NEWS
Light steel frame training courses make their mark
The series of CPD-accredited training courses arranged by the Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association( Sasfa) have made their mark in 2016. This is according to Sasfa director, John Barnard. " We are seeing a growing interest in these courses in line with the excellent growth in popularity of light steel frame building( LSFB) in South Africa," Barnard says, adding that the South African market for LSFB is estimated to already be worth about R1 billion per annum.
Mike Hull of Hull Consulting during the SANS 517 training.
The first course deals with SANS 517 Light Steel Frame Building and is aimed at all architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, developers and other LSF practitioners, who should all have a working knowledge of the building code.
The second is a course on cold-formed steel and LSF design to SANS 10162:2 and is aimed specifically at design engineers.
SANS 517
The SANS 517 one-day course consists of an introduction to LSFB, as well as an overview of the development of this building method and industry in southern Africa. The advantages of LSFB are discussed and explained – ranging from speed of construction, enhanced insulation and the resulting energy efficiency, low mass and the corresponding logistical cost advantages, through to accuracy, ease of installation of services and durability.“ The steel frame will last several 100 years if installed correctly,” Barnard says.
The correct terminology is dealt with, the major LSF elements described and the properties of the major materials used in LSFB are presented. Apart from the highstrength galvanised steel sheet used to manufacture the cold-formed sections for the light steel frame components( wall frames, roof trusses or floor beams), LSFB makes use of:
• Fibre cement cladding( exterior);
• Gypsum board lining for walls and ceilings( interior);
• Insulation( thermal and acoustic);
• Vapour permeable membrane( external walls); and
• Fasteners( screws, rivets and anchor bolts or screws).
The main components of a LSF structure are described as foundations with cost saving potential compared with masonry building, the steel structure, walls, floors, ceilings, insulation and the installation of services. This is followed by spelling out the requirements for these components to comply with SANS 10400 – structural stability, weather resistance, durability, energy efficiency, acoustic insulation, fire resistance and fire rating and prevention of air infiltration and robustness.
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SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER 2016
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