Concrete is safer

The design of the new World Trade Center in New York includes safety measures
such as a 24-inch-thick concrete wall enclosure for its building core, where the
elevators, stairs and power system are placed for protection from fire or terrorist
attack.
Today’s buildings in Asia are also adopting similar measures for protection from
seismic forces and terrorist attack.
These developments confirm what the concrete industry is saying: concrete is safer.
Reinforced concrete is resistant to explosion and impact. It resists high temperature
from fire for a long time without loss of structural integrity.
For concrete, the design possibilities are almost limitless. It can take on many unique
shapes and forms.
Aside from their varied design possibilities, concrete construction gives more rentable
space because of lower floor-to-floor heights. Steel framing details typically involve
decking that rests on joists, joists on beams, then beams on girders. This can mean a
very thick floor. Concrete requires only 8 inches where utilities can run.
In the end, it’s the building’s function and requirements that will determine whether to
choose concrete or steel.