Summit Steel Buildings’ steel corrosion research project published in “Journal of Commerce”

Summit Steel Buildings has been involved for the last two years in a research project that strives to mitigate corrosion in steel structures. Working with a PhD researcher who specializes in metallurgy from the University of British Columbia, the company has partnered with Dymergent (a private consulting group) and Double Black Construction to investigate ways to make steel materials, metal components and glazes more resistant to rust and corrosion. Positive results could have profound implications to making steel buildings more resistant and durable, especially in harsh, cold and wet climates.

A profile of the research project was written by Peter Caulfield and published in Journal of Commerce’s ConstructConnect website on October 9, 2023. We welcome you to read the full article,

“B.C. companies seek how to reduce ‘the bane of steel buildings.’”

Replacing steel siding and other components is currently the most successful way to extend life to an existing building. “If a steel building is old, tired or leaking, we can revitalize it,” says Darren Sperling, director at Summit Steel Buildings. “We can re-side an exterior structure with new panels, install insulation and make other repairs to add 25 years to a steel building.”

However, the goal of the research is to ultimately extend the life of construction through more resistant metals. Andy Metten, a structural engineer and partner in Bush, Bohlman and Partners in Vancouver, said steel corrosion takes place when water and oxygen come into contact with steel. “The corrosion process is accelerated when there are larger quantities of electrolytes, such as salt, present,” he said. “The corrosion produces rust, which occupies more space than steel, which will break off concrete or paint, and that will expose the steel to more corrosion.”

Owners want a maintenance-free solution that lasts for the full life of the structure. “A steel building can last up to 100 years,” said Sperling. The research, involving changing how steel is combined with other materials, will ensure building components last longer, are more resistant, so owners won’t be required to maintain or replace parts as frequently. 

For more information of how long steel buildings typically last under current circumstances, read our article,
“How long should I expect my new steel building to last?”

UBC researcher Brian Koote noticed the process of steel corrosion always follows the path of least resistance. It gave him the idea to give rust something easier to corrode. Magnesium, for example, corrodes faster than steel, and acts like a sacrificial anode. Magnesium attracts corrosive particles through an electrochemical process and sacrifices itself to extend the life of the steel. 

The project currently involves studying the long-term rate of corrosion with and without alteration. Samples of steel I-beams and magnesium bricks with strips of steel have been left outside exposed to the elements and then regularly measured for levels of deterioration and corrosion. 

Please check back with Summit Steel Buildings for developments in the experiments and research. Findings will be shared as soon as they are publicly available. 

Our partners in this research project:



• Double Black Construction is an authorized steel building erector for North America’s top pre-engineering manufacturers. Their team has been involved in industrial work, steel building erecting and general building construction for over 25 years with a commitment is to customer service, quality, competitive pricing and safety. More than 50% of their business each year comes from repeat customers.

• Dymergent Research is a private consulting group that assists companies doing research in Canada with documentation, standards compliance and applications for grants, financial assistance and tax credits under various government programs.