Light Steel Framing Magazine Issue 01 - Spring 2020 by Radar Communications

ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2020

LIGHT STEEL FRAMING MAGAZINE THE L ATEST IN LIGHT STEEL FR AMING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF A RESTRICTIVE SITE AND

LIGHT STEEL FRAMING MAGAZINE SOCIAL DISTANCING

P14 FUTURE HOMES STANDARD Steel and the practical impact of changes to Part L1A & Part F

P16

P18

DIGITAL ENGINEERING

BUILD TO RENT

BIM: Bringing collaboration and co-ordination to steel construction

Demonstrating critical value to clients and investors

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Make the Light Steel Frame Association part of your 2020 business strategy! Established to influence legislation, regulation and to support the overall objectives and growth of the sector, the LIGHT STEEL FRAME ASSOCIATION (LSFA) is raising awareness of the performance and productivity benefits of steel framing systems. The Light Steel Frame Association works with our members to provide access to industry contacts, technical expertise and market intelligence to support growth and increase market share. Aimed at Manufacturers, Supply Chain, Consultants, Installers, Affiliates and Clients, LSFA members benefit from: Direct representation within the wider construction industry Positive influence and engagement to increase market share Dedicated marketing and PR campaign Industry collaboration and knowledge transfer Speaker, exhibitor and sponsor opportunities at key networking events, trade shows and conferences Strategic partnerships with other trade bodies Code of conduct - a standard of operating Highest quality technical standards, driven by our Technical Partners SCI Relevant and best-in-class training and education

WWW.LSF-ASSOCIATION.CO.UK

JOIN TODAY! The collective power of the Light Steel Frame Association will drive growth and promote specification of innovative light steel frame systems across all construction sectors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to join visit the LSFA website or contact the team today:

T: 01743 290 030 E: info@lsf-association.co.uk

WELCOME

PUBLISHING

Welcome to the first issue of Light Steel Framing Magazine providing some news and views from the industry and published in partnership with the Light Steel Frame Association – an organisation set up to support the overall objectives and growth of the sector.

FRONT COVER: Hadley Steel Framing - Lydstep Terrace PRINTED ON: PEFC 16-33-576 paper stock by Buxton Press

PUBLISHER: Light Steel Framing Magazine is produced in partnership with the Light Steel Frame Association and published by Radar Communications: ©Radar Communications Ltd. Radar Communications Ltd, 5 Darwin Court, Oxon Business Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. SY3 5AL T: 01743 290001 www.radar-communications.co.uk SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE: www.lightsteelframingmagazine.co.uk ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: Julie Williams // T: 01743 290001 E: julie.williams@radar-communications.co.uk SEND US YOUR NEWS: Gary Ramsay // T: 01743 290001 E: info@lsf-association.co.uk FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: E: info@lsf-association.co.uk DISCLAIMER: The content of Light Steel Framing Magazine does not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publishers and are the views of its contributors and advertisers. The digital edition may include hyperlinks to third-party content, advertising, or websites, provided for the sake of convenience and interest. The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising from information in this publication and do not endorse any advertising or products available from external sources. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the publishers. All rights reserved.

This dedicated steel industry publication features interviews with respected commentators, plus a whole host of product and technical innovations that are transforming the way buildings are designed and delivered. As the construction industry faces unparalleled challenges, the light steel sector is proving to be highly resilient and robust, with many offsite factories manufacturing to meet supply chain requirements. With proposed new building regulations on the horizon which may play to the strengths of light steel frame construction, many industry insiders are preparing to meet the predicted increase in demand. There is also growing pressure on the construction industry to be more resource efficient, reduce waste and to lower embodied carbon impacts. Circular economy concepts are being widely promoted, with a roadmap developed to support the shift towards a much needed resource-efficient, low carbon and effective economy. Steel plays a fundamental part in achieving a successful circular economy – components can be remanufactured, reused or recycled. Although with such a long service life, we may have to wait over a hundred years or more for steel that is in use today to be recycled or reused – which is a positive thing. This new Light Steel Framing Magazine presents a great opportunity for those operating within the industry and associated supply chains to have their say – so if you have news to share or an industry issue you would like to raise – then please get in touch through the usual channels.

Gary Ramsay Consultant Editor info@lsf-association.co.uk

FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES 01-02 DECEMBER 2020 | MTC, COVENTRY CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

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CONTENTS

In this issue...

Overcoming the Challenges of Restrictive Sites

Industry News

Future Homes Standard

Build to Rent

Steel, Sustainability and the Circular Economy

Bailey Street

Technical and Standard Developments

Restricted access in a busy residential area was not ideal but offsite manufacturing and close collaboration ensured the successful delivery of a challenging family townhouses project.

Highlighting the latest reports, research, developments and building technology innovations in the UK’s light steel framing sector.

With proposed changes to Part L1A and Part F due soon, offsite experts Cogent Consulting consider the potential implications for lightweight structural solutions.

As predicted, the UK’s Build-to-Rent (BTR) market is set to grow significantly. Steve Thompson from steel framing specialists EOS, discusses the many opportunities ahead.

The Light Steel Frame Association is on a mission to explain steel’s sustainability benefits and its role in the circular economy.

Sigmat were appointed by Torsion to deliver the light steel frame for the high-end 220-bed student accommodation block in the centre of Sheffield.

The light steel frame sector continues to grow in line with the uptake of offsite construction. The SCI provide an update on recent material developments.

Driving growth and supporting the objectives of the light steel frame industry

JOIN US TODAY!

www.lsf-association.co.uk

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COVER STORY HADLEY

OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF A RESTRICTIVE SITE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING

THE RESTRICTIVE ACCESS AND TIGHT CONFINES OF A SITE IN A BUSY RESIDENTIAL AREA OF BRISTOL, MADE IT IDEAL FOR OFFSITE METHODS, WITH FACTORY MANUFACTURING AND CLOSE COLLABORATION KEY TO THE SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY OF THIS CHALLENGING PROJECT.

Hadley Group have over 50 years of experience and expertise in cold rolled section profiles. This combined with in-house design, engineering, detailing and site installation, means the team are highly experienced in delivering high quality residential projects – even in the most difficult situations. Located on the south bank of the River Avon near Bristol, Lydstep Terrace is a development of nine family townhouses, each has been designed to provide character with a modern approach to family living. This project was within a re-development site in a highly populated area of Bristol in very close proximity to neighbouring properties on three sides and a park

situated opposite. Ensuring positive relationships with local residents was a high priority and key factor for the developers RBH Properties, main contractor Swinhay Ltd and Hadley Group. The site itself was difficult enough, then added into the mix were the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions, which in turn heightened residents’ concerns due to their close proximity to the development site. Government advice was that construction should continue during the lockdown where safe to do so. Developments such as Lydstep Terrace are essential in providing quality accommodation to ease the housing crisis – a demand that does

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not diminish despite the pandemic. Although not designated as key workers, construction teams have a crucial role to play in safeguarding housing requirements as set out by the UK Government. CLOSE COLLABORATION All parties concluded that the development should progress, despite the challenges presented by the site and the additional working restrictions. The very close collaboration of all construction partners and regular detailed communications made this possible. Risk assessments and method statements were revised and amended, with on-site procedures to ensure

COVER STORY HADLEY

02 social distancing measures could be adhered to whilst installing the structure. Maintaining ongoing safe installation processes and working with the utmost professionalism was hugely important. A key factor in achieving social distancing was the small number of workers in the Hadley site installation team, which included a crane operator. So, the works were able to continue under significant control, care, and caution. Steve Chesters, Commercial Manager for Hadley Steel Framing said: “This project is testament to the power of collaboration and through our offsite construction delivery for light gauge steel framing and steel framing systems, works could continue when other traditional methods of construction would have had to stop.” A SYSTEMATIC OFFSITE APPROACH Part of Hadley Group, Hadley Steel Framing offer high levels of technical, structural and design expertise, along with unrivalled installation standards and quality. The adaptable steel framing system (SFS) was delivered and installed easily on-site, overcoming the access challenges, and was used for some of the developments most critical components. Through the significant benefits of offsite construction, Hadley Steel Framing’s panelised offsite manufactured structure was not only fast to install but was constructed with a very small labour force. In addition,

03 the panelised steel framing system reduced the number of deliveries to site, decreasing the inconvenience to neighbours and the difficulties of navigating the tight approach which contributed to the overall programme success. The use of Hadley Steel Framing’s light gauge steel profiles helped the project team to complete the build in a timely manner, which ensured crucial deadlines were met. The installation and erection were structurally complete in 10 weeks and finished in just 12 weeks. The system utilised to deliver this scheme comprised of 100mm light gauge steel framing – panelised as a cold rolled structure, 150mm deep concrete composite floors, mansard roofs, steel pan stairs with concrete tread infill steel joists and hot rolled steel balconies. Hadley Group, despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 were able to internally manufacture and supply the profiles and factory panelised assemblies by adapting its manufacture and assembly processes to comply with social distancing requirements to

guarantee that production kept going and panels continued to be supplied to the project. Chris Hughes, Director at Swinhay Ltd said: “Clear deadlines and milestones were set out at receipt of order from Hadley, these dates have been met throughout the design phase and installation on-site. The erection of the steel frame has been installed like clockwork, there have been several challenges in delivering Lydstep Terrace, access to the site being one, Hadley’s team have been a pleasure to work with and proved that a tight small site is no problem.” “When the COVID-19 restrictions were enforced we thought we would have to close the site, Hadley have been able to continue as they are in complete control of their supply chain and the installation on-site. This has enabled the project to progress at pace through these very difficult times.”

IMAGES 01-03. Hadley Steel Framing - Lydstep Terrace, Bristol

HADLEY GROUP Hadley Group have shaped their business around adding value for customers, understanding their diverse needs and through local expertise, market insight and manufacturing capabilities – delivering beyond expectations. Working closely with the Swinhay team, the collective challenges from on-road parking and tight corners on approaches, together with the social distancing restrictions, were overcome whilst still ensuring good community relations. To find out more about Hadley Group visit: www.hadleysteelframing.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS

BARRATT TO BUILD ONE IN FOUR HOMES USING MMC BY 2025

PLATFORM DESIGN TEAM ANNOUNCED

Britain's biggest housebuilder aims to build a quarter of its homes using modern methods of construction by 2025. Barratt has rolled out a series of new housing types to allow a switch to greater use of offsite production and standardised product use. Its commitment to driving down build costs using modern methods of construction came as the volume housebuilder reported a 12-year high in completions, up 9% to 8,314 in the first six months of the financial year.

The Construction Innovation Hub has unveiled the industry ‘players’ who will take forward its flagship Platform Design programme – a central plank of the Hub’s four-year Government-backed programme to transform UK construction. Platforms will enable new buildings to be designed and configured using a pre-defined ‘kit of parts’, which are proven to demonstrate greater whole-life value, lower carbon and energy use, better safety and quality and which will improve the overall performance of buildings. This approach will support the government’s ambition to drive innovation and build industrial capability and capacity in businesses throughout the UK to deliver more sustainable buildings in the near future. The Platform programme will be driven by a collaborative team of integrators comprising some of construction’s biggest names: Skanska, BAM, PCE, MID Group, Kier/ VINCI Construction UK, Mace and Mott MacDonald. Supported through every step of the programme by manufacturing, building performance and digital specialists from the three partners of the Hub – the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), BRE and Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) – Platform participants will develop and refine their products, technologies or services which will then be installed and widely showcased on a proof-of-concept building, demonstrating how these solutions can be applied across a wide range of UK government projects for vital new buildings including schools, hospitals and prisons.

Construction Innovation Hub Programme Director, Keith Waller, said: “Our flagship Platform Design programme is a game-changer for construction. With the right blend of expertise and collaboration across government and industry, we could see a critical mass of new-built projects like schools and hospitals constructed using the Platform approach in as little as ten years, driving improved productivity and performance for the sector and better outcomes for the environment and society. The innovative businesses joining us on our journey are the vanguard of transformative change, not just in terms of how we create buildings, but in how those buildings impact on our lives and the environment.” The wider collaborative team for the Hub’s Platform programme comprises over forty businesses drawn from a range of disciplines, and includes a number of specialist SMEs, who will work alongside the Hub and the integrators, providing design, specialist consultancy services, sub-assembly, components and materials that will be showcased on the proof of concept building.

David Thomas, chief executive, said: “Barratt planned to increase volumes by 3-5% a year, against a backdrop of some of its rival housebuilders reining back completions.” In the last six months of 2019, despite impacts from General Election and Brexit uncertainty, Barratt lifted revenue 6% to £2.27bn, generating a pre-tax profit up nearly 4% to £423m. Operating margin softened slightly over the period to 19%. He added that Barratt had become the first major housebuilder to set a science-based target to reduce carbon emissions in its operations by around a third by 2025. Rival Redrow also revealed its first-half trading today with legal completions down 14% to 2,554 homes. Pre-tax profit over the six months to December slid 15% to £157m on revenue down 10% at £870m.

MMC Programme Director at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), Will Varah, added: “There is a strong alignment between the IPA’s P-DfMA approach and the Hub’s Platform programme. We look forward to working together to deliver a more sustainable and productive way to meeting our ambitious investment programme.”

John Tutte, executive chairman of Redrow, said that the market was fairly consistent across all of Redrow's operating areas with London showing some early signs of improvement. "The market in the first five weeks of the second half has been resilient with the value of reservations up 15% at £180m (2019: £156m)."

www.constructioninnovationhub.org.uk

www.barratthomes.co.uk

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INDUSTRY NEWS

NEW STUDENT ACCOMMODATION FOR COVENTRY The Oaks is a 382-bedroom student accommodation scheme in Coventry built on the site of a former college building that was demolished to make way for this new development. The building has two wings of student accommodation over four to six storeys with a mix of studio apartments and cluster bedrooms. McLaren Construction appointed MetStructures for the light gauge steel structure as they provided an in-house service from design through to on-site installation. The pre-assembled external walls were pre-clad with 12mm Cementitious board in MetStructures factory so that as the building progresses the

envelope was protected from the elements. The internal loadbearing walls arrived pre-assembled and as with the external walls were co-ordinated for a rapid installation process. On a floor by floor basis the external and internal walls were erected then the composite metal decking was installed from below, the staircases were also installed to allow safe access to the floor above for when the decking was complete. Gary Donnelly, MetStructures Project Director, stated that: "Regular communication and meetings between the design and project teams led to the successful design, detailing and installation of the project. We are pleased to say that following on from the successful delivery of The Oaks project, McLaren Construction are now engaging with MetStructures on a number of other projects." The MetStructures system is NHBC and SCI-certified to 15 storeys and has been fire tested to 60, 90 & 120 minutes which meets the new building regulation standards for fire resistance. During their most recent suite of fire testing MetStructures paid

particular attention to the external wall fire resistance from outside to inside and achieved a 120-minute fire rating for their system. For information on the MetStructures System: visit www.metstructures.uk.com

MYTHBUSTING GUIDE TO MMC SEEKS TO SOLVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS A new guide argues that modern methods of construction (MMC) are key to increasing the supply of affordable homes in the UK. Published by The Housing Forum, 'MMC for Affordable Housing Developers', aims to help public sector organisations navigate the procurement, planning, design and post-build stages of MMC projects. It includes a detailed section on mythbusting, highlighting common assumptions people make about MMC, such as a lack of quality, difficulty in securing finance, and confusion over contracts. Shelagh Grant, chief executive of The Housing Forum, said: "The guide challenges the myths surrounding procurement, contracts and costs, to help public sector organisations assess the business case for MMC, armed with accurate information. "MMC will help the Government meet its commitment to deliver 300,000 homes a year, but also benefit affordable housing providers and its tenants. Using MMC effectively will future-proof housing supply. It leads to faster build times, minimises disruption to communities, and there are fewer defects, providing consistent quality and better as-built performance."

Other benefits of MMC were highlighted within the report, including that it can offer more predictable thermal performance, improved cashflow and a reduction in the building's maintenance costs. Despite these benefits, barriers do exist. Compliance with the procurement regime was identified as one of the biggest issues preventing public sector organisations from adopting MMC. It clarifies that the public contracts regulations 2015 can evaluate benefits including quality/price evaluation and ongoing maintenance costs. Mike Fairey, director at Fusion Building Systems, wrote the foreword to the guide. He said: "This is a comprehensive guide developed by a cross-industry working group, with experts from all areas of the supply chain represented, including architects, manufacturers, contractors, housing associations, trade bodies, and government. It was essential to get a rounded view to understand the issues fully."

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Jeff Endean, director at Cast Consultancy provided the keynote at a launch event for the guide and discussed how the housing sector can take MMC forward. Jeff Endean commented: "The emergence of MMC specific frameworks, alongside better understanding of delivery and contractual models, is already helping to create affordable and sustainable housing. The next challenge will be to achieve this at scale. With the support of the industry, MMC will become a mainstream housing choice. In order to achieve this, there needs to be more control over new build delivery. It will involve collaboration and innovation in how homes are designed and delivered across the housing association sector, as well as support from regulatory bodies feeding into the funding, insurance and warranty market." The full report â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MMC for Affordable Housing Developersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; can be downloaded via the Housing Forum's website: www.housingforum.org.uk

INDUSTRY NEWS

COREHAUS MAKING NATIONAL PROGRESS An ambitious North East housebuilder is showcasing the benefits of an innovative modular building design on the national stage. Newton Aycliffe-based Homes by Carlton has been trialling the new-style design, CoreHaus, on several local housing developments in a bid to slash build costs, reduce the amount of time spent on-site and lessen the impact on the environment. The firm’s Managing Director, Simon Walker, has now embarked on a mission to spread the word about CoreHaus outside of the region. Simon Walker said: “Developers and other property professionals are trying to work out ways of building affordable, quality homes efficiently and at relatively low cost. Not only are we having to battle a skills shortage within the industry, there are also things we can’t control, like inclement weather which reduces the amount of time workers can realistically spend on-site. The market says we need to move towards a solution where part of the construction takes place offsite. With CoreHaus, this is possible.”

CoreHaus homes offer the flexible combination of being part modular, with a standard, engineered core that can then be configured to different sizes. A modular core including a pre-finished kitchen, downstairs toilet, staircase, bathroom and central heating system are manufactured offsite before being delivered to the development. This is then followed by the external walls and roof being constructed to reduce build time. Assembled in factory-controlled conditions, this energy-efficient housing ‘pod’ can help reduce onsite construction time by 50%, increase flexibility in the design of the home and cut CO2 emissions.

CoreHaus is a joint-venture company between Carlton & Co Group, the parent company behind Homes by Carlton, and national social enterprise Fusion21. The innovation has been trialled on Cathedral Gates, a mix of 14 three and four-bed detached and semi-detached homes in Chilton, eight miles from Durham City. www.corehaus.co.uk www.homesbycarlton.com www.fusion21.co.uk

Your partner in delivering a

LIGHT GAUGE STEEL FRAME to meet your project requirements

• MetStructures light gauge steel framing, NHBC and SCI approved to 15 storeys • 100mm external and internal LGSF walls • MetFloor composite metal decking and concrete • Fully finished balconies • Hot rolled steel podium structures • MetSafe accredited temporary edge protection system. • All elements designed, coordinated, supplied and installed on site.

Your exact project requirements Met MetStructures LIGHT GAUGE STEEL FRAMING SPECIALISTS

t: 0121 380 1603 | e: info@metstructures.uk.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS

O’ROURKE LAUNCHES OFFSITE BENEFITS GUIDE

NEW MACHINE ADDS SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY TO HADLEY GROUP

The Laing O’Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology at the University of Cambridge and CIRIA have launched a new report unveiling a new methodology for quantifying the benefits of offsite construction. Uptake of offsite construction is still slow, despite the benefits it offers in terms of improved health and safety, speed, and predictability of cost and time. O’Rourke said this was in part due to there being no industry method for assessing the benefits of offsite techniques.

Following the acquisition of Hadley Steel Framing (HSF) in 2018, Hadley Group has further strengthened its position and improved its capabilities in the steel framing market by investing in a new purpose-built machine at its Oldbury production site. The Purposed Built Steel Framing Machine joins Hadley Group’s extensive portfolio of world-class equipment and will allow the company to offer greater speed and flexibility in producing steel framing products. The new machine takes steel coil and processes it through a linear system of equipment, adding features to the strip before it is cold rollformed into a series of shapes, such as U’s, C’s and Z sections, angles and odd legged channels (either pierced or plain), depending on individual customer requirements. The custom rollformed profiles are then supplied for the construction of steel frame structures and buildings. The coil-fed system offers superior product quality control of hole positions and end flare, which enables the components to be functionally fitted together with greater speed. Investment in many connection features within the punch system allows it to support low, medium and high-rise framed buildings. The machine can produce all types of metal framed profiles from S250 to S550 structural steels and in lengths from

200mm to 12m, all with individual ink jet marks for product traceability. Working closely with the supplier, the Hadley Purposed Built Steel Framing Machine came to fruition after a 10-month design and build process. The manufacturer collaborated with the Hadley Group to ensure that the machine would be able to optimise profiles and production processes to suit the company’s needs. The machine is now fully integrated into Hadley Group’s Building Products Division, based at Oldbury, and reduces scrap by more than 25%. James Bishop, Regional Director of Operations – International, at Hadley Group said: “This is an exciting investment for Hadley Group, enabling us to strengthen our position in the steel framing market during such uncertain times. It streamlines the production of framing profiles, going from enquiry to production in a matter of hours and enabling profiles to be delivered to the customer efficiently. It will also strengthen the integration of the recent acquisition of HSF into Hadley Group and ensure that Hadley Group stays at the forefront of steel framed structures in the UK.” www.hadleygroup.com

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The new guide proposes a framework for comparing construction approaches, making it possible to keep consistent records across projects and identify all the possible benefits available. It also highlights the challenges that can be expected when assessing the performance of construction projects and developing robust benchmarks for comparison. It provides a framework for evaluating project performance that can be used by clients, construction management teams and designers to assess the value and benefits achieved on projects. Professor Lord Robert Mair, emeritus Sir Kirby Laing professor of civil engineering and director of research at the University of Cambridge said: “There is compelling evidence for more widespread adoption of offsite manufacture in construction. Yet a methodology for quantifying its benefits is much needed. The process outlined in this excellent report provides an invaluable guide for industry professionals, such as contractors and project managers, as well as those who are influential in decision-making on construction projects, including clients, advisors and policy makers.” The guide is available to download freely from: www.ciria.org/c792

INDUSTRY NEWS

INTELLIGENT APPROACH DELIVERS SUPPLY CHAIN SYNERGY For the next generation of housebuilders, steel frame construction is a cost effective and efficient way to build upwards. Built offsite in its modular lightweight steel factory, Intelligent Steel is providing a modern construction solution for London developer Henley Homes’ Brent House scheme in Wembley. By having steel frame manufacturing within the group, Henley Homes is ahead of the curve and able to cut the supply chain for its clients. At Brent House the developer is working with Notting Hill Genesis to provide a mixed-use development of 248 new homes including affordable and London Living Rent homes alongside substantial commercial space. The design and manufacture of the panels was carried out in the Intelligent Steel factory for the development’s two linear buildings of five principle blocks ranging in height from seven to 10 storeys high. Henley Homes’ construction arm then used two shades of brick to add visual interest to the external facades defining the variation in height.

By controlling up to 40% of its supply chain, Henley Homes can offer modular steel frames for all its clients, including Housing Association builds at a more efficient cost to a tighter delivery programme, without compromising on design, quality and sustainability. Tariq Usmani, CEO of Henley Homes, said “Thanks to significant time and cost efficiencies due to our in-house manufacturing capability, we are able to

deliver precision engineered, high-quality housing of varying tenures at scale and pace both for our own developments and our partners such as Notting Hill Genesis. This ultimately reflects our ethos that everyone deserves quality housing, regardless of whether they are renting or buying.” www.intelligentsteel.com

FUTURE HOMES STANDARD

STEEL AND THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF CHANGES TO PART L1A & PART F

THE IMPENDING CHANGES TO PART L1A AND PART F OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS FOR NEW DWELLINGS WILL INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW HOMES. TREVOR RICHARDS, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR OF OFFSITE EXPERTS COGENT, DISCUSSES THE POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS.

The impending Future Homes Standard requires that newbuild homes be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency. But have you started to consider the practical effect of the imminent changes to Part L1A and Part F on your product design or system solution? The ‘Fabric First’ approach of the current Part L1A can now be considered a given, and the proposed change in metrics to SAP, with the introduction of the Design Primary Energy Rate (DPER) and Target Primary Energy Rate (TPER) – create a new set of challenges to achieving compliance.

These changes are more than simply improved U-Values, reduced thermal bridging, reduced air-permeability – all challenges that offsite technology can clearly overcome. In fact, many have seen these changes as a way to promote a competitive advantage for offsite technology. The superior build quality and the consistency of the delivered ‘as-built performance’ achieved through factory manufactured solutions is the mantra for the offsite sector and this will continue to be a key part of the ‘conversion rationale’ for those promoting offsite technologies as a fundamentally better way to build. However, the proposed changes to Part L1A and Part F considers the home’s

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energy package, and the first indications from the available ‘beta’ SAP software, which Cogent has been trialling on a range of offsite system developments since the end of 2019, indicate those lightweight structural offsite technologies that have an integral lack of thermal mass, would appear to be presented a greater challenge. The proposed changes are giving further clarity on the issues of security (ground floor dwellings) and noise (all dwellings), and the interpretation of how ‘open’ a window can be, and when ‘opening’ a window is allowable more clearly defined. For over-heating and cooling, which is already an issue

FUTURE HOMES STANDARD

floor area. Alternatively, it could mean the requirement to introduce and enhanced MVHR system into the home. Or it could mean both. Alternatively, it could mean a product redesign and re-validation under the new performance requirements. The Future Homes Standard might act as a stimulus to evolve the product design along a new route to establish new solutions – effectively ‘taking the product back to formula’, or considering new material choices, such as phase change materials.

for the current Part L1A particularly in bungalows and ground floor flats, this will present a potential problem where the structure does not provide sufficient thermal mass. Within SAP calculations, thermal mass aids the heating and cooling performance. Thermal mass is determined for SAP by the first 100mm of a structure from the internal face (i.e. from inside to outside) or when an insulation is met - whichever occurs first. At Cogent, we are currently working on a series of low-rise and highrise structural offsite manufactured technologies for the residential sector and futureproofing is a fundamental part of any good design process. Working with the currently available ‘beta’ SAP software from Elmhurst Energy to model the effect of the two options proposed for the changes to Part L1A and Part F, it is evident that there is an underlying issue for lowrise solutions in particular from the proposed changes. In short, for certain systems and applications there is a

lack of thermal mass in a number of the mature offsite technology system designs. What does this mean? For most it could well mean that more thermal mass needs to be added to the structure to make it future SAP compliant. However, more mass is likely to mean more material, more labour, more weight, and in the case of external walls, ‘thicker’ elements, meaning either a greater external footprint, or a loss of internal

This might sound like a radical suggestion, but in an ever increasingly competitive environment where offsite manufactured technologies already work with the handicap of a greater upfront capital cost (in most instances), will the market afford you the solution of additional layers of material content to your product, that is not necessarily providing value!? Only time will tell and no doubt ‘necessity will remain the mother of invention’ so we will see some fantastic next-generation offsite technologies emerge to rise to the challenge. The changes to Part L1A and Part F are not finalised, and nor is the SAP software, but if you have not yet started to consider the practical effect of the imminent changes to Part L1A and Part F on your product design/system solution, then the advice is you should start now! This is a complex challenge and one that will need to be addressed head on.

Cogent Consulting is a leading multi-disciplinary consultancy specialising in the field of offsite construction and manufacturing - offering independent advice on successfully exploiting innovative construction processes. Through our unparalleled range of skills, we can help you to manage practical issues of developing and deploying offsite construction systems and processes to dramatically improve project delivery performance. If you would like to find out how the offsite experts at Cogent Consulting can assist with the proposed Building Regulation changes to Part L1A and Part F then visit: www.cogent-consulting.co.uk or call 01743 290010

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DIGITAL ENGINEERING

BIM: BRINGING COLLABORATION AND CO-ORDINATION TO STEEL CONSTRUCTION STEVE INSLEY, NATIONAL SALES MANAGER AT TRIMBLE, EXPLORES THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY WITHIN STEEL CONSTRUCTION, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE RISE OF BIM.

When people think of BIM, they will likely be inadvertently thinking of a project’s design phase only. Yet BIM can be used – and its benefits felt – at all stages of a construction project, from the initial tender through to final delivery and beyond, with the data contained within the 3D model also able to aid future building management and maintenance. Going beyond the basic view of BIM as something to help improve accuracy, reduce rework and save time and money, the ultimate benefit of incorporating a digital workflow on any steel construction project is the resulting collaborative, co-ordinated and streamlined approach. While 2D cannot be wholly disregarded, for it very much forms a binary partnership with 3D, working entirely without digital technology can be both limiting and isolating, with the subsequent lack of communication between project parties potentially increasing the likelihood of

costly errors occurring. In comparison, BIM works to provide project teams with data-rich visibility and informed communication from the very start. As construction projects become more ambitious, this need for visibility and co-ordination will only increase. Already, projects have a great number of different trades involved, including structural steel, concrete, MEP and building services, the design of which all need to be considered as whole, rather than in isolation. As such, it is vital that parties are able to effectively co-ordinate with each other to ensure that their work does not overlap or clash. This is perhaps where digital technology is of utmost importance, contributing to a synchronised workflow from the earliest stages. This integrated BIM approach was particularly crucial on the South Korean Biomass Powerplant project, where TDS were tasked with designing and

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modelling over 66,000 steel elements that made up the external and internal fabric of the new boiler island’s filter. It is on projects of this size where digital technology really comes into its own, with teams needing a stable and efficient design tool and an information-rich 3D model. Without implementing a digital workflow on the South Korean Powerplant, the potential for design clashes would have been huge, especially considering the sheer number of interrelating parts - all of which had to be designed and considered in the wider project context. For example, while TDS were not instructed to provide manufacturing drawings for the filter system’s dampers, it was important they were able to co-ordinate the model around and fix to these items. With their digital, collaborative approach, TDS were able to source and import an IFC model of the dampers from another stakeholder, allowing the design team to have a full and well-rounded view of the project and model as a whole.

DIGITAL ENGINEERING

In order to truly achieve this co-ordinated approach, we are seeing more projects employing digital, cloudbased platforms, such as our Trimble Connect, where all data – whether that be 3D, 2D or 1D – can be stored and made available for project partners to view, discuss and share in one centralised hub. Essentially forming the glue that brings all data, and people, together, such a platform is crucial for communication and visibility. In addition to this presiding cloudbased platform, there is also the potential for smaller digital platforms at each principal stage of a project. For example, from a steel fabrication perspective, having some form of information management, dedicated to a fabricator’s unique requirements, is a must. Indeed, with such a large amount of design data on a steel construction project, trying to manage stock and fabrication schedules and ensure component traceability throughout production without a digital workflow can be an incredibly time-consuming process. In comparison, employing a digital platform can help transform the whole fabrication process, ensuring accurate scheduling throughout in accordance with the activity and progress on-site. Put simply, it can be viewed as a matter of control versus chaos. Without a digital, centralised hub, a fabrication business could be working off numerous pieces of software and desktops, with limited communication and visibility – in many ways, not having progressed far from the paper-based, filing cabinet approach of the past.

Another area of digital technology that is steadily becoming an integrated feature of the construction industry is the use of mixed and virtual reality. As well as encouraging engagement amongst all partners, including the endclient and developer, mixed (MR) and virtual reality (VR) can also aid improved visibility and project co-ordination. By overlaying the BIM model in the realtime physical context, the project can be brought to life before people’s eyes, allowing them to interact with and view the model in levels of detail that 2D simply wouldn’t allow. The potential such technology has to bring to the steel construction industry is huge, especially in terms of problem solving, clash detection and ensuring constructability. For example, steel contractors on a building refurb or extension project would be able to visit site and, using mixed reality, compare the as-built condition in conjunction with the proposed BIM model; viewing the existing steel structure alongside the proposed new steelwork and immediately identify any areas of concern. Mixed reality technology can also be beneficial for quality control management on a project - particularly at the fabrication and assembly stages. We are slowly seeing more fabricators realise the potential that technology offers in this regard, providing additional levels of assurance that complex structural steel components have been fabricated correctly, prior to it being delivered to site. To demonstrate, Trimble Connect for Hololens was recently taken onto the factory floor at J.Wareing & Son, where it was used to

view the BIM object and its data overlaid on the fabricated steel joist, ensuring that all measurements were accurate. The final phase of a construction project to consider is the assembly. While the relevance of digital technology here may often be omitted from discussion, it is in fact highly beneficial, used to help plan and manage the on-site assembly. From considering site access and the delivery schedules to planning crane locations and assembly logistics, digital technology can help to ensure an efficient and streamlined process on-site. It proved imperative on the recent Telford Central Footbridge project, allowing SH Structures to extract accurate weights of components and the centre of gravity of complex assemblies; all information that was crucial for optimising crane locations. It is clear that, when considering the role of digital technology on steel construction projects, BIM belongs at the forefront of this discussion. The benefits of BIM are incredibly far-reaching, stretching beyond just the initial design phase and going deeper than merely improving accuracy, reducing rework and saving time. Incorporating a BIM and digital workflow has the potential to utterly transform the approach of a construction project, encouraging collaboration, communication and co-ordination and creating a culture of project partners, rather than sub-contractors.

For more information visit: www.tekla.com/uk

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BUILD TO RENT

larger BTR developers that have the capital to invest in offsite manufacturing techniques. One such scheme that illustrates this clearly is Quintain’s north-west London project with outline planning consent for an 85-acre mixed-use development with major BTR elements. This development allowed the team at EOS to demonstrate our understanding of the BTR sector as a long-term asset class, and evidence how we can maximise returns for investors by putting the customer front and centre of our approach.

DEMONSTRATING CRITICAL VALUE TO CLIENTS AND INVESTORS THE UK’S BUILD-TO-RENT (BTR) MARKET IS SET TO GROW, WITH PROPERTY AGENT SAVILLS RECENTLY ESTIMATING THAT THE SECTOR WILL INCREASE IN VALUE FROM £9.6 BILLION TO £543.6 BILLION ONCE IT REACHES MATURITY. STEVE THOMPSON FROM STEEL FRAMING SPECIALISTS EOS, DISCUSSES THE BTR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE OFFSITE SECTOR.

The predicted meteoric rise of BTR presents major opportunities for offsite innovators such as EOS. This sector is far from the ‘buy them cheap stack them high’ mentality of the rental homes of the past and is about demonstrating critical value to clients and investors. PRODUCTIVITY IS KING A key appeal of the BTR model for institutional funders and developers is its ability to provide long-term investment opportunities. Unlike traditional multi-residential projects, where investors recoup expenditure more quickly through sales of new

homes, BTR investors take their return from rental receipts over many years, providing a steady income stream. So, what does this mean for the design and construction of BTR buildings? Firstly, boosting productivity is essential. The faster a BTR project can be built and let, the faster investors can begin recovering their initial capital outlay. Material providers and installers should focus on improving their offer to accelerate project delivery. The repeatable design of many BTR buildings makes them well-placed to unlock the productivity gains offered by offsite construction, including many

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Located in the heart of Wembley Park, NW07 is a contemporary residential and retail development which sits between Page Place and Elvin Square. With 187 units of BTR accommodation, the architecture is defined by four stepped buildings, echoing the form of the adjacent, Flanagan Lawrence designed the Alto building. The facade is composed of tall, vertical frames, punctuated with balconies that allow each apartment to enjoy wide and open views. Adjacent to the main residential entrance on the ground floor, a series of community spaces are provided to promote interaction between residents. Also, part of this scheme, NW08 offers 174 residential units, comprising 108 build to rent units and 66 affordable housing apartments, all located above retail space at ground level. The facades create a dynamic form with roof terraces and large projecting balconies on the southern elevation which provide dramatic views of the stadium, and tall vertical recesses that have been carved into the thick blade walls to provide locations for windows and balconies. Both projects create key focal points on the approach to the iconic Wembley stadium. Our brief for the scheme was to rapidly deliver fully-engineered steel framing infill solutions to BIM Level 2 – executed with high precision and finished to an outstanding quality. Ahead of schedule and on budget, EOS fulfilled the brief with highly cost-effective offsite manufactured steel framing systems for different building types, across one of the UK’s largest construction sites.

BUILD TO RENT

LONG-TERM VALUE The second, and perhaps most important step to maximise returns is ensuring a steady income from residents. Customer satisfaction is what determines the long-term occupancy rates and makes a project a success. A larger upfront investment in build quality is likely to pay dividends in the long run. One of the more obvious places to invest is in the building fabric. Installing more durable materials for walls and partitions can bring efficiencies in both maintenance and energy costs. When it comes to residents’ quality of life, these materials have a vital role to play by providing a high-quality finish and a comfortable living environment. Ensuring peace of mind on fire safety by working with competent sub-contractors and installing tested and accredited systems is also crucial. By engaging early with BTR clients and specifiers, manufacturers can advise

on opportunities to influence the design to maximise the lettable floor space – boosting room for residents and realising a significant increase in potential income.

BTR IS HERE TO STAY IN THE UK AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE’RE PART OF ITS FUTURE. With a comprehensive spectrum of products and services, including the ground-breaking Thrubuild® systems, a fully tested load-bearing, light steel solution, underpinned by a substantial investment in state-of theart technology, EOS has the capability and capacity to meet the exacting demands of the construction industry. For more details on products and services visit:

www.eosframing.co.uk

Leading Design Consultants for the Light Steel Framing sector CONTACT US

01642 686 556 info@dacs-ltd.com

www.dacs-ltd.com

INTERIOR INNOVATION

HOWICK’S NEW INTERIOR SYSTEM PROMISES TO TRANSFORM INFILL AND RETROFIT FRAMING FOR WALLS AND CEILINGS

As any interior contractor knows only too well, internal structures on existing premises are almost never square. This makes traditional and panelised framing approaches a constant trial, requiring highly accurate measurements, calculation of complex angles, cutting and often re-cutting of framing components. Wastage from off-cuts and the necessity of re-work add both cost and time to the process, as do the clean-up requirements to make good the site once work is complete.

In the words of Nick Coubray, CEO of Howick, “Infill framing presents some unique challenges, so it has not benefitted from the potential of panelisation as yet. We realised that if we could develop a system to produce a complete extendable panel, we could save contractors' time, materials and labour. It would lend those firms with the capability a powerful commercial advantage”.

THE SOLUTION: A NEW TELESCOPIC STEEL FRAMING SYSTEM After 18 months of design, engineering and testing, Howick has created a ground-breaking steel roll-forming system that produces telescopic framing for interior walls and ceilings. Called the X-TENDA 3600, it creates complete frames that can be adjustable in any direction.This means that framing can be pre-assembled, compressed for easy manoeuvre, then quickly expanded and adjusted on-site for a precise fit every time.

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CAD DRIVEN PRECISION MANUFACTURING Operating with BIM construction technology, the X-TENDA 3600 receives data from Howick’s partnered CAD framing software. It produces and labels all components ready to assemble, including all punching and fixing holes which are placed with pinpoint computer accuracy. This means they are self-locating (imagine components snapping together like Lego pieces), saving time and significantly improving efficiency on-site.

INTERIOR INNOVATION

A RANGE OF APPLICATIONS WITH PANELS THAT CAN FIT ANY SPACE FAST. Once in place, panels can then be extended to fit the most uneven and non-level spaces while door and window sections within the frames remain completely true. THE SYSTEM IS ALREADY PROVING ITS POTENTIAL In projects undertaken to date in Australasia, the system has demonstrated its potential, cutting installation times dramatically compared to traditional techniques.

The frames produced benefit from all the strength and precision qualities inherent in light steel framing. And because they are lightweight and retractable, they are easy to move around on-site, even in tight spaces.

Soffit Panels can be produced that adjust up or down across the frame to a set height. This makes accurate levelling up a breeze, as allowance can easily be made for non-level horizontal settings.

“We were very happy with the performance of the system in these projects” Nick Coubray stated. “We saw a range of benefits. There were big savings in terms of efficiency throughout the process – the frames are much quicker to install, and the need for re-work was removed. The ease of installation of the extendable panels meant assemblers could quickly be trained to complete the install on-site, removing the reliance on skilled building contractors who were often in short supply. Finally, there was almost no wastage, so less to clean up on-site.”

Two Axis Expanding Panels adjust upwards and outwards to fill the available opening. Within the frame itself, door and windows remain perfectly square.

The first X-TENDA 3600s are in place with Howick’s customers. One demo system is also live and framing things up at the Autodesk Technology Center in Boston, MA, USA. This will be ready for live demonstrations of the technology as soon as it is safe under the COVID-19 safe distancing requirements. Despite the COVID-19 lockdown, Howick’s team delivered this machine and were able to commission it remotely to make it fully operational. ABOUT HOWICK LIMITED Howick is a pioneer in the technology of precision light steel roll-forming systems. For over 40 years, Howick’s commitment to innovation in light gauge steel, precision manufacturing, uncompromising quality and exemplary customer service have defined the Howick way. This commitment underpins the competitive advantage enjoyed by Howick’s customers.

To find out more about the Howick X-TENDA 3600, or discuss any specialist applications you may have for this type of system, visit: frameanyspace.com or email sales@howickltd.com

Multi Axis Expanding Panels adjust upwards and outwards on both sides. This allows for different angles within the available opening.

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SUSTAINABLE STEEL

STEEL, SUSTAINABILITY AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY STEEL IS ONE THE WORLD’S MOST RECYCLED PRODUCTS WITH RESEARCH SHOWING THAT 99% OF STRUCTURAL STEELWORK IS REUSED OR RECYCLED. THE LIGHT STEEL FRAME ASSOCIATION (LSFA) IS ON A MISSION TO EXPLAIN STEEL’S SUSTAINABILITY BENEFITS AND ITS ROLE IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

A sustainable circular economy is one which reduces the burden on nature by ensuring resources remain in use as long as possible. Steel is fundamental in achieving a circular economy – components can be remanufactured, reused or recycled. With a long service life, we may have to wait a hundred years or more for steel that is in use today to be recycled or reused. Steel is a vital material in the history of construction and although it may not be in our lifetime, every single element can be repurposed. DESIGN FOR REUSE It is estimated that the UK construction industry consumes some 420 metric tons of materials annually and generates some 90 metric tons of waste of which 25 metric tons ends up in landfill. So, there is significant scope for improving resource efficiency within the industry. Recycling is one the key mantras of the 21st century, but reuse for its original or similar purpose without vastly altering the physical

form, is not top of the construction sustainability agenda. As distinct from recycling, reuse of construction products involves their repurposing with little or no reprocessing. Reuse offers even greater environmental advantages than recycling since there is no, or few environmental impacts associated in reprocessing. As with recycling, some construction products and systems are more adaptable to reuse than others and therefore designers should be encouraged to think not only about how their buildings can be easily and effectively constructed, but also how they can be efficiently deconstructed in the long-term. This is a new discipline for most designers. The process is straightforward. For example, deconstructed sections are inspected and tested to verify their dimensional and strength properties. The section is then shot or sandblasted to remove any coatings, refabricated and primed to the requirements of the new project.

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There is, however, significant scope for increasing reuse of steel construction products and work is underway within the sector to promote and facilitate this. The proportion of recovered products that are reused will increase as design for deconstruction is better understood and a stronger market for reusable steel construction products is stimulated. The ability of the steel construction sector to facilitate these advantageous processes has been enhanced by the standardisation of components and connections. Research carried out by the LSFA’s technical partner, the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) has estimated that there are around 100 million tonnes of steel in buildings and infrastructure in the UK. This ‘stock’ of steel is an important and valuable material asset that will be reclaimed and either reused or recycled in the future. The LSFA fully supports the ‘Protocol for Reusing Structural Steel’ produced by the SCI. This valuable research concludes that the environmental advantages of reusing reclaimed structural steel are considerable. There are also potential cost savings. This protocol recommends data collection, inspection and testing to ensure that reclaimed structural steelwork can be used with confidence in a new context. There is growing pressure on the construction industry to be more resource efficient, reduce waste and to lower embodied carbon impacts. More recently, circular economy concepts are being promoted, with a roadmap developed to support a shift towards a resource efficient, low carbon economy. Increased structural steel reuse will support these aims and stimulate new business opportunities in the UK. The LSFA has been established to influence legislation, regulation and to support the overall objectives and growth of the steel frame sector. The Association works with members to raise awareness of the performance, productivity and sustainability benefits of steel.

For more information visit: www.lsf-association.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL

FRAMECLAD INVESTMENT IN EQUIPMENT, PREMISES AND PEOPLE

It is a huge understatement to say that we are navigating a difficult time in history at the moment, however, at Frameclad we have reacted in a positive and professional way. The actions we have taken will stand us in great stead to consolidate and grow our market position whilst never compromising on our core values of quality and value. Through this difficult period, we have continued to liaise with clients,

continuing to place them at the heart of everything we do, to produce outlines of schemes that we have moved on to design, engineer, manufacture and supply. During the preceding months Frameclad has made further investments in equipment, premises and people to unprecedented levels providing us with greater capacity to grow in this exciting market place of light gauge steel framing.

Now occupying two large manufacturing facilities in the heart of the country with our Technical and Commercial office in the North East we are further equipped and committed to delivering contracts of any size and complexity. Our staff are handpicked to be the best in the business and we are delighted to have made a number of key appointments recently. Given the investments we have made in bespoke machinery we can now offer arguably one of the widest ranges of cold rolled light gauge steel component and framing sections for walls and floors currently available in the UK market place. At Frameclad we are very proud of our past and immensely excited about our future. If quality, consistency and value are requirements for your project please contact us to help you deliver this.

For more information visit: www.frameclad.com

01384 401 114 | enquiries@frameclad.com www.frameclad.com |

Steel Frame Solutions Load Bearing Structures Topbox Rooftop Extensions Stud & Track Infill Systems Oversail & High Bay Walling Modular & Offsite Manufacture Component Supply

Our Services Building 40, Third Avenue The Pensnett Trading Estate Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 7UP

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FOCUS ON FRAMING

OFFSITE PIONEERS PRESENT LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN LIGHT STEEL FRAME FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE FOCUS ON FRAMING SEMINAR IN JANUARY – THE EVENT WILL RETURN ON THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2020 IN MANCHESTER TO BRING TOGETHER LIGHT STEEL FRAME MANUFACTURERS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS.

Focus on Framing has been created for specifiers, engineers, architects, contractors, housebuilders, developers and manufacturers looking to explore the latest technological advancements and solutions to overcome the challenges presented by new building regulations. The seminar will explore light steel framing technology as a pivotal solution within offsite construction and its use across numerous sectors. In the fiercely competitive world of construction, gaining market share can be tough – Focus on Framing will explore the unprecedented opportunities within the offsite sector which is why this is an essential event for industry professionals. Event sponsor and host, the Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA), are on a mission to emphasise the benefits of steel as a rigid and robust noncombustible offsite solution. The LSFA provide a unified voice within

the industry to promote the levels of sophistication, innovation and technical expertise within the sector.

and proposed presentation title and description to: jodie.giblin@radar-

CALL FOR PAPERS Are you an industry leader in the light steel frame sector? Then we want to hear from you!

Why should you speak at events such as Focus on Framing? • Increase industry recognition • Demonstrate thought leadership and expertise • Generate industry leads • Gain networking opportunities.

If you are involved in ground-breaking projects, creating innovative light steel framing solutions or developing pioneering strategies then to get involved email your name, company

communications.co.uk

Deadline for Call for Papers: Friday 31 July 2020

BOOK YOUR PLACE To secure your place at this informative event go to www.focusonframing.co.uk and book your delegate ticket today. Tickets cost just £95.00 + VAT with discounted rates for LSFA members and include: entry into the seminar and exhibition, lunch and refreshment throughout the day together with free parking. For all general enquiries please contact, Jodie Giblin, Event Co-ordinator on 01743 290001 or email jodie.giblin@radar-communications.co.uk

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FOCUS ON

FRAMING

SEMINAR

12.11.2020

Displaying ground breaking innovation through light steel

MANCHESTER

framing solutions.

FOCUS ON FRAMING provides positive return-on-investment and is one of the only events of its kind.

The use of Light Steel Frame is fundamental as a construction material within a wide range of building types and applications in the offsite sector. FOCUS ON FRAMING provides the opportunity to hear insightful case studies from those who are designing and

• Strengthen your brand positioning • Generate sales leads

developing the industry’s ground-breaking projects. The

• Build relationships with prospects

seminar will be complimented by an exhibition of leading

• Launch new products

businesses across the sector, and provide networking

• Survey attendees about new product ideas

prospects with those who are shaping the future of the Light Steel Frame industry.

• Research competitors’ products and messaging • Keep up on industry trends • Meet with key clients

FOCUS ON FRAMING is delivered in partnership with the LIGHT STEEL FRAME ASSOCIATION, which has been established to support the overall objectives and growth of the light steel framing sector.

BOOK NOW Tickets to FOCUS ON FRAMING cost £95 plus VAT or £65 plus VAT for LSFA members, which includes entry into the seminar, lunch and refreshments throughout.

To find out more or book your ticket please go to www.focusonframing.co.uk or call 01743 290001 LIGHTSTEELFRAMINGMAGAZINE.CO.UK

CASE STUDY

BAILEY STREET A HUB FOR STUDENT ACTIVITY LOCATED JUST AN EIGHT-MINUTE WALK FROM BOTH SHEFFIELD HALLAM AND SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY, THE NEW BAILEY STREET DEVELOPMENT BOASTS A HIGH-END 220-BEDROOM STUDENT ACCOMMODATION BLOCK.

restrictions. The speed of erection and programme surely demonstrates why light gauge steel is the fast-emerging solution of choice – not just for student accommodation, but also hotel, residential apartment, retirement living/ care sectors too.”

A hub for student activity, the eight storey Bailey Street development boasts seven different room types incorporating facilities including: ensuite bathrooms, gym, bike storage, laundry room and games room. Sigmat were appointed by Yorkshirebased developer and contractor Torsion to deliver the light gauge steel frame for the new student accommodation building. Managing the design, manufacture, assembly and installation, Sigmat delivered a complete source-to-

site solution, preassembling the panels at their in-house Leeds manufacturing facility. Comprising 8.5km of Sigmat panels, 191 hot rolled steel members and 533m3 of concrete the project was completed two weeks ahead of programme. Sigmat’s Operations Manager John Ritchie commented: “This is a great example of how offsite processes can really benefit construction on a busy city centre site facing various logistical

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The £1.1 million project also included the installation of steel staircases each comprising 12 flights and six half landings. In addition, Sigmat supported the installation of 315 bathroom pods and 367 plasterboard packs, aiding follow-on trades to commence their work early on in the project schedule. Other notable statistics from the project include the installation of 4,600m2 of decking, 32t of reinforcement and the roof structure which incorporated 598m2 and 2.7t of cold rolled steel. Early planning with Torsion enabled other trades to commence work sooner, facilitating early completion and increasing profitability for the client. Planning for and achieving these goals demonstrates the versatility of the Sigmat light gauge steel frame

CASE STUDY

system, and the important role offsite construction has to play.

works earlier and take advantage of the great work carried out by Sigmat.â&#x20AC;?

Dan Spencer, CEO of Torsion Group, commented on the success of the project, saying: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Engaging with Sigmat early on in the design process allowed us to take full advantage of the offsite manufacturing process, giving certainty in delivery of the frame and allowing us to accurately procure follow-on trades. Sigmat managed their works extremely diligently and handed sections of their works over early. By working in partnership, we were able to take advantage of this as we could plan for the follow-on trades to commence

Bailey Street offers high-end, safe and homely accommodation for both local, national and international students, opening in September 2019 ready for the new intake of students. This was the first Sigmat project with Torsion and the success has strengthened the relationship, with more schemes planned for 2020 and beyond.

For more information visit: www.sigmat.co.uk www.torsion-group.com

www.cogent-consulting.co.uk

Delivering efficiency and competitive advantage using offsite construction technology and DfMA principles

We develop and improve:

Business strategies Product & service portfolios Manufacturing operations Supply-chain integration Business processes Management systems

Ask the experts... 01743 290010

@Cogent_Offsite

info@cogent-consulting.co.uk

BUILDING SAFETY

FIRE TESTS RECEIVE HIGH ACCLAIM

AS PART OF ITS ONGOING REVIEW OF MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION (MMC), THE NHBC HAS ACCEPTED FUSION BUILDING SYSTEMS LIGHT STEEL FRAME SOLUTIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS UP TO AND OVER 18M IN HEIGHT.

Fusion Building Systems has recently undergone a new series of fire performance tests to demonstrate how its bespoke offsite manufactured light steel frame solutions can be used in buildings up to 18m. The offsite manufacturer has also introduced a new product, called FusionX which excludes the use of combustible materials, to extend the height to 30m. These systems have both been accepted by the NHBC. Since April 2019, Fusion has been working closely with the NHBC. Independent fire test data has been submitted to meet new criteria for both its Thermashield 162 external wall solution for buildings up to 18m in height, and its new high performance

FusionX system for buildings up to the height specified and over 18m. The process also assessed Fusion’s system for situations where the use is not restricted to the loads imposed during fire testing – including an approved method to extrapolate loads, beyond fire testing requirements. “The cladding ban has seen significant changes throughout the construction industry and we have all had a responsibility to review our systems and materials to meet the new standards,” says Mike Fairey, Fusion Director. “The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has set relevant new criteria for residential buildings and we’ve worked hard to prove the performance of our existing systems, as well as placing significant

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investment in new products. We’ve worked with the NHBC for many years and they understand the Fusion system. I hope their confirmation of the system acceptance, will lead to housebuilders opting for Fusion as a tried and tested offsite method of construction.” Richard Lankshear, NHBC’s Innovation Manager added: “Our review of MMC is designed to give confidence to homeowners in the quality of homes built with MMC. We frequently reappraise MMC systems and our review of the Fusion Building Systems has included the structure, performance in fire, durability and factory production controls. Only systems that are rigorously and frequently reviewed are listed on the MMC Hub.”

BUILDING SAFETY

03 Independent fire testing of Fusion’s Thermashield 162 external wall solution passed 60 minutes for fire from inside of a building, below 18m in height. Its new FusionX system has passed both the 90-minute and 120-minute test for fire from the inside with 3 x 12.5mm fire boards – as well as 90 and 120-minute tests for fire from the outside with 100mm mineral wool slab and a 12mm sheathing board.

For more information visit: www.fusionbuild.com www.nhbc.co.uk/mmchub IMAGES 01 02-03

The NHBC has accepted Fusion Building System’s new FusionX product, which excludes the use of combustible materials in buildings over 18m in height Thermashield wall panels at Fusion’s manufacturing facility are insulated using its patented system before being transported to site and installed

With digital technology at our core, combined with a fully non-combustible system, 20 years of experience and more than 50 projects delivered using concrete composite metal decks, we’re working towards a future built with Fusion.

www.fusionbuild.co.uk

2,000

3,000

4,000

9,000

schools

care homes

houses

apartments

student beds

MANUFACTURING MEMBER

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STEEL CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE

TECHNICAL & STANDARD DEVELOPMENTS

THE POPULARITY OF LIGHT STEEL FRAMING CONTINUES TO GROW AS DOES THE UPTAKE OF OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION MORE GENERALLY. ANDREW WAY, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT SCI, PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON RECENT MATERIAL DEVELOPMENTS.

Key benefits of light steel framing are quality, speed and cost which makes it ideal for many sectors of construction and especially growth markets such as build-to-rent. The Steel Construction Institute (SCI) has been a trusted, independent source of information and engineering expertise globally for over 30 years, and remains the leading, independent provider of technical expertise and disseminator of best practice to the steel construction sector. SCI support everyone involved in steel construction – from manufacturers, consulting engineers, architects, and manufacturers right through to industry groups and peers. Consulting and design engineers look to SCI for reliable and robust technical information and training on

the effective use of steel in design, including the latest design standards and building regulations. Manufacturers utilise SCI’s engineering expertise for product development and certification of performance, particularly when bring new products and systems to market. TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENTS SCI, in conjunction with industry partners, has been instrumental in bringing about many technical developments to the light steel construction sector. Recently, the combined performance of light steel framing and other materials has been of interest. Materials commonly used in combination can lead to enhanced design efficiency. A number of projects would fall into the category of the development of improved design guidance to enable the use of light steel framing in a wider range of applications.

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Some of the technical development work carried out by SCI is generic and is undertaken through the Light Steel Forum for the benefit of the whole industry. A recent example is SCI publication P426 which provides guidance on using continuous masonry cladding with light steel framing. SCI will be disseminating the outputs from various ongoing industry projects when they have been agreed and finalised. SCI has seen an increasing demand from clients for proprietary technical product development which is understandable in a highly competitive commercial market. The involvement of an independent body, such as SCI, in this type of development is seen as highly advantageous by manufacturers and their customers. SCI’s participation provides reassurance that appropriate procedures are

STEEL CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE

03 SCI are hoping to be able to announce the first companies and their products to successfully achieve SCI Product Certification within the next few months.

02 followed with due consideration for all possible performance criteria. It is not possible to disclose in detail the technical developments of individual manufacturers; however, the process invariably involves a combination of physical testing, computer modelling and analysis.

presentations. To date the group has published over 20 technical information sheets which are available on the Light Steel Forum website. Quarterly meetings ensure the group are kept up to date with developments and are able to respond to any new challenges which arise.

LIGHT STEEL FORUM The SCI’s Light Steel Forum is a membership group whose primary objective is the technical development of light steel construction systems. Membership consists of the following proactive companies involved with light steel framing: Ayrshire Metals, BW Industries, Etex Building Performance, Fusion Building Systems, Hadley Steel Framing, Kingspan Steel Building Solutions, Metek plc, Saint-Gobain, Sigmat, Vision-Built Manufacturing and Voestalpine Metsec plc.

CERTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT Certification has always been a vital part of the construction industry with customers and specifiers needing to have confidence in the products being offered. The complexity and unique nature of many offsite construction systems, and the growing regulatory demands, mean that independent certification is increasingly important. SCI has provided Stage 1 System Certification for light steel framing in accordance with NHBC Chapter 6.10 for the last 15 years (and continues to do so). SCI also provides SCI Assessed certificates for a mixed and varied range of steel-based construction products. However, SCI are now offering a more comprehensive scheme called ‘SCI Product Certification’ which can cover all the basic work requirements of the Construction Products Regulation.

Technical priorities and areas of work are agreed by the members. Projects vary in duration according to their scope and technical complexity. Results of projects are usually disseminated through SCI design guides, technical information sheets and/or seminars and

DESIGN STANDARDS The primary design standard for light steel framing is Eurocode 3 – Design of Steel Structures, Part 1.3 - Supplementary rules for coldformed members and sheeting (also known as EN 1993-1-3). The evolution of the Structural Eurocodes is an ongoing process and drafting of the next versions of many parts of the Eurocodes is well progressed, which includes EN 1993-1-3. However, formal acceptance and publication can be a lengthy process. Nevertheless, designers and manufactures should be aware that new versions, many with significant changes, are expected to be published in 2023. SCI has been involved at committee level with revisions to several different parts of the Eurocodes and will endeavour to keep members up to date with expected changes.

For more information visit: www.steel-sci.com

IMAGES 01 02 03

Compression testing of light steel wall panel in combination with board linings and end restraints Six storeys of uninterrupted masonry cladding at Causewayend in Aberdeen. Courtesy Robertson Group and Fusion Building Systems Finite element analysis of a sub-section of a multi-storey light steel frame structure

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FACADE ENGINEERING

MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

NATURAL, DURABLE AND PERFECT FOR DESIGN Choosing a brick facade typically means using a natural product, formed from fired clay and pointed with mortar, which brings with it a durability that will stand the test of time and will not rot or corrode. From a weathering perspective, brick facades when well designed and built, will improve with age, unlike other facade materials that can react negatively to UV light and show degradation from the elements over time. A number of brick cladding systems are now available in the UK which enable designers to achieve a brick facade without compromise. With a wide choice of natural colours and finishes, these systems offer a wealth of design opportunities and provide even greater adaptability than can be achieved with conventional brickwork.

BRICK CLADDING SYSTEMS HAVE ALL THE ATTRIBUTES OF TRADITIONAL BRICKWORK PLUS THE ADVANTAGES ASSOCIATED WITH SUSTAINABLE MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION. JULIAN VENUS, SALES DIRECTOR OF AQUARIAN CLADDING SYSTEMS, DISCUSSES THE BENEFITS.

Architects have always been under pressure to reduce both construction costs and build-times but now, more than ever, they must also consider climate change issues, such as the use of sustainable materials and thermal efficiency. All this has to be achieved whilst still producing aesthetically pleasing buildings, so it is no wonder new and innovative methods of construction are being adopted.

Brick finishes remain as popular as ever in British architecture and brick cladding systems are increasingly being used to provide a warm, natural finish, whilst maintaining robust protection from the elements. The advantages, however, are more far-reaching than just providing a traditional brick facade and the associated benefits. In fact, there are multiple reasons for using brick cladding systems over conventional methods.

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Brick cladding systems also provide an improved quality of appearance when compared to brickwork, which can vary wildly. With an ageing workforce, traditional bricklaying skills are in decline, so using a cladding system achieves greater productivity and consistent higher standards of work, whilst still delivering a robust structure that is built to last. EASE AND SPEED Conventional methods of laying bricks on top of each other with mortar is weather dependent and can therefore be slow and unpredictable. Speed of delivery is an important consideration for most sectors and brick cladding systems offer a quick, easy, and robust solution with fewer limitations. Not only does this mean reduced build programmes and prelim costs, including replacing scaffolding with mechanical access, but also greater flexibility of build sequence and less risk of programme over-run. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY With a huge drive towards sustainability, using a brick cladding system can reduce the impact on the environment as systems typically consist of 20% brick with less mortar.

FACADE ENGINEERING

Thinner pieces of clay require less material and embodied energy to produce and reducing the amount of mortar means less storage of sand, cement and water. The improvement in site logistics is obvious – fewer deliveries to site, reduced movement and storage of materials around site, and less waste disposal. As an example, we can supply as much as 650m2 of brick cladding on one vehicle. Compared to a typical brick delivery, which contains around 165m2, that is a reduction of nearly 75% in vehicles to site. And with approximately 25m2 per pallet as opposed to 8m2 for traditional bricks, site storage is also greatly reduced. Delivery and storage of mortar is also reduced by comparable amounts. GREATER PRODUCTIVITY AND COST-EFFICIENCY Brick cladding systems can be very thermally effective and when used as a rainscreen with a cavity, can provide healthier, breathable buildings as they dry out faster and are therefore less prone to the risks of interstitial condensation than thicker, conventional brickwork.

STRIKINGLY VERSATILE

They are also much more lightweight when compared to conventional brickwork and the need for wind posts and support angles is either reduced or eliminated. This reduction in weight and support means reduced line loads, framing and foundations, which leads to greater productivity and cost-efficiency. Some clients recognise that with the potential for thinner walls, the internal floor area can be increased, providing commercial benefits and the further value of additional space. THE BENEFITS OF AN OFFSITE APPROACH Brick cladding systems are a perfect hybrid solution, offering all the benefits of an offsite approach but with the flexibility to adapt on-site. Clearly there are many benefits over conventional brickwork. So why would you opt for an outdated more costly method? Working with architects, contractors, developers and installation specialists, Aquarian’s cladding systems, including Gebrik and Mechslip, have been used on many award-winning buildings across a wide range of sectors.

For more information visit: www.aquariancladding.co.uk

With the Gebrik cladding system, you are assured of a simpler, faster brick façade that performs precisely as it should. Tried, tested and simple to install, our solutions provide you with the freedom to create strikingly versatile buildings.

To find out more, visit our website www.aquariancladding.co.uk  0044 (0)808 223 9080  info@aquariancladding.co.uk  @aquarian_cladd

INDUSTRY OPINION

A RAPIDLY MATURING, DYNAMIC AND EXPANDING OFFSITE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR As managing director of the UK’s leading offsite manufacturing and construction consultancy, I have been around the industry for a long time, spending over 25 years developing offsite businesses, processes and products both here in the UK and around the globe, so it is interesting to step back and take stock of recent developments in the light steel framing sector – not least the long-overdue launch of this dedicated industry publication. Back in 2018, I was invited to join the Steering Group of the (then proposed) Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA) as an independent envoy - being tasked with facilitating discussions and research into the need for industry representation. My research revealed a burgeoning light steel frame sector with double the number of manufacturers than anticipated, and the levels of

innovation exceeding many other material groups operating in the offsite arena. Our wider research findings and dialogue with the key players in the light steel frame sector concluded that the time was right to formally launch the LSFA and to shape an ambitious programme of activity to influence regulation and to support the overall objectives and growth of the sector. The Association was formally launched at Focus on Framing in June 2019. Although we are currently facing challenging times, the future is looking very positive, with new building regulations predicted to drive sales in steel framing systems in parallel to manufacturers positively exploiting numerous routes to market – demonstrating the versatility of the technology and the adaptability of the light steel frame supply chain.

In line with the sector, it is pleasing to see the LSFA is going from strength to strength, since inauguration the Association has gathered momentum and now includes some of the most prominent names in the industry, further enabling the launch of the Light Steel Framing Magazine to showcase the fantastic innovation being delivered within the light steel frame sector. We encourage light steel frame manufacturers, component suppliers, engineers, architects and clients to engage with the LSFA and help shape the future of this fantastic offsite technology.

For more information visit: www.lsf-association.co.uk Darren Richards Managing Director, Cogent Consulting and Independent LSFA Steering Group Member

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IN 2020 22-23 Sept

FFSITE

EXP

RICOH ARENA - COVENTRY

22 Sept

CONSTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY

INNOVATION

Offsite Expo

Ricoh Arena, Coventry

www.offsite-expo.co.uk

Taking place on 22 & 23 September, Offsite Expo brings together those who are driving change in the construction sector – the event will play host to the leading UK and international offsite manufacturers and component suppliers showcasing a broad spectrum of panelised, volumetric modular solutions, pod and prefabricated MEP solutions, as well as the latest in Digital and BIM technology. Offsite Construction Awards

Ricoh Arena, Coventry

www.offsiteawards.co.uk

Relocated as part of Offsite Expo, the Offsite Construction Awards will take place on 22 September 2020 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry and will reward outstanding examples of prefabrication and factory-based methods, products, systems and disciplines that increasingly strive to develop a sustainable, streamlined and cost-effective way to deliver a better built environment. ENTRY DEADLINE: 29.05.20 20 October

Modular Matters

NCC, Birmingham

www.modularmatters.co.uk

Returning to Birmingham on 20 October 2020, Modular Matters – in partnership with Volumetric Homes Group (VHG) - will focus on the latest developments, innovations and investments in the volumetric modular offsite sector and aims to engage with industry pioneers from within the offsite supply-chain, leading designers, specifiers, engineers and ground-breaking clients. 12 Nov

Focus on Framing

FOCUS ON

FRAMING

Manchester

www.focusonframing.co.uk

The Focus on Framing seminar will feature high-profile speakers from market leading companies, discussing the significant role that light steel frame plays in the UK’s major developments. From numerous sectors, residential to commercial, education, retail and leisure delegates will hear about the newest innovations and developments in this fast-changing sector.

All event information and schedules correct at the time of going to print - please check relevant websites for latest details.

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COME AND MEET THE LEADERS IN LIGHT STEEL FRAMING TECHNOLOGY AT OFFSITE EXPO

Hear from Light Steel Framing pioneers in the dedicated Offsite Masterclass programme: Brian Alborough - Richard Hopkins Architects Joanne Booth - Lucideon Andrew Way - Steel Construction Institute (SCI) Peter Burchill - EOS David Ellison - Sigmat Robert Clark - Fusion Building Systems

For more information or to book your stand space, contact julie.williams@radar-communications.co.uk or call 01743 290042

WWW.OFFSITE-EXPO.CO.UK

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Framing:

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Sheathing:

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2x 12.5mm Weather Defence externally. 3

Internal Boarding:

2x 12.5mm Siniat Frameboard internally. 4

Insulation:

100mm 45kg/m3 Rock Mineral Wool.

MANUFACTURING MEMBER

Light Steel Framing Magazine Issue 01 - Spring 2020

Articles inside

Steel, Sustainability and the Circular Economy

Bailey Street

Technical and Standard Developments

Industry News

Overcoming the Challenges of Restrictive Sites