As we enter a new era of building safety, the Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA) share insights to help developers gain a better understanding of the speed and safety benefits light steel frame construction can bring to affordable and social housing providers.
Following the reset of housebuilding goals, Councils and Local Authorities in England have new mandatory targets to pave the way to deliver 1.5 million more homes over the next five years.
Under the previous administration, targets were relegated to ambitions in the final years of government. Now they are being reinstated as mandatory and to make up the shortfall in the first year, the objective is to build 370,000 homes year on year over the lifetime of the parliament.
Behind bold ambitions, robust plans are required - from planning and finance reforms to grants and a commitment to improve living standards. But critically to ‘get Britain building again' Councils and Local Authorities must ensure they have a complete and compliant supply chain in place to deliver sustainable homes at scale that will stand the test of time.
Image: Ayrshire Metals - Sandgate Pavillions
Rapid and robust, light steel framing technology is a cost-effective option for residential construction projects. As a material it is safe and sustainable, as it is lightweight, airtight and durable. Low carbon - and in future NO carbon steel - will make steel the lowest carbon structural building product available.
Delivering the requirements of the Building Safety Act and the Future Homes Standard, light steel has a massive part to play in delivering the challenging new housing targets. Achieving greater economic benefits than timber or concrete, the frame assembles quickly and easily onsite which reduces labour costs significantly.
Building A Safer Future
An economic and versatile form of construction for residential buildings, robust steel frames are especially well-suited for meeting the rigorous requirements of the Buildings Safety Act. Fire safety during construction and when the building is in use is a significant issue with some forms of construction. According to our technical partner, the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) - the key benefits of light steel construction in relation to fire safety are:
• Steel is non-combustible and does not add to the fire load of the building
• The fire risk is much lower for light steel framing than timber construction
• No welding is required vastly reducing the risk of fire during construction
• With suitable board protection, fire resistance periods of up to 120 minutes are achievable
• Steel connections are robust in fire scenarios
Stay Safe - Specify Light Steel
Trusted and widely specified by the UK construction industry - as an advanced industrialised construction method, the digitally savvy light steel sector is highly mechanised - increasing quality, accuracy and production output. Manufacturing LSFA members have developed infill, panelised and modular solutions that deliver high quality buildings on fast-track construction programmes. Meeting the most stringent of Building Regulations and Building Safety Standards, there is a well-established design, engineering, manufacturing and installation infrastructure.
Currently, it is estimated that only a third of all construction products in manufacture are covered by the Building Safety Regulator, leaving around 20,000 to 30,000 unregulated products.
Fire performance must be up there at the top of the list of priorities when specifying materials.
The LSFA's technical partner, the Steel Construction Institute and industry collaborators from the Light Steel Forum have carried out fire tests on loadbearing light steel framed walls. A stringent series of two-sided fire tests were conducted, SCI analysed the results which are detailed in the new SCI publication P442.
Many Light Steel Frame Association members are BOPAS Accredited which certifies a design life of 60 years. But according to SCI, design life predictions for light steel in a ‘warm frame' environment is in excess of 250 years, vastly reducing remedial and maintenance work for the lifetime of the homes.
Light Steel Frame Association
The LSFA works to drive engagement, champion change, and spread the word about the cost, productivity, performance and sustainability benefits of contemporary light steel systems. Bringing together a wealth of experience and technical know-how, the LSFA membership represents manufacturers, installers, industry supply chains, architects, engineers, consultants and clients operating in the light steel sector.
