After months
of research, product design and stringent fire testing and assessments,
voestalpine Metsec plc has launched its innovative new range of steel framing
system (SFS) products.
Having led
the market for more than 20 years, Metsec recognised the need to increase the
efficiency of SFS whilst reducing both the environmental impact and cost to
customers.
As such, the
UK’s largest specialist cold roll-forming company has designed a range of
products to give specifiers and installers a far greater choice of stud widths
and gauges, reduce the amount of wastage through over-specification and provide
cost savings on framing projects.
Metsec’s new
SFS range provides a greater selection of sections, giving architects the
capability to create more efficiently-designed projects using the exact product
sizes needed. With an industry focus on reducing waste in construction
projects, architects are able to reduce any over-specification within a job and
minimise product wastage at the same time as potentially increasing more
useable floor area.
SFS is
available in a variety of options including infill, continuous and high-bay
walling and an SFS load bearing system.
Until the
introduction of SFS framing, the most common method of creating infill walling
was to use blockwork, however the benefits of light gauge steel - namely speed
of construction, cost and sustainability – means SFS framing is now the most
common form of infill walling used in the UK today.
There is a
wide range of solutions available from external wall panels, both infill and
continuous to internal high bay separating walls and it is also possible to
create complete load bearing superstructures.
Ryan
Simmonds, sales director of Framing at Metsec, said: “We are taking a new
approach to our range of SFS framing systems. Today’s buildings need to perform
as efficiently as possible, structurally, acoustically and thermally, and be a
safe as possible in terms of fire performance.
“Our new
products can offer improved design efficiency. Over-specification is something
to be avoided in any case, but in today’s cost-driven market the need to ensure
that designs optimise the amount of material used is increasingly important.
“We have
also placed a greater emphasis on sustainability – this isn’t just about saving
the planet but looking at how sustainability translates into real world savings
on-site, such as transport and wastage.
“Furthermore,
having data available to support the whole system, not only boosts confidence,
but is also an ever-increasing requirement. With the range tested, assessed and
calculated to adhere to stringent fire and safety regulations and the
introduction of more width and gauge options in order to reduce
over-specification, Metsec’s new range is firmly putting its stake in the
ground.
“Our
objective is to combine best value and quality for installers and end users and
make a substantial impact on sustainability and the green credentials of any
project where Metsec’s SFS solution is implemented.”
The new and
improved range is BIM Level 2 complaint with Kitemarks for both BIM projects
and BIM objects.
