Frameclad Ltd

Frameclad manufacture and distribute light gauge steel components and systems which enable a rapid in the dry envelope to be constructed drastically reducing build programme times.

Frame Clad Ltd Light Gauge Steel Frame Building System

The system may be used to form individual site assembled panels, factory assembled volumetric units, or as infill to a primary structure.

The system comprises a range of galvanised lightweight steel sections. U and C sections, form the external and internal walls, upper floors and roof panels.

Wall panels are constructed with U section top and bottom rails with C section studs of size and spacing commensurate with the structural design.

The system employs warm frame principles; where the majority of the insulation is installed on the outside of the steel frame, thus minimising the risk of interstitial condensation.

Durability Assessment: Minimum of 60 years

Limits of Scope

• Maximum 10 storeys for loadbearing frames subject to structural analysis (with the incorporation of hot-rolled steelwork to achieve structural design parameters).
• Bottom members in contact with foundations/sub-structure must be fully isolated from contact with moisture from the ground or external sources.
• Where lightweight gauge steel framing is used for ground floor construction, the ground below the floor must be sealed to prevent moisture entering the void, such as a membrane with 50mm oversite concrete, in accordance with the recommendations of Steel Construction Institute publication P262.
• Where a lightweight gauge steel frame ground floor occurs over a void next to the ground, the void must be cross ventilated to a minimum standard of 1500mm2/linear metre, or 500mm2/m2 of floor area.
• Masonry wall cladding cavities should be minimum 50mm and ventilated.
• Conventional cladding, such as timber cladding, should have a minimum 25mm drained back-cavity, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Rendered external thermal insulation systems and/or insulated brick slip cladding systems applied to steel-framed structures must have a minimum 15mm drained back-cavity OR, in the absence of a cavity (sheltered and moderate exposure zones only, cavity mandatory in severe and very severe exposure zones), any such application must be assessed to confirm that moisture accumulation would not exceed normal criteria for the avoidance of material degradation in the site specific climatic conditions likely to be experienced, evidenced by: a) Testing, e.g. MOAT 22 hygrothermal test or, b) ETAG 004 assessment, or c) Dynamic modelling, e.g., WUFI hygrothermal modelling (including 1% moisture penetration stress). The application of insulated cladding systems should be considered to minimise the risk of water entering the structure at vulnerable junctions, for example window jamb/sill junctions in accordance with the recommendations of the Steel Construction Institute publication P343.
• Stainless steel fixings, such as channels for masonry retention systems, must be isolated from the galvanised steel to prevent bi-metallic corrosion where there is a risk of exposure to moisture.
• Frameclad Limited must be contracted for the design, manufacture, supply, and erection of the structures.