An Amazing “How-to-put-up-a-steel-roof” Project
First Rafter on "Our Philippinelife.com House Project"
Myphilippinelife.com has put together a wonderful tutorial on the standard Philippine roofing system. They explain what angle bars they use, when c-purlins were appropriate and the like. The pictures tell the tale though and it’s wonderful to see how they build the roof with a blow-by-blow account. They even have the prices they paid for their materials. They also warn, as we’ve been warning our customers, against substandard steel, “So when shopping for steel in the Philippines, you have to be on your toes. Some, perhaps even most suppliers will automatically ship you substandard steel unless you are educated and persistent.” It’s not cheaper when you’re getting something of inferior quality that could be harmful to your safety in the long run.
Best of all, they walk us down the history of Philippine roofs at the end of the article. Treating us not only to an excellent “how-to-guide” but also a walk down memory lane.
Steel is 100% Recyclable
We are all doing our part to make this world more sustainable for our increasing population. Steel is actually part of the answer because it is 100% recyclable unlike plastic, paper, or even glass. You can take the most rusted worn out bent out of shape steel scrap and once it’s gone into the smelter it can come out again as a brand new piece ready to be used.
Steel is also sturdy, wear and tear resistant, durable, has a smooth finish and if you buy it from PS Licensed and BPS certified companies such as 21st Century Steel, guaranteed to be dimensionally correct in size and weight.
There are many different applications for steel which encompasses anyone from ship builders and auto parts to scaffolding and building structural uses.
So if you’re thinking about whether to go with wood or with steel for your door frames, window frames or even furniture, consider going with the more environmentally conscious choice! Choose Steel!
The Advantages of a Steel Roof over Wood
(1) CHEAPER
Once upon a time (translation: before the 1970’s), wood was used extensively in the Philippines for top cords, trusses and purlins. With the population boom and our forest decline however, wood is now simply too expensive to use.
(2) EASIER
Contractors, architects and designers started encouraging the use of angle bars for trusses and c purlins where the roofing plates are then screwed in. It is not only cheaper, but much easier to put together. Some even go as far as using GI pipes welded together in very simple roofing systems.
(3) NO MORE TERMITES
As we all know, termites abound in the Philippines and you never know when wood in your structure is being eaten away until sometimes way too late. The use of steel spares homeowners from termite infestations aside from being cheaper, easier to construct and always readily available.
(4) MORE OXYGEN FOR US
The use of steel over wood means the protection of our forest cover- to cleanse our air, to provide oxygen, to keep animals safe, among a host of other things.
Gabay sa Pagbili
SASSMAPI (Steel Angles, Shapes & Sections Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, Inc.) Vol. 1 Series 2010
Panimula
Ang Steel Angle Bars ay pangunahing ginagamit sa straktura at konstraksyon kaya ang kalidad nito ay mahalaga upang mapangalagaan ang kaligtasan ng publiko. Upang maksasiguro na may kalidad ang binibiling bakal kaliangan ito ay kumokomporme sa Philippine National Standards.
Babala
Ang equal-keg steel angle bars ay napapailalim sa mandatory certification ng PNS 657:2008 kaya ang sinuman gumaga, nag aangkat, bumibili at gumagamit ng uncertified angle bars ay may pananagutan sa batas sangayon sa DAO 2:2007. Kelanga din na mayroong Import Commodity Clearance (DAO 5:2008) para sa mga importers at PS License (DAO 4:2008) naman para sa Local Manufacturers.
Ipag-bigay alam sa pinakamalapit na DTI-BPS office ang sinumang gumagawa, nagbebenta at gumagamit ng uncertified steel angle bars.
MAPANGANIB
Ang bakal na hindi kumokomporme sa standards ay maaring magdulot ng malaking pinsala sa ari-arian at pagkawala ng buhay. Kaya siguraduhing certified angle bars lang ang binibili at ginagamit.
PALATANDAAN NG UNCERTIFIED ANGLE BARS
1. Walang marka/logo na nagsasaad ng kumpanyua na gumawa ng bakal, leg dimension at grade. Note: Dapat ang logo ng kumpanya ay naka rehistro sa Bureau of Product Standards.
2. Kulang sa timbang at sukat.
3. Kailangan tama ang kulay sa magkabilang dulo at naaayon sa color coding ng kapal ng angle bar.
Bumili lang ng equal-leg steel angle bars na gawa ng mga kumpanya na may PS License na pinagkaloob ng Bureau of Product Standards ng Department of Trade & Industry.
21st Century Steel Mill, Inc. is a PS Licensed and BPS Certified.
Substandard Steel Puts Lives at Risk
BusinessMirror
“First we would like to find out if the materials used were substandard. And if they are substandard, determine if they are locally made or imported. Being responsible corporate citizens, we cannot just sit back knowing that this is hazardous to life and property, aside from causing disruption to the delivery of power to communities
and business establishments,” said Maria Victoria Padilla, executive director of PPSQF (Philippine Product Safety and Quality Foundation)
In a separate case in Batangas City, Padilla reported the , seizing of substandard steel goods amounting to 1 million pesos (of which over 700,000 were subsequently sold). Padilla reiterated that “substandard steel angles in the market puts the lives and properties of the public at risk” and said the government together with the private sector must work together to put a stop to its proliferation.
From A to Z
We don’t have everything, but what we do have is top-quality. We will never shortchange you on the weight of our steel goods and the measurements will be just what they need to be to meet product and safety standards. Don’t go for the cheaper version, especially if you’re going to be using the steel for structural purposes. In our earthquake prone country, it is simply not safe and will also be more costly in the long run.
Give us a call or send us an email about your requirements, whatever they may be, and we’ll do our best to meet your needs.
BOC seizes angle bars at port with width less than 80mm
Illegal importation of steel is a big worry in the Philippines not only due to loss jobs and taxes but also to the very safety of our fellow Filipinos.
According to the Bureau of Customs report, “upon conducting 100% examination, the container vans were found to contain angle bars with width of less than 80mm. The shipment is subject to payment of Special Safeguard duty.”
Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, who led the on-the-spot inspection of the shipments at the Port of Manila Warehouse 2, immediately ordered the seizure of said illegal shipments.
When it’s substandard- you can’t claim it’s “cheaper”
In Feb 2009, Manila Standard reported that 7 steel plants close down due to imports from China. Unfortunately, we were one of them. The influx of cheaper but substandard imports from China made us uncompetitive and we had to let go of our workers.
As reported in the paper, Henry Leungson, vice president of the Steel Angles, Shapes and Section Manufacturers Association of the Philippines Inc., said only two companies: Lunar Steel Corp. and Cathay Metal Corp. – operated their mills in 2008, and even then at below their capacity levels.
Leungson also mentioned that the capacity utilization rate among the nine registered local manufacturers of steel angle bars dropped to just 10 percent in the past three years, because of the entry of imported products from China that do not meet local standards.
Such unfair competition posed by imported products, not because they are cheaper, but because they are inferior (weigh less, shorter, not up to standard, etc.) and therefore cost less, resulted in hundreds of jobs lost and this redounded to other sectors.
The picture changed when standards were finally imposed by the government, Philippine National Standards 49 (PNS 49) as formulated by the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS). And there was a clear reversal in importation establishing that the goods being imported were cheaper but were undersized or underweight.
It’s now 2010 and we’re running in full capacity again after the government started its crack down on illegal goods. But we can’t rely on them to police the industry. We need consumers to also be aware of what they’re buying.
So the next time you buy something because it’s cheaper- make sure it actually is. When it’s substandard and costs less, it’s not cheaper because you’re not getting the same product. What’s worse is standards are there for our protection- and ignoring them altogether puts lives in danger. You don’t have to buy from us. We’re not even pushing BUY FILIPINO. We just want you to make sure you’re really getting your money’s worth and most importantly, that you stay safe.
Bogus Steel Angle Bars in Cebu City
The Philippine Daily Inquirer warned of importers claiming that their angle bars are legitimate when in fact they are underweight, undersized and uncertified.
Ma. Victoria Padilla, executive director of the Philippine Product Safety and Quality Foundation Inc. (PPSQF), and Ramon Tan, vice president for external relations of Steel Angles, Shapes and Sections Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc., yesterday warned against buying angle bars from unscrupulous importers.
They said that some suppliers would show bogus papers to retailers claiming that their products already secured an import commodity clearance.
“This clearance is required for the importing of mandatory products which can affect life, property and safety, such as steel angle bars.”
LOGO MARKINGS
Consumers should make sure that the angle bars have embossed logo markings of manufacturers accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Products Standards (DTI-BPS). They indicate leg length dimension, and a slash sign signifying the grade of the steel angle bar.
Padilla also said that it is “possible the raw materials used for these products are not billets but just wire rods, which are used to make nails and pose a great danger to those using them for billboards or roofing.”
Consumers who doubt the marks on the steel bar or the manufacturer?s logo can call the DTI-BPS at (02) 7513139 to check on their authenticity.
Making Steel Look Good Inside the Home
In this blog from someone in St Louis, we see attempts to bring steel structures inside the home as a design element instead of something to hide. The picture below shows how they have kept the stairs, ledge and ceiling beams exposed, contrasting and at the same time complementing the softness of the wood in the rest of the house.
To follow their journey, read here or click on the photo:
Click me to find out more
21st Century Steel Mill, Inc. 