Challenges and Development Directions of Steel Structure Buildings during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period
Steel structures are structural forms composed of various types of steel connected using welding, bolts, and other fasteners. They are one of the main types of building structures. Reinforced concrete Compared with traditional reinforced concrete structures and masonry structures, steel structures have advantages such as light weight, high strength, good seismic performance, ease of industrial production, short construction and installation periods, and recyclability. They are a typical type of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly structure, widely used in industrial and civil buildings, railway and highway bridges, offshore oil platforms, municipal construction, national defense and military construction, and other fields.
China's steel structure industry has been the world's largest for many consecutive years. In 2023, China's crude steel output was 1.019 billion tons; steel structure processing volume was 112 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 10.45%, accounting for approximately 10.99% of crude steel output, exceeding 10% for the first time and exceeding 100 million tons for two consecutive years. From the perspective of application achievements, the completion of major projects such as the Beijing Daxing International Airport terminal building, the National Speed Skating Oval, the world's largest single-aperture spherical radio telescope FAST (China Sky Eye), and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel not only represents China's top-level steel structure technology and the collective wisdom of its builders but also demonstrates that China's steel structure-related construction technology has reached a world-leading level.
Currently, China has established a relatively complete technological innovation system that combines research and education systems, enterprises, government agencies, and social organizations. A relatively complete technological system chain has been formed, covering the entire steel structure building industry chain, including product manufacturing, technology research and development, standards and specifications, design, construction, acceptance, testing and identification, reinforcement and modification, demolition, and resource recycling.
Challenges Facing the Steel Structure Building Industry
Currently, China's steel structure building industry faces five main challenges.
First, there is still considerable room for improvement in the proportion of steel structure processing volume. Since reaching a peak of 1.065 billion tons in 2020, China's crude steel output has declined for four consecutive years. At the same time, the volume of steel structure processing has continued to grow, and the promotion effect has begun to show, but the proportion of steel structure processing volume to crude steel output remains low, exceeding 10% only in 2023. This is still a significant gap compared to the 20%–30% level in developed countries. Simultaneously, the proportion of steel structure building area in China is only 5%–7%, a large gap compared to the 30%–40% proportion in developed countries. The proportion is even less than 1% in key buildings such as schools and hospitals, high-rise residential buildings, and important infrastructure such as municipal roads and bridges.
Second, the supply and demand contradiction in the steel structure industry remains prominent. Currently, there is serious disorderly competition among some steel enterprises in China, resulting in low industry profit margins. At the same time, clients of engineering projects often put pressure on steel suppliers through price reductions and arrears, putting significant pressure on steel enterprises, leading to a complex relationship between steel enterprises and steel structure enterprises. In addition, there is insufficient technical interaction between steel enterprises and steel structure enterprises. The supply of steel products (especially shaped steel products) does not match the actual engineering needs, and performance indicators and supporting technologies cannot meet engineering requirements and cannot adapt to the demand for "multiple specifications and small batches." There is a contradiction between product performance improvement and cost control. Steel structure enterprises need to make progress together with steel enterprises and steel circulation enterprises in standardized production, reasonably utilize industry chain resources, and help the steel structure industry reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Third, the utilization rate of high-performance and high-efficiency steel is low. Currently, most steel structure buildings in China still use low-strength steel plates for welding, with low levels of equipment automation, making it a labor-intensive manufacturing industry with low efficiency and high costs. Steel plate usage accounts for more than 60% of all steel varieties, Hot-rolled Steel sections account for less than 20% of all steel varieties. In developed countries, steel used in steel structures mainly uses rolled steel sections and high-strength steel, with the proportion of steel sections and high-strength steel exceeding 50%. In addition, 80% of the steel used in steel structures in China is of Q235 and Q355 grades, with low strength, while developed countries generally use high-strength steel of Q390 and above.
Fourth, the number of steel structure professionals and their technical level need to be improved. Compared with traditional concrete buildings, steel structure buildings are more difficult to design, and the design workload is also increased. However, the vast majority of design institutes in China do not have specialized steel structure designers. According to incomplete estimates, the proportion of experienced steel structure designers among designers is less than 5%, a significant gap compared to developed countries. Most structural designers are unfamiliar with steel structures and usually prefer to use mature, familiar, or more efficient concrete technologies, leading to the rejection and exclusion of steel structure buildings at the design source. At the same time, supervisory units and government quality supervision departments lack supervisory personnel familiar with steel structure construction. Steel structure processing plants require a large number of skilled welders, and construction sites require skilled installers. In the current labor market where demographic dividends are gradually disappearing, steel structure talent is even more scarce.
Fifth, the long-term difficulties hindering the development of steel structure enterprises have not yet been resolved. For a long time, there has been insufficient social understanding of the whole life-cycle cost of steel structures and the strategic reserve of steel as a national resource. The one-time construction cost of steel structures is higher than that of concrete structures. There are several reasons for this: First, the standardization level of steel structures is not high, and the benefits of industrialization have not yet been formed; second, there is insufficient synergy between steel enterprises and the entire steel structure R&D, design, manufacturing, construction, and operation and maintenance industry chain; third, because steel structure projects are subcontracted by general contractors, steel structure processing enterprises are in a weak position, and projects require advance funding, resulting in high capital investment and slow capital turnover for steel structure processing enterprises, making their survival more difficult; finally, steel structure processing and manufacturing are taxed at a 13% tax rate, which is higher than the 9% tax rate for on-site construction of concrete structures.
Goals for the Promotion and Application of Steel Structure Buildings
Overall, the promotion and application of steel structure buildings should be based on the deep integration of manufacturing and construction industries, focusing on the accelerated development of steel structure buildings, especially steel structure housing. The main line is to promote the coordinated development of the entire industry chain. In accordance with the requirements of high-quality development and the needs of "good housing" construction, we should firmly establish the development concept of high-performance and high-efficiency steel, integrated design, standardized components, industrial production, prefabricated construction, integrated decoration, information management, and intelligent application. We should further resolve the difficulties in the promotion and application of steel structure buildings, further create a good environment and atmosphere for communication, exchange, and cooperation in the entire industry chain, accelerate the coordinated development of intelligent construction and new building industrialization, and make positive contributions to meeting the new expectations of the people for high-quality housing.
The promotion and application of steel structure buildings should adhere to five basic principles: First, adhere to market-led and government-guided development; second, adhere to whole-chain construction and collaborative cooperation; third, adhere to innovation-driven and standard-led development; fourth, adhere to energy conservation, environmental protection, and green development; and fifth, adhere to adapting measures to local conditions and pilot demonstrations.
From the perspective of development goals, by the end of 2030, the national steel structure usage will reach approximately 150 million tons, accounting for more than 15% of the national crude steel output, and the proportion of steel structure buildings in newly built building area will reach more than 15%. Among them, the application rate of steel structures in newly started residential construction will reach about 10%; the adoption rate of steel structural sections will reach more than 30%, with strength grades mainly "Q355+Q390", promoting the application of high-strength steel, fire-resistant steel, and weathering steel and other high-performance and high-efficiency steel materials; the numerical control rate of key manufacturing processes of steel structures will be no less than 70%, and the per capita labor productivity of the entire industry will be no less than 180 tons/year; promoting the green and low-carbon development of steel structures, the overall engineering technology level of steel structure design, construction, testing, monitoring, and intelligent construction will reach the internationally advanced level, and steel structure technical standards will be fully aligned with international standards, playing an important role in the formulation of backbone technical standards for steel structures in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Looking forward to 2035, the application of steel structure buildings in China will reach the level of moderately developed countries, with steel structure usage reaching more than 200 million tons per year, accounting for more than 25% of crude steel output, and the proportion of steel structure buildings in newly built building area gradually reaching 40%, of which the proportion of steel structure housing will reach 35%, and the proportion of steel structure bridges will reach 25%, basically realizing intelligent construction of steel structures; the steel structure building system will be more perfect, gaining widespread social recognition, steel structure engineering technology will be at the world's leading level, and the strategic goal of a strong steel structure country will be truly realized.
Key Tasks for the Promotion and Application of Steel Structure Buildings
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the following key tasks will be carried out in the field of steel structure buildings in China:
First, clarify the key areas for promotion and application. Newly built schools, kindergartens, hospitals, newly built high-rise buildings with an earthquake resistance intensity of 8 degrees or higher, and newly built public buildings invested by the government (or state-owned asset platform enterprises) (especially office buildings, sports venues, etc.) should adopt steel structures, and other public buildings should generally adopt steel structures. In accordance with the requirements for building "good houses", it is encouraged to use steel structure construction methods for newly built residential buildings, creating a number of high-quality steel structure residential projects that are favored by consumers. It is encouraged to increase the application rate of steel structures in urban renewal, beautiful village construction, dilapidated house renovation, post-disaster reconstruction, relocation and resettlement, tourism and recreation, garden landscaping, and imitation ancient buildings.
Second, accelerate the research and application of high-performance and high-efficiency steel materials. Guided by demand, accelerate the research and development of weathering steel, fire-resistant steel, high-strength steel, stainless steel and other high-performance steel materials and a comprehensive solution suitable for different application scenarios. Steel enterprises should strengthen their connection with users and improve the customized ability of hot-rolled steel for steel structure buildings.
Third, improve the components and supporting systems. Encourage the establishment of standardized components and component libraries for steel structure buildings, guide the reasonable layout and aggregation of production capacity, and create industrial bases for steel structure buildings. Develop a complete bolt connection system, enclosure system, curtain wall engineering, roof system, fire and corrosion protection system suitable for steel structure buildings, and further improve the quality and comfort of steel structure housing.
Fourth, innovate the design of steel structure buildings. Promote standardized, modular, and integrated design methods for steel structure buildings, implement integrated design of multiple disciplines such as architecture, structure, equipment, pipelines, and decoration, and improve the collaborative design capabilities of various disciplines in the construction field. Promote standardized design, focusing on schools, hospitals, office buildings, hotels, and residential buildings.
Fifth, improve the level of assembly construction and complete decoration. Guide enterprises to research and apply technologies, equipment, and tools suitable for steel structure construction, improve the assembly construction connection quality and building safety performance between components and supporting systems. Implement the coordinated construction of steel structure building decoration and main structure and electromechanical equipment. Actively develop prefabricated decoration and promote pipeline separation and integrated decoration technology.
Sixth, promote energy-efficient, green, and low-carbon construction. Promote energy-efficient and green design for steel structure buildings, formulate and revise relevant standards, and strengthen design, construction, and operation management. Research methods for measuring and calculating carbon emissions from steel structure buildings, and establish a low-carbon standard and evaluation system covering the entire industrial chain of steel structure buildings to promote the transformation of various links in the entire industrial chain, including steel components, components, construction, and assembly decoration, to green and low-carbon.
Seventh, strengthen technological leadership. Considering the main structure, enclosure structure, interior walls, decoration, and equipment pipelines, develop suitable materials, processes, technologies, and components, establish a mechanism for evaluating key technologies and supporting products for steel structure buildings, and compile application guidelines for steel structure building technology systems and catalogs for the evaluation and promotion of steel structure building technologies and products. Encourage the docking and joint research of steel structure supply and demand, and build a collaborative innovation platform covering the entire industrial chain.
Eighth, improve the standard system and design specifications. Improve and perfect the product quality standards for steel structure building components, interior decoration technical standards for steel structure buildings, and pricing basis. Research and formulate standardized design guidelines (review key points), applicable technology promotion projects, and catalogs for steel structure buildings. Improve relevant evaluation standards and establish a mechanism for evaluating key technologies and supporting products. Actively promote the coordination and unification of relevant standards for steel structure buildings and steel product standards, and promote the large-scale production of steel products.
Ninth, accelerate the development of intelligent construction. Using steel structure building industrialization as a carrier and digital and intelligent upgrading as the driving force, innovatively break through relevant core technologies, increase the application of intelligent construction in various stages of engineering construction, and form an intelligent construction industrial system that integrates research, materials, design, production processing, construction assembly, operation and maintenance, and transformation and recycling, improving engineering quality, safety, efficiency, and quality.
Tenth, innovate engineering organization models. Encourage the adoption of general contracting, architect-in-charge system, full-process consulting, and other new engineering organization and management models or EPC (design, procurement, construction) contracting models for steel structure buildings, conduct pilot demonstrations, and promote them after maturity, and conduct unified management of engineering quality, safety, progress, and cost.
Eleventh, strengthen talent team building. Improve the composite talent education and training system for the entire industrial chain of steel structure buildings, actively cultivate talents in various fields of steel structure buildings; include relevant knowledge of steel structure buildings in the continuing education scope of professional and technical personnel, and improve the training system for steel structure building workers' job skills. Jointly build steel structure building industrial colleges, talent practical training bases, and production-education integration bases.
Twelfth, improve the engineering quality supervision system. Improve the quality and safety assurance system for the entire process of steel structure buildings, implement standardized quality management, establish a supervision mechanism such as component production enterprise registration and quality flight inspections, implement on-site supervision by construction and supervision enterprises, and strictly implement the main responsibility for project quality and safety. Develop monitoring and testing technologies applicable to steel structure building projects, empower engineering quality improvement with technological innovation, and establish a full-process engineering quality traceability mechanism.
Thirteenth, strengthen industrial chain collaboration. Taking standardization as the direction, encourage qualified steel structure building-related enterprises to extend their development upstream and downstream. Focus on cultivating and developing advantageous enterprises or industrial clusters in supporting industries such as steel components, components, equipment manufacturing, green building materials, and decoration for steel structure buildings, strengthen communication, exchange, and cooperation among steel structure building industrial chain-related enterprises, and build a full industrial chain supply and demand docking platform.
Fourteenth, high-quality open cooperation. Actively build a cooperation and exchange mechanism in the field of steel structure buildings, expand international exchange and cooperation channels, and deeply participate in the global governance of human settlements. Actively integrate into the global steel structure building industrial chain, establish overseas supply chains, marketing networks, and R&D centers, build a global steel structure building industrial ecosystem with complementary advantages and mutual benefit and win-win results, and actively promote international mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the field of engineering construction, and international docking and integration of engineering construction standards.
Urgent support from relevant policies and measures is needed
In the future, the development of steel structure buildings will still require further support from relevant policies and measures.
First, increase the intensity of industrial policy support. Include steel structure building projects in the green channel for project approval, and study and formulate clear incentive measures for project approval, management, etc. It is suggested that the construction unit should subcontract steel structure projects to steel structure enterprises through bidding. Optimize the payment model for steel structure projects, establish a benign cycle mechanism for construction funds, and effectively solve the problem of a large amount of capital investment by construction units.
Second, strengthen financial and tax policy support. Study and introduce fiscal support policies to support steel structure building projects and industrial base construction. Give full play to the role of existing central budget-allocated special funds, and provide certain financial support to steel structure building R&D projects and steel structure processing intelligent transformation projects that meet the support conditions and have demonstration significance, in accordance with relevant regulations.
Third, strengthen financial support. Provide comprehensive financial support to steel structure buildings and related component and parts production bases, enterprises, and projects, lower the loan threshold, and include them in the scope of key support for green finance and green bonds. Support steel structure building enterprises to raise funds through listing or bond issuance, and introduce commercial mortgage and commercial insurance services. Support steel structure buildings to apply for loans from banks using the commercial mortgage model, and relevant construction units can purchase commercial insurance services for the main structure and decoration engineering quality of the buildings.
Fourth, do a good job in publicity and promotion. Through various methods such as news reports, project visits, meetings, and exhibitions, publicize the basic knowledge, main characteristics, progress, and socio-economic benefits of steel structure buildings, especially steel structure residential buildings, improve social awareness and reputation, create a good atmosphere where all parties jointly pay attention to and support the development of steel structure buildings, and promote the coordinated and sustainable development of the entire steel structure building industry chain.
