STEELFRAMING INCREASINGLY POPULAR
Sustainable and lighter construction
In the past, a lot of construction was done with solid materials so-called "traditional" construction. For a while, there was a trend towards HSB (timber frame construction) combined with traditional construction. However, this also turned out to have some disadvantages. Nowadays, therefore, there is an increasing demand for sustainable and lighter construction. In addition, there is a desire to build faster in order to reduce construction time and costs.
With the above facts, steel framing, or steel frame construction, has made its appearance. Steel framing perfectly meets all the requirements of our time, making it the best growing construction method in the world. The Dutch construction industry is also becoming increasingly aware of this.
What is steelframing?
In steel framing, the structure of, for example, a steel-framed house is erected in thin-walled cold-formed profiles. Steel framing is a skeletal construction method. The building is divided into planes/elements. These elements are made of a skeleton with cladding on both sides. In steel framing, the skeleton is made of steel profiles. The steel frame profiles are made from thin sheet steel by roll forming machines.
The required length, holes, couplings, recesses etc. will be computer-controlled. Next, a contractor or subcontractor or framing company will assemble these profiles into a frame. The wall frame can be fitted with insulation material, usually mineral wool or cellulose. A vapour control film is usually required on the inside to prevent internal condensation.
The steel frame lends itself perfectly to continuing the skeleton work with various cladding options. Here below are some commonly used and well-known options.
- For the floor: Ripstaal dovetail, Ripstaal building board or OSB (or other wood) continue. After that, you can then choose again to pour, tile, lay vinyl, PVC or a wooden floor.
- For the inner wall: Ripstaal Aquafire, Ripstaal building board, Plasterboard, Cementitious boards or OSB (or other wood) continue. Then again, you have various options like tiling, plastering, wallpapering or other interior cladding to apply.
- For outer walls: Ripstaal Aquafire, sandwich panels, EPS boards or OSB (or other wood). After these 1st layers, anything can be put on, such as facade panels, stone strips or countless facade planks.
- For the roof: sandwich panels, EPS boards or OSB (or other wood). With sandwich panels you could be ready right away, and from EPS or OSB you can go in any direction. Think EPDM, roofing membrane, PVC or roof tiles
All this is easy to assemble by gluing/sealing, screwing or using nails. What you finally apply must therefore come from the design that we receive in order to make the best preparations.
The Different profiles we can make are as follows:
In thickness 1.2mm:
- C075
- C089
- C100
- C120
- C150
In thickness 1.5mm:
- C200
- C250
The advantages of steel frame construction:
The fact that steel-frame construction is the world's best growing construction method is actually quite logical because it eminently meets all of today's higher building requirements: sustainable, ecological, low-energy, gap-tight, earthquake-resistant, fast, flexible and with a short construction time.
Rapid construction system
One very big advantage is speed. A steel skeleton is custom-made at the production facility so there are no delays due to weather conditions. Moreover, it is a dry construction system. That means it does not need to dry or harden. On site, the skeleton is upright in just a few days. It can then be made wind and watertight in a very short time. Even the cut-outs and holes in the steel profiles for pipe feed-throughs and/or routing are already made in the production facility.
Flexible construction system
Due to the high strength of steel and flexibility of the profiles, almost all designs can be made. The outer walls have no load-bearing function. Everything rests on the steel skeleton. A very big advantage of this is also that you can make very large spans. Internal walls are not even a must.
Precise construction system
The flatness, dimensional stability and tightness of the profiles ensure high-quality finishes and better gap and air sealing. The construction system is very precise because the profiles are industrially manufactured. The product is dimensionally stable so no later shrinkage and stretch cracks. The modularity of the profiles gives a perfect fit with other materials.
Light construction system
Steel frame construction is the lightest designed construction system in the world. Due to its lighter construction, it gives the possibility of a lighter foundation also this system lends itself perfectly to elevations. The system has a health and safety friendly assembly and no special tools are required.
Strong construction system
The system has an extremely high strength of steel and also more usable area because it can be built more slenderly. The insulation can be concealed in the profiles.
Stable building system
During earthquakes and heavy winds, large horizontal loads will occur in the structure. The extreme high strength of steel allows these to be absorbed and transmitted. The light weight of the entire skeleton will reduce the forces. High earthquake resistance will therefore be more easily achieved in combination with a solid foundation. Steel frame gives increased safety for occupants.
Fire-resistant building system
Steel is incombustible and will not contribute to a fire. Similarly, short circuits from electrical installations in walls and floors will not be able to cause a fire.
Ecological building system
Steel is 100% recyclable. No waste due to tailor-made production and therefore less material and no waste costs. Steel has a longer lifespan. And of course the ecological aspect of steel frame: "Forests are preserved when buildings are made!"
Assembly of this building system
The system is easy to assemble, no specialist is needed. It can be assembled without heavy tools and without auxiliary materials such as scaffolding and outriggers. It can be assembled dust-free and in all kinds of weather conditions. Steelframe construction has a short construction time and is a dry construction method (no long drying times/shrinkage cracks). The construction system lends itself extremely well to prefabrication and, due to the low weight of the profiles, assembly is also health and safety-friendly.
Sustainable building system
A major advantage of steel profiles unlike HSB is that the steel cannot rot, does not split, does not warp and does not suffer from time-dependent creep. Steel also has no infestation by pests (insects, worms or rodents). Due to its zinc coating, steel also has high corrosion resistance.
Economic construction system
When all these aspects are included in the calculations, the final price of the building will be lower than the traditional construction method. Due to many advantages, higher quality construction is achieved so steelframe has a "good price/quality ratio" The most important economic aspect of steelframe construction is the faster construction method which therefore also makes it more financially attractive.
