Housing

Light steel framing is generally based on the use of proprietary C or Z shaped steel sections produced by cold rolling from strip steel.  The steel strip used in cold formed sections is relatively thin, typically 0.9 to 3.2mm, and is galvanised for corrosion protection.  The components are formed in the factory and can either be assembled there into panels or assembled individually on site. 

A single house project in York replicating the existing terrace design built using Light Steel Frame components erected on site.

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) are engineered timber panels in which the thickness is made up of a number of narrow widths of timber laid together with each layer at right angles to the previous layer. These panels can be pre-cut in the factory to form wall, roof and floor elements. It can provide fast onsite construction, with good potential for air tightness and a robust wall and floor structure suitable for most finishes internally and externally.

Access permitting, relatively large pre-manufactured panels can be transported to site for fast, factory quality construction. CLT normally forms the structural floor and wall element of buildings, and has been used successfully to build up to ten storeys.

Cross laminated timber panels are prefabricated and delivered to site as large structural elements meaning crane loads and erection programmed are dramatically reduced. The panels are installed, without the need for wet trades, with the aid of a crane and lightweight power tools. Site storage is reduced by just-in-time delivery scheduling and health and safety issues are minimised due to the lightweight nature of the product and the speed of erection.

The modules are built in the factory using a light steel frame sections to provide a structural envelope which typically forms a complete floor of a house or apartment. Width and height are limited by transport restrictions but modules can be up to 5 metres wide, 3 metres high and up to 18 metres long. Modules are supplied with external and internal finishes, windows and doors and are weather protected during delivery and erection so that internal partitioning, decoration, floor finishes and mechanical, electrical and plumbing services can be completed in the factory and completion on site takes only a few days.

The external panels, constructed off-site, comprise an outer leaf of precast concrete, an insulating layer and an inner leaf of plain grey concrete with a power floated finish. The external skin is connected to and supported off the internal skin using proprietary plastic ties. The ties have a low thermal conductivity and as such eliminate cold bridging. The thickness of the insulation can be adjusted in order to accommodate the required U-value. The shape, thickness and size of the concrete can also be made to meet the requirements of the project.
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Panels can form part of a precast structural frame where the inner leaf is load bearing or may be attached to a steel frame as a cladding panel. Insulated sandwich panels can be used to drastically reduce erection periods and on-site safety hazards for any crosswall project. The external panels can be fitted with various facades, windows and insulation during manufacture, thus reducing the need for follow-on trades and eliminating the need for scaffolding.  Floor panels to complete the construction are simple reinforced concrete slabs.