Light gauge steel frame is a fundamentally important material to offsite construction. Light steel framing is used in offsite construction for a wide range of building types and applications, from hotels to hospitals and housing to commercial offices. Light steel framing may be utilised in the form of panelised or volumetric systems and is typically used for the primary structure of housing and low-to-medium-rise buildings of up to 10 storeys.
Light gauge steel framing can be used for a building's full frame but also for a variety of roofing, modular options and infill walling applications. Steel framing systems can be load bearing, provide infill-walling or/and continuous walling. Structural panels assembled from cold-formed galvanised steel sections can be used in a wide range of building types including hybrid situations with concrete and other materials.
Light steel framing and modular constructions are load-bearing systems that are suitable for low, medium and high-rise buildings in building renovations such as in rooftop extensions. The use of these forms of construction is closely related to the wider benefits that are offered to the developer and the main contractor. Multi-storey buildings up to 10+ storeys high and mixed-use buildings comprising commercial space or car parking at the lower levels with residential units above are all achievable in light steel framing.
High levels of thermal insulation and airtightness are achieved with a light steel frame. The lightweight nature of this system means that self-weight can be reduced by over 70% relative to concrete and block-work construction. This results in related savings for foundation loads and sizes. Steel components can be further pre-assembled or fabricated into modules either offsite or at a low level. This then reduces the need for working at height, with steel being delivered to site as and when it is required, reducing the need for onsite storage.
For more information on Light Steel Frames, please visit the Light Steel Frame Association website here.
QUICK LINKS:
> View suppliers using steel technology on the Offsite Supplier Directory
> View projects using steel technology
