Cost of reinforcing bar vs. HSS?
Cost of reinforcing bar vs. HSS?
(OP)
Hey everyone,
(I'm an EIT) In my line of work I'm often given a choice of specifying HSS or steel bars (mostly to assist with strong-axis flexural capacity).
HSS are more efficient, but my question are the costs of specifying one over the other. Can you always assume that lower weight (cross-sectional area) = lower cost?
Thanks!
(I'm an EIT) In my line of work I'm often given a choice of specifying HSS or steel bars (mostly to assist with strong-axis flexural capacity).
HSS are more efficient, but my question are the costs of specifying one over the other. Can you always assume that lower weight (cross-sectional area) = lower cost?
Thanks!






RE: Cost of reinforcing bar vs. HSS?
RE: Cost of reinforcing bar vs. HSS?
RE: Cost of reinforcing bar vs. HSS?
EDIT: Also, we deal with projects all over the country (I'm usually working in the southeast U.S.), so perhaps contacting a couple of steel fabricators in that region and see if they have some common shapes that they prefer
RE: Cost of reinforcing bar vs. HSS?
By weight, HSS is ~30% more expensive that WF sections. I assume that this number would even be larger than plate. However, it is likely that you will use significantly more plate steel to achieve the same results as an HSS. The reinforced mullions I have seen in the past use C-sections. Cheaper than HSS, but the benefit of flanges for bending.
RE: Cost of reinforcing bar vs. HSS?
The constructability issue is much more important that the small cost issue, and that should be driving the decision. Most glass contractors aren't professional steel workers. For any screwed connections, they drill and tap the steel with a huge bag of drill bits that are constantly dulling and breaking , lots of man hours , and screwed connections that fail on installation, as the screw snaps or the head breaks (the contractor may or may not inform you of this)
Without a doubt, the best specification is the one with the least connections between the aluminium and the steel.