Steel sheet is a central flat product in building construction, plant and vessel engineering, and deconstruction. From trapezoidal sheet roofs and façade claddings to tanks and silos: the properties and workability of steel sheet determine planning, assembly, and dismantling. In practical deconstruction, professionals often encounter steel sheet in composite structures with concrete, in confined interior areas, and in safety-critical environments—this is where versatile hydraulic steel shears, tank cutters, combination shears and Multi Cutters as well as powerful mobile hydraulic power units are used. Where steel sheet is part of concrete components, concrete pulverizers enable controlled exposure, while for massive components or surrounding rock, hydraulic splitters contribute to cross-section reduction.
Definition: What is meant by steel sheet
Steel sheet refers to rolled flat steel products with a small thickness relative to their surface area, supplied as sheets or coils. A common distinction is thin sheet (typically up to about 3 mm) and heavy plate (above that). Depending on the production route, a distinction is made between hot-rolled and cold-rolled sheet; there are also refined variants with metallic coatings (e.g., zinc) or organic coatings. Important parameters include yield strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, and toughness, complemented by surface quality, flatness, and thickness tolerances. Application and processing methods in deconstruction are largely determined by sheet thickness, steel grade, coating, and existing joining techniques (weld seams, seams, riveted and bolted connections).
Properties, formats, and surfaces of steel sheet
Steel sheet is supplied as sheet or coil and covers a wide range from non-alloy structural steels to higher-strength fine-grain steels. Cold-rolled grades offer precise surfaces and tight tolerances, while hot-rolled grades cover larger thickness ranges and often provide economic advantages. Surfaces can be untreated, hot-dip galvanized, electrolytically galvanized, alu-zinc coated, or organically coated. For slip-resistant requirements, embossed surfaces such as checker or tear plate are used. These variations influence corrosion protection, processing, emissions behavior during cutting, and the selection of suitable tools.
Steel sheet in construction, plant engineering, and deconstruction
In building construction, steel sheet is used as trapezoidal sheet in composite slabs, for roof and wall profiles, as fire protection cladding, in elevator shafts, air ducts, cable ducts, enclosures, and as lost formwork. In industry, tanks, vessels, pipelines, furnace claddings, and machine covers are typical applications. In deconstruction and during the strip-out, steel sheets often act as an outer shell, as a vessel jacket, or as a composite partner of concrete. Accordingly, cutting, shearing, and controlled exposure are the key work steps.
Deconstruction of tanks and vessels
Steel sheet jackets of tanks, silos, and pipelines are usually cold cut to avoid sparks and heat-affected zones. Tank cutters enable track and ring cuts on curved jacket surfaces, steel shears and combination shears segment sheet sections, flanges, and stiffening rings. With painted or galvanized sheets, mechanical methods reduce emissions compared to thermal cutting methods—particularly in sensitive areas of building gutting and cutting as well as in special demolition. The drive power is provided by a suitable hydraulic power pack.
Strip-out and cutting in existing buildings
Indoors, steel sheets occur on air ducts, façade panels, trapezoidal sheet roofs, cable trays, and machine enclosures. Multi Cutters are suitable for changing cross-sections, steel shears for efficient straight and contour cuts. Thanks to compact designs and adaptable blade geometries, components can be dismantled with minimal spark generation—an advantage in building gutting and cutting during ongoing building operations.
Concrete demolition with steel sheet components
In composite slabs with trapezoidal sheet or with lost formwork, steel sheet is directly bonded to concrete. Concrete pulverizers separate and crush the concrete in a controlled manner so that the trapezoidal sheet can be exposed and then cut off with steel shears or combination shears. This sequence supports low-emission concrete demolition and special demolition with clean separation by material type.
Rock excavation and tunnel construction
In tunnel tubes and adits, professionals encounter steel sheet as lining, cladding of ventilation systems, or in auxiliary structures. Often, the steel sheet cladding must first be loosened or cut before the in-situ rock or concrete encasement is processed with hydraulic splitters or rock wedge splitters. The coordinated sequence prevents uncontrolled deformation of sheets and facilitates safe dismantling.
Cutting and processing methods for steel sheet in deconstruction
The choice of method depends on material thickness, strength, coating, accessibility, and safety requirements. Mechanical cutting methods are often the first choice in deconstruction because they do not use flame and minimize the heat-affected zone.
Mechanical cutting
- Steel shears: precise separating cuts on sheets and profiles; high cut quality with suitable blade geometry; performance limits depending on material and thickness.
- Combination shears and Multi Cutters: flexible for mixed cross-sections (sheet, profiles, fittings), useful for changing materials in the strip-out process.
- Tank cutters: efficient longitudinal and ring cuts on vessel jackets; particularly suitable for round geometries.
Splitting, pressing, pulling
Actual splitting is not suitable for steel sheet. In composite with concrete, however, a preliminary cross-section reduction using hydraulic splitters can reduce the cutting effort on the sheet by dissipating composite forces and exposing sheet layers. Shears are then used for clean separation.
Thermal cutting
Oxy-fuel or plasma cutting is technically possible but can generate emissions on coated sheets and may introduce sparks and heat into sensitive areas. In special demolition and in potentially explosive environments, cold-cutting, hydraulically driven tools are therefore often preferred. If thermal methods are required, appropriate protection and extraction measures must be planned.
Safety, environment, and work preparation
Hazards due to springback and distortion
Steel sheet can spring back abruptly after cutting. Secure fixation, the correct cutting sequence, and removal in manageable segments reduce the risk of injury. On curved jackets, stresses from rolling directions, beads, and stiffeners must be taken into account.
Coatings and hazardous substances
Old coatings, zinc overlays, and composite systems can release particles during cutting. Dust suppression, dust extraction, and an adjusted cutting speed reduce emissions. Before starting, check for insulating-material sandwich panels, adhesively bonded joints, or sealants that require special care.
Noise, vibrations, and accessibility
Hydraulically driven tools operate with low vibration levels and are suitable for building gutting and cutting in occupied or sensitive areas. Compact cutting heads enable work in shafts, intermediate floors, and on scaffolds with limited working space.
Planning: selection of tools and power units
The design of the cutting technique is based on sheet thickness, steel grade, stiffeners, the location of weld seams, and available access points. Hydraulic power packs provide the required flow rate and operating pressure; hose lengths, couplings, and positioning at the jobsite affect efficiency. Indoors, leak-free operation, carrying concepts, and safe transport of the power units must be considered.
Parameters for tool selection
- Material and sheet thickness (single or double sheets, reinforcements, beads).
- Coatings and potential emissions during cutting.
- Accessibility and required cutting geometry (straight, ring, or contour cuts).
- Environmental influences (humidity, narrow shafts, sensitive operations, potential ignition sources).
- Logistics for segment sizes, removal, and separation by material type, including haulage logistics.
Dimensional accuracy, quality, and recycling
A clean cut edge facilitates handling, reduces rework, and prevents uncontrolled cracking. After cutting, deburring sharp-edged areas is recommended, especially for manual transport. For high-quality recycling, separating steel sheet from coatings and adherent materials (e.g., sealants, insulating materials) is beneficial. Documented material flows support verification and economic recovery in the scrap market.
Terminology and typical sources of error
Steel sheet is to be distinguished from strip steel (as a semi-finished product) and structural steel section (bars, beams). In practice, sheet thicknesses, overlaps, or hidden stiffeners are often underestimated. Additional backing plates, double walls, or internal stiffening rings in vessels frequently remain undetected at first. Likewise, sandwich panels with mineral or polymer insulation can significantly influence cutting behavior. Careful probing and trial cuts minimize risks and improve process planning.