The material used in the world's fastest growing construction technology has a construction pedigree that spans more than 100 years. Around the turn of the last century it built London's Ritz Hotel. Now, as we enter the next century, it is pointing the way forward in domestic, commercial and multi-storey buildings.
The technology is built around the use of zinc coated corrosion-resistant steel in a "warm frame" which retains heat within the building and keeps external heat out.
It has been exhaustively proven not only in the laboratory, but also in the field: on-site evaluation and accelerated corrosion tests show the expected life of a light steel frame to be well over 100 years. The frames are designed on a CAD system directly from the architect's drawings, factory or site fabricated to consistently precise tolerances, and erected on site by specially trained teams.
Steel sections arriving for site fabrication – Stellenbosch University Student Housing
Assembly of Steel on Site - Stellenbosch University Student Housing
Light steel framing has been in use internationally for many decades and GLOBAL has taken title to a system which was originally developed in the United Kingdom. Millions of pounds were spent on the development and testing of the system prior to implementation into Europe. The light steel framing system was successfully introduced to South Africa and has since been taken further a field into Africa and beyond.
GLOBAL has subsequently refined the system and integrated the use of external cladding in the form of a cement/wood particle board. These boards has proven to be superior to many conventional building materials and prolonged use in areas of extreme freeze/thaw conditions confirmed that the use of the Versapanel boards provides a well insulated, maintenance free and long lasting construction solution.
THE MATERIALS
GLOBAL uses 0.8mm galvanised, Z 275 coated, full hard steel from coil stock to form channels of various dimensions, which are made up in frames consisting of top and bottom track sections, vertical studs, noggins and bracings. All the frames are designed and signed off by our structural engineers, from whom the cover of continuous structural indemnity arises for the project.
Due to the design of the frames and the grading of the steel, it is possible to build up to multi storey heights, with hot rolled steel introduced for higher floors. Part of the design specification is for the system to withstand winds of up to 160 miles per hour (e.g. Hotel & Spa complex in Barbados, West Indies).
SITE WORKS
As the light steel framing system, including the board cladding, weighs only approximately 10% of a conventionally constructed wall, the requirement for footings and slabs are vastly reduced. This advantage makes the system very suitable for construction where unstable or low load bearing soils occur or in instances where the sub structure of existing buildings would not carry the imposed loads of a conventionally constructed walling situation.
Over roofing and upper floor construction is not only now possible because of the lesser load, but it is much faster and cleaner as no longer are bricks, sand, stone, etc required on site. As wet works are taken out of the site operations, there is a total saving in the use and wastage of water and site noise and the disruption to adjacent properties are greatly minimised.
Concerning the founding situation for a light steel framed building, only a raft slab with dropped anchor beam will be required in most instances.
Each frame is designed for its particular location in a building and to carry the loads imposed on it in that position. The installation of the frames is in accordance with a detailed site lay-out plan on which each frame position is numbered. Correspondingly numbered frames are installed on site.
Frames installation starts according to plan lay-out positions
THE BENEFITS
- Speed of construction
- Reliability
- High quality, consistent material
- Economy
- Excellent structural properties
- High performance
- Flexibility
- Versatility
- Compatibility
- Proven in use
- Widely approved
- Re-cyclable and re-usable
Speed of Construction
Light steel framing permits fast-track construction. It provides a 'dry envelope' which allows follow-on trades to begin work early in the project.
Services are accommodated within the framing and the installation of plumbing, electrical, gas, telephone and other requirements commences with the installation of the first frames.
Plumbing & Electrical installation commences after first frames are installed.
Reliability
Light steel framing construction is independent of weather conditions and takes masonry out of the critical path, allowing prompt completion.
High quality, consistent material
A quality-assured product with consistent performance and long-term durability.
Dimensionally stable and accurate.
Resistant to fungal and insect attack.
Economy
The speed, quality, and reliability of light steel framing reduce construction costs. Its ease of handling and erection also adds to its economy.
Excellent structural properties.
High strength-to-weight ratio.
Doesn't shrink, warp or crack.
Its light weight can reduce foundation costs.
High performance
Excellent thermal and acoustic performances achieved economically.
Easily meets fire rating and standards, when used with the usual building materials.
Flexibility
Offers total freedom to incorporate creative architectural features in any design.
Easy to extend or to adapt to a change of building use.
Versatility
Light steel framing can be used for domestic, commercial, and industrial applications - both new and refurbishment.
Compatibility
Can be used with all building materials.
Proven in use
Light steel framing is developing rapidly and is widely used in North America and Japan. It is already well proven in practice in the UK and Europe.
Widely approved
Light steel framing systems have been tested extensively, accredited and approved by the BBA, WIMLAS, NHBC, LANTAC, and HAPM.
Re-cyclable and re-usable
Despite the abundance of iron ore, steel has for many years been the world's most re-cycled metal. Light steel frames themselves can be re-used as framing. Just as important, steel's strength-to-weight ratio means that when compared with other structural building materials, relatively little steel is used to create the structure.