How to Differentiate Between Steel Structure and Arched Roof?

 Last year, HBK Construction Steel completed an arched roof building in Lianyungang, covering an area of 3,800 square meters with a span of 18 meters. During the construction process, the project supervisor asked us about the specific differences between arched roofs and Steel structures. To better promote the advantages of arched roofs, HBK Construction Steel's technician provided the following explanation, highlighting the differences between the two and demonstrating why arched roofs are superior.

Both arched roofs and steel structures are common in various settings and are highly popular. However, many people are unaware of their specific differences and similarities, making it challenging to choose between them. The following comprehensive comparison can help clarify these points:

 1. Basic Differences:

Arched Roof: Chemically known as polycarbonate (PC), it has strong impact resistance, being 250-300 times more impact-resistant than ordinary glass, 30 times that of steel structure panels, and 20 times that of tempered glass. It has a light transmittance of over 82%, can be cold bent and thermally formed, and has good processing performance. It can withstand temperatures from -40°C to 120°C, is lightweight, easy to install, and UV-resistant. However, its surface is prone to scratches (though surface hardening can be applied).

Steel Structure Panel: Also known as acrylic glass, its chemical name is polymethyl methacrylate. It is often mistaken for glass but is actually a type of plastic. Steel structure panels are thermoplastic and highly moldable, with an exquisite and beautiful appearance. They can be divided into cast sheets, extruded sheets, and molding plastics, with four main processing methods: casting, injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming.

 2. Differences Between Arched Roof and Steel Structure Panels:

The primary difference lies in their raw materials. Simply put, steel structures are relatively brittle and less impact-resistant than arched roofs. A steel structure will break under a hammer's impact, while an arched roof will not. In terms of light transmission, new arched roof materials have high transparency, while steel structures appear slightly hazy. Steel structures age easily, whereas arched roofs can be made to resist aging. Under sunlight, PC arched roofs reflect light uniformly, which is visible to the naked eye.

 3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Steel Structure Panels:

Advantages:

  Excellent weather resistance: Steel structure panels adapt well to natural environments without performance degradation due to prolonged exposure to sunlight, wind, and rain. They have good anti-aging properties and can be used outdoors safely.

  Good plasticity: They can be easily processed into special products like glass, partitions, and bathtubs.

  Excellent transparency: As colorless and transparent organic glass sheets, they have a transparency rate of over 92%, often used for partitions, offering a hazy visual beauty.

Disadvantages:

  Despite their excellence, steel structure panels have shortcomings such as low hardness, poor heat resistance, low elongation, and are prone to cracking, brittleness, and deformation. They are also color-unstable and can develop surface issues like fuzziness over time. Bathtubs made from these panels may discolor at the corners due to extensive stretching at the bottom.

 4. Advantages of Arched Roofs:

Light Transmittance: Arched roofs have a light transmittance of up to 89%, comparable to glass. UV-coated boards do not yellow, fog, or lose light transmittance even after prolonged sun exposure. After ten years, light transmittance loss is only 10%, compared to 15-20% for PVC and 12-20% for fiberglass.

Impact Resistance: The impact strength of arched roofs is 250-300 times that of ordinary glass, 30 times that of steel structure panels of the same thickness, and 2-20 times that of tempered glass. They do not crack when a 3kg hammer is dropped from two meters, earning them the nicknames "unbreakable glass" and "sounding steel."

UV Resistance: PC panels have a UV coating on one side and anti-condensation treatment on the other, combining UV resistance, heat insulation, and anti-fog functions. They can block UV penetration, protecting valuable artwork and exhibits from UV damage.

Lightweight: They are half the weight of glass, reducing costs for transportation, handling, installation, and support structures.

Flame Retardant: According to national standard GB50222-95, arched roofs are classified as B1-grade flame-retardant. PC panels have an ignition point of 580°C, self-extinguish after removing the fire source, and do not produce toxic gases, preventing fire spread.

Flexibility: They can be cold-bent on-site per design drawings, forming arches, semi-circular tops, and windows. The minimum bending radius is 175 times the panel thickness, and they can also be thermally bent.

Sound Insulation: Arched roofs provide superior sound insulation compared to glass and acrylic panels of the same thickness, with a sound insulation improvement of 5-9DB. They are the preferred material for highway sound barriers globally.

Energy Efficiency: Arched roofs maintain cool temperatures in summer and warmth in winter, with lower thermal conductivity (K value) than ordinary glass and other plastics. They offer 7-25% better insulation than glass, with a maximum thermal insulation of 49%, significantly reducing heat loss and qualifying as eco-friendly materials.

Temperature Adaptability: PC panels do not become brittle at -40°C or soften at 125°C, maintaining their mechanical properties in harsh environments.

These points highlight the differences and performance characteristics of arched roofs and steel structures. We hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to contact HBK Construction Steel Engineering Co., Ltd.