With manufacturing going through a technological revolution, the flagship research facility at the University of Nottingham has been developed to help future-proof UK industry in a competitive global market. Siemens UK CEO, Juergen Maier officially opened the Advanced Manufacturing Building on 07 December 2018. With a total research portfolio of £80million, the nationally significant development consolidates the University's manufacturing science and technology capabilities, expertise and industrial support.
The new landmark building has the capacity to house 699 staff, students and researchers, helping to train and provide the next generation of industry pioneers. It is therefore fitting that one of the UK's leading innovators in the offsite arena, designed, engineered and manufactured the structural system offsite. The building adopts low-energy design techniques to create a sustainable solution without compromising the need for an adaptable and pleasant working environment. Low-energy design features include louvres for ventilation, light shelves that allow natural illumination into the building, photovoltaic cells and highperformance insulation for heat and sound.
To create the high-performance external envelope, EOS completed the design, engineering, manufacturing and supply of the infill walling steel framing system (SFS). Building information modelling (BIM) technology enabled the design to be tested in a digital environment where the proposed construction solution could be changed at minimum cost. In line with the sustainability ethos of Nottingham University, design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) protocols helped to identify, calculate and eliminate waste or inefficiency in the structural design. By manufacturing offsite, EOS were able to develop as much of the finished product as possible in the factory, ultimately minimising on-site labour.
With a culture of continuous improvement, EOS have invested in an advanced factory facility and fabrication plant to be self-sufficient in the manufacturing of ancillary parts such as angles, brackets, windows and cills. Ongoing investment in research and development, combined with the latest manufacturing machinery and digital technology, has resulted in the launch of a new system approach for the offsite sector.
Introducing the New and Revolutionary Thrubuild® System
The EOS Thrubuild® loadbearing system uses offsite manufacture and the latest testing to deliver structures faster – with assured performance built-in. Developed in collaboration with Etex Building Performance brands, EOS, Siniat, and Promat, the system makes use of the latest products, technical know-how, and manufacturing excellence of the Etex Building Performance team. The loadbearing, light steel 'through the wall' system, has been developed to form the structure of low to mediumrise buildings, up to nine-storeys, and fully tested with boarding and insulation for confidence of design performance. The light steel framework is panelised in the factory and delivered to site for assembly. Partial boarding of these frames can also take place offsite depending on the system and your build process.
A Different Structural Approach
Designing with light steel structural systems is not complex but requires a different approach. It is based on transferring loads throughout the building and through as many walls as are practical. Internal and external walls become fundamental parts of the primary structure, rather than just infill pieces that only carry their own weight and directly applied loads. As a result, fire resistance requirements often increase compared to nonloadbearing steel as each element must be protected for the structures' period of resistance, rather than solely as fire compartments.
System Overview
The EOS Thrubuild® loadbearing system has been developed as an integrated solution, using a range of light steel framing, Siniat Weather Defence external sheathing board, and Siniat Frameboard, an internal plasterboard exclusively developed for the EOS loadbearing systems by Siniat, a world leader in plasterboard materials. These integrated systems have been tested and assessed for compliance with the latest regulations and standards to ensure robust and reliable design performance.
EOS light steel framing features coldrolled galvanised light steel sections in a range of depths and gauges. C-sections are swaged for a flat surface finish. By considering all components, systems can be relied upon to offer excellent fire, acoustic and thermal capabilities to suit the needs of UK single and multi-residential construction. All systems have also been engineered for structural performance to the latest Eurocodes. Design performance is achieved using combinations of boarding and insulation. Almost all building arrangements can be achieved, and non-loadbearing drywall systems can also be used to sub-divide space following initial construction of the loadbearing building system.
Steve Thompson, Managing Director, EOS, said of the product development: "The combination of expertise from the Etex Building Performance group in drylining, external sheathing and steel framing systems, as well as passive fire protection, means that we are uniquely positioned to bring together these elements to create a range of tested and warrantied Thrubuild® systems. Meeting building performance requirements for fire, thermal, weathering, acoustics and airtightness – the newly launched Thrubuild® Systems provide an 'all in one' solution with crucial time and costs benefits."
