SCI has always had strong technical expertise in cold formed light gauge steel construction, initially projects in this area formed a relatively small proportion of SCI’s activities. However, over the years the quantity of work in this field has steadily grown in line with the popularity of light steel framing and offsite construction.
One particular aspect which has increased more recently has been requests for SCI to visit sites to inspect light gauge steel of various forms and at various stages of construction. The prevailing reasons why SCI may be requested to attend sites in this sector are: to inspect the condition of loadbearing light steel framing which has been left exposed to the elements for a prolonged period of time (e.g. in excess of 6 months); to examine the quality of installation of existing SFS infill walling which has been in place for many years; and the general examination of light gauge steel construction to provide an authoritative independent view for the client.
Projects where light steel framing has been left exposed are typically caused by delays in the construction process due to contractual issues and/or one of the parties being unable to complete their work. In these circumstances the galvanized steel framing maybe able to withstand prolonged exposure depending on specific conditions, however, other products used such as boarding may be less resistant to weather exposure.
As we are all aware many multi-storey buildings are undergoing renovation of their cladding systems following The Grenfell Disaster. This often means the removal of sheathing boards that no longer meet The Building Regulation requirements. When sheathing boards are removed the supporting SFS infill walling beneath is revealed. This can lead to questions being raised by contractors who may not be familiar with SFS infill walling and are seeking confirmation that the original installation was carried out correctly and the infill is in a suitable condition to support the new façade system.
In some cases there may be changes to the loading which also need to be considered. The site visits and associated recommendations provide an interesting challenge for SCI, as in most cases SCI will not have been involved in the original design and specification process, and in many cases the original design documentation will not be available. Despite its growth in popularity, cold formed and light gauge steel construction remains a niche subject with many in the construction industry not being familiar with the nuances of its design and construction. This puts SCI in a good position to be able to assist.
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