Benefits of light steel framing

One of the main advantages of light steel framing is its versatility and the range of building types for which it can be used.

Applications of light steel framing range from low-rise housing to multi-storey, multi-occupancy developments, including panelised structural frames, external infill walling systems and fully finished offsite modular construction. The range of building types is indicated by the projects shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 1 – Housing development using light steel framing

Figure 2 – Medium rise development using light steel framing

The wide range of applications is in addition to the benefits one would expect with a modern construction method: rapid speed of construction, high quality and performance, excellent safety and cost-effectiveness. A major sector for light steel framing is four to eight-storey residential buildings and mixed-use buildings often comprising commercial space and car parking at the lower levels. In these cases, the lightweight characteristic of the construction system is crucial to minimising the loads on the supporting structure.

Figure 3 – Multi-storey light steel framed residential development

Forms of construction

Light steel framing comprises galvanised cold-formed C sections of 70mm to 100mm depth in the wall panels, and 150mm to 300mm deep C sections or lattice joists in the floors. Spans of up to 6m can be achieved, which can eliminate internal load-bearing walls and therefore leads to flexibility in internal space planning.

The prefabricated wall panels are typically storey-height (i.e. 2.7m to 3.2m) and up to 8m long, depending on transportation and lifting.

Figure 4 – Light steel external walling

A house can be constructed from as little as 12 wall panels and up to four houses or large apartments can be delivered per lorry. The floors can be installed in the form of prefabricated floor cassettes, or as individual joists. A typical light steel project during construction is shown in Figure 5.

The option to use composite floor slabs supported by the light steel walls (as shown in Figure 6) is popular in some sectors. In this case, the floor slab is typically 150mm to 180mm deep using profiled steel decking with in-situ concrete and spans up to 5.5m when propped temporarily during construction. Not only is the self-weight half of that of a concrete flat slab but it is shallower and provides for routing of ducts suspended from the decking.

Figure 5 – Light steel framing during construction 

Both joisted and composite floors often use slim floor beams that are integrated within the floor zone to create more open plan space, which is particularly useful in care homes and in lobby areas. Concrete and steel stairs are generally delivered as part of the light steel package and are integrated into the Building Information Model (BIM) provided by the light steel supplier.

Figure 6 – Light steel framing with composite floors during construction

The structural performance of cold-formed sections enable their use in a wide variety of applications. A light steel C section of only 1.5mm thickness can support up to 50kN in compression. Structural bracing is integrated into the walls for stability so that medium-rise buildings do not require additional cores. Efficient design solutions are achieved by selecting the steel thickness and configuration of sections to suit the specific loading conditions.

Urban developments

Figure 7 – Multi-storey light steel framed hotel

The benefits of offsite manufacture and of light steel framing in particular come to the fore in urban residential projects that often involve a mixture of townhouses and larger apartment buildings. Figure 7 shows a city centre hotel using light steel frame construction. The advantages that are sought by the client and contractor are:

• A packaged construction system in which all the structural components are designed, delivered and installed by one supplier.

• An integrated BIM model is prepared by the supplier, which links to the architect's model and can be used and added to by the main contractor and client.

• Minimising deliveries and storage space in congested inner-city sites. This is achieved by 'just in time delivery' to site. Panels are colour-coded or labelled so they can be easily identified.

• Minimising loads on the foundations and any supporting structure, and also when constructing over tunnels or on brownfield sites or rooftop extensions.

• A versatile construction system that is efficient for housing and for residential buildings up to 10-storey buildings.

• High quality in terms of geometrical accuracy and freedom from any long-term movements due to creep and shrinkage, so eliminating call backs.

• Good sustainability rating based on a range of environmental criteria. Light steel framing can be designed for low U-values and scores A+ or A under the BRE Green Guide. All steel components can be recycled and building extensions can be made easily in the future.

Mixed-use developments

Mixed-use developments generally comprise commercial or retail space at the lower levels and residential units above. A good example is where three- or four-storey housing is constructed over retail space, such as supermarkets in urban areas. The mixed nature of the project may be required for planning reasons or to maximise the return from the land use.

The key requirement is a lightweight super-structure with the ability to span between the transfer beams and to be sufficiently robust to tolerate differential deflections of the supports. Light steel framing has proved to be the perfect solution as it weighs less than 100kg/m2 per floor while achieving spans of up to 6m between beams.

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

The light steel framing industry is leading the way in BIM, which is essential to the manufacturing process and eliminates problems on site, especially with interfaces to other components. In light steel framing, a 3D BIM model of the structure of the building is created in IFC format and is shared with the project architect during the formative stages of design.

Figure 8 – BIM model for light steel framing residential project

It is important that the light steel supplier is appointed early in order to be able to maximise the benefits of an integrated BIM model (see Figure 8).

From this, the light steel supplier produces panel drawings for their manufacture and also for the other components, such as steel beams and stair units, which are integrated into the model. This enables a consistent geometry and interfaces with other key parts of the building, such as façades and services. Clashes are identified and solved at this stage. The main contractor or project architect would often take on the BIM model and manage subsequent updates so that it is available to the client and facilities manager.

Technical expertise

The Steel Construction Institute (SCI) has over 25 years of R&D experience in the light steel sector and works with leading light steel frame suppliers to prepare design guidance on structural design, acoustics, fire resistance, thermal performance and sustainability. The SCI has published a series of Technical Information Sheets to provide technical guidance to the sector.

It is clear from the marketplace that the future for light steel framing is based on the value benefits offered by single point procurement and integrated design and on responding to client drivers for rapid-build, lightweight and adaptable buildings.

Independent SCI product certification is beneficial for new systems to gain market acceptance and is tailored to suit typical light steel construction systems including: Cladding and roofing, External wall systems, Light steel framing and Modular.

Andrew Way - Associate Director - Steel Construction Institute - www.steel-sci.com

For more information on Light Steel Framing contact the Light Steel Frame Association: www.lsf-association.co.uk