{"id":79400,"date":"2025-06-19T13:30:04","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T10:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/?p=79400"},"modified":"2025-11-25T21:30:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T21:30:34","slug":"%d8%a8%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%a6%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%af-%d9%87%d9%84-%d8%aa%d9%86%d8%ac%d8%ad-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%aa%d8%ba%d9%8a%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d9%82%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b9%d8%af-%d8%a8%d9%86","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/79400\/","title":{"rendered":"Alternatives to steel Are they changing the rules for building structures?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amid the ongoing fluctuations in Iron prices<\/a> <\/strong>Globally, environmental pressures are increasing to reduce the carbon footprint of the sector. Building and construction<\/a><\/strong>The search for new alternatives to traditional steel in structural construction is accelerating. Can these new materials achieve the difficult balance between economic efficiency, technical reliability, and structural safety?<\/p>\n

It seems that the answer is already taking shape on the ground, as we see materials such as engineered wood, glass and basalt fibers, and ultra-high-performance concrete, as well as treated bamboo, being incorporated into real projects in Europe, Asia, and the Gulf, amid growing interest from developers and major construction companies.<\/p>\n

Engineer wood... a light force<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

In Europe, especially in Scandinavian countries, engineered wood (Mass Timber) stands out as a strong alternative to steel, through technologies such as Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam. These materials combine lightweightness and durability, with their weight being less than that of reinforced concrete, but they offer immense resistance to vertical and horizontal loads.<\/p>\n

Projects such as \u201cWood City\u201d in the Swedish capital Stockholm have shown the possibility of constructing more than 1,000 square meters per week using these materials, while reducing carbon emissions by up to 40% compared to concrete and steel structures. Despite the challenges associated with fire and moisture, Swedish and British construction codes have allowed the use of engineered wood in buildings up to 20 stories high, provided that special fire protection systems are applied.<\/p>\n

Glass and basalt fibers\u2026 resistant to time<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

In contrast, many countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are turning to what is known as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars, including glass fibers (GFRP), basalt (BFRP), and carbon (CFRP). These materials are characterized by their high weight-to-strength ratio \u2013 where their mass is 70 to 80 percent lower than that of iron \u2013 as well as their high tensile strength and non-corrosive properties.<\/p>\n

Recent technical reports indicate that the use of GFRP in concrete chambers has increased their load-bearing capacity by between 18% and 22% compared to steel, while significantly reducing the incidence of cracks. Basalt bars have also proven effective in coastal infrastructure projects such as the Jeddah Corniche and some Qatar projects, contributing to a reduction in long-term maintenance costs by up to 40%.<\/p>\n

Despite these advantages, there are still concerns regarding the reduction of ductility or the ability to absorb energy during earthquakes, prompting some engineers in California to adopt hybrid systems that combine steel and fiber to ensure full structural safety.<\/p>\n

Bamboo is back again<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Another alternative material that is gaining increasing interest is bamboo or rattan, which boasts a high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility that makes it suitable for seismic regions. Recent research indicates its potential use in structural structures after chemical processing to withstand up to 40 years. However, its high sensitivity to moisture and fungi makes it a less suitable option in humid climates such as the Red Sea and Gulf, limiting its widespread use in the region.<\/p>\n

Concrete without steel?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Parallel to these developments, new technologies emerged in the world. Concrete<\/a><\/strong>Perhaps the most prominent is ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) reinforced with metallic or synthetic fibers, which can perform the role of reinforcement without the need for steel bars. This concrete has reached a resistance of more than 150 megabits, compared to only 30 megabits in conventional concrete.<\/p>\n

Ferrock, a new material made from steel dust that traps carbon dioxide during solidification, is currently one of the most environmentally promising materials, as its strength is five times that of conventional cement, with negative emissions, but it is still limited to experimental applications due to the limited raw materials required for its production.<\/p>\n

Regulatory standards and challenges<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Despite the engineering successes achieved by these materials in several countries, the absence or weak regulatory codes in many Arab countries still constitute an obstacle to widespread adoption. In this context, Saudi Arabia has begun issuing standards for the use of basalt fibers through the Saudi Standards and Metrology Authority (SASO), while Egypt is seeking to amend the Egyptian Code for Concrete (ECP 203) to include advanced uses of composite materials.<\/p>\n

The lack of sufficient awareness among developers and financiers also represents an additional obstacle, especially given that these materials require specialized testing and precise design that takes into account their unconventional characteristics, such as prolonged behavior or sensitivity to heat and humidity.<\/p>\n

Economic effectiveness<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Economically, these materials still face a challenge in their initial cost; estimates indicate that the use of engineered wood or basalt bars increases the cost by between 10% and 25% compared to steel. However, life cycle savings \u2013 especially in infrastructure projects or buildings in coastal areas \u2013 can greatly outweigh this initial increase, through reduced maintenance costs, shorter construction time, and reduced energy consumption.<\/p>\n

A future is being formed<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Although steel remains the backbone of structural structures, the transition to more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives is becoming a necessity in the face of environmental and economic challenges. As these materials gradually enter codes and standards and awareness among designers and developers improves, the era of \u201cafter steel\u201d seems to be truly beginning to take shape.<\/p>\n

But the question remains open: Do we trust these alternatives enough? The answer depends not only on global experiences, but also on the ability of Arab markets to embrace innovation, encourage smart solutions, and build trust through performance tests and precise standards. In this case, the question might not be \u201cAre they safe?\u201d but \u201cWhy have we been slow to adopt them?\u201d.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> Minutes<\/span><\/span>Amid ongoing fluctuations in global steel prices and increasing environmental pressures to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector, the search for new alternatives to traditional steel in structural steel is accelerating. Can these new materials achieve the difficult equation between economic efficiency, technical reliability, and structural safety? It seems that the answer is already taking shape on the ground, as we are witnessing ... Read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":79403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"0","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"amlak_video_sent":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-building-materials-techniques"],"acf":{"amlak_post_excerpt":"\u0627\u0633\u062a\u0639\u0631\u0627\u0636 \u0644\u062a\u0637\u0628\u064a\u0642\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u062e\u0634\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u064f\u0647\u0646\u062f\u0633\u060c \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0644\u064a\u0627\u0641 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0648\u0644\u064a\u0645\u0631\u064a\u0629\u060c \u0648\u0627\u0644\u062e\u064a\u0632\u0631\u0627\u0646 \u0643\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644 \u0639\u0645\u0644\u064a\u0629 \u0644\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f \u0645\u0639 \u0645\u0632\u0627\u064a\u0627 \u0648\u0642\u064a\u0648\u062f","amlak_post_excerpt_source":{"label":"Amlak post excerpt","type":"text","formatted_value":"\u0627\u0633\u062a\u0639\u0631\u0627\u0636 \u0644\u062a\u0637\u0628\u064a\u0642\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u062e\u0634\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u064f\u0647\u0646\u062f\u0633\u060c \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0644\u064a\u0627\u0641 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0648\u0644\u064a\u0645\u0631\u064a\u0629\u060c \u0648\u0627\u0644\u062e\u064a\u0632\u0631\u0627\u0646 \u0643\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644 \u0639\u0645\u0644\u064a\u0629 \u0644\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f \u0645\u0639 \u0645\u0632\u0627\u064a\u0627 \u0648\u0642\u064a\u0648\u062f"}},"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f.jpg",640,424,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f-300x199.jpg",300,199,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f.jpg",640,424,false],"large":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f.jpg",640,424,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f.jpg",640,424,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f.jpg",640,424,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f.jpg",18,12,false],"event-thumbnail":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"event-medium":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f-600x400.jpg",600,400,true],"event-large":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f.jpg",640,424,false],"event-hero":["https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0644-\u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062f.jpg",640,424,false]},"author_info":{"info":["\u0623\u0645\u0644\u0627\u0643 \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0642\u0627\u0631\u064a\u0629"]},"category_info":"\u0645\u0648\u0627\u062f \u0648\u062a\u0642\u0646\u064a\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0646\u0627\u0621<\/a>","tag_info":"\u0645\u0648\u0627\u062f \u0648\u062a\u0642\u0646\u064a\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0646\u0627\u0621","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79400\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amlak.net.sa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}