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.