Under the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) Green Star rating system, there is a credit that can be obtained for the efficiency of steel use called the Life Cycle Impacts Credit.
This credit relates to the engineering design of the project and up to one point is available when there is a reduction in the mass of steel framing used when compared to standard practice. The reduced mass can be demonstrated either by:
The Life Cycle Impacts point for the use of high-strength steel can be awarded if the project team can demonstrate that:
| Category A: ≥ 95% by weight | Minimum strength Grade MPa |
|---|---|
| Roof and wall sheeting | 550 |
| Profiled steel decking | 550 |
| Purlins and girts | 450 |
| Light steel framing | 450 |
| Category B: ≥ 25% by weight | Minimum strength Grade MPa |
|---|---|
| Hot rolled structurals | 350 |
| Hot rolled plate | 350 |
| Cold-formed and hollow sections | 450 |
| Welded sections | 400 |
The Life Cycle Impacts point for reduction in mass can be awarded if the project team can demonstrate that the project results in a 5% or more reduction in mass of steel framing when compared to a suitable reference case building.
To demonstrate compliance a qualified structural engineer must submit the following: