we work alongside architects, builders, and end clients to create custom solutions. 

 

  • Warehousing and materials handling

    We have extensive experience fabricating products for health and safety, movement, and storage in warehousing environments. Racking, shelving, pallets, cages, trolleys, stillages – you name it, we can help. 

 

 

How do secondary steel fabrication projects work? 

  1. Consultation

    Get in touch to speak with one of our specialist engineers. We’ll provide a detailed quote that includes a breakdown of materials, fabrication,  installation costs, and expected delivery timescales. While lead times vary depending on the scope and complexity of a project, we remain transparent with you and keep you updated through the process.

  2. Fabrication

    Once you’re happy with your design, our expert team gets underway, using state-of-the-art tools and techniques to ensure the highest quality. 

  3. Installation

    We deliver and install your steel structure to fit around you and your construction process.

 

How to get started on your project with CSM

To discuss your requirements and get your project underway, simply get in touch with us. We’re expert secondary steel fabricators with over 30 years’ experience working with clients across a variety of industries. Alongside steel, we work with a handful of other important materials, offering an end-to-end fabrication service to bring ideas and visions to life. 

 

To learn more about secondary steelmaking or find out how we can help with your next project, contact our expert team today.  

 

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