WElink Homes

Description of the WElink Homes Lightweight Steel Building System

Manufactured in the United Kingdom by WElink Homes, the factory assembled wall, floor and roof panel cassettes are transported to site and assembled in sequence on a prepared sub-structure. The foundations, sub-structure and ground floor construction is site specific and usually constructed by others.

The system uses a range of light gauge galvanised steel (LGS) C and U sections to create low-rise building frames, floors and secondary components for single occupancy houses up to 2.5 storeys high with room-in-roof. Buildings are limited to a maximum height of 10.5m and have a maximum floor area of 133m2. Construction follows balloon frame construction with storey-height wall panels, floor and roof cassettes. Houses can be constructed of standardised panels, or bespoke panels for particular projects. All LGS is roll formed by WElink Homes from S390GD strip steel with minimum yield strength of 390N/mm2, a minimum tensile strength of 440N/mm2 and Z275 zinc coated. A higher specification of galvanising, G450 or G600, may be required for durability and moisture at specific locations, as per NHBC Standards, 6.10.7 & 6.10.16.

The system is based on warm frame construction whereby the majority of the insulation is external to the frame.

Limits on scope

• Maximum 2.5 storeys subject to structural analysis.
• Bottom members minimum 150mm above external ground level and isolated from damp.
• Minimum 15mm drained cavity behind external cladding systems, or as required by the manufacturer.
• Rendered external thermal insulation systems or insulated brick slip systems must have a minimum 15mm drained cavity.
• Adequate sub-floor ventilation, minimum 1500mm2/m of external wall or 500mm2/m2 of floor area, must be maintained to the void below the ground floor, in particular where there is no treatment of the ground to prevent moisture entering the void.
• WElink Homes must be contracted for the design, manufacture, supply and erection of the structures.
• A chartered structural engineer suitably experienced in the design of this type of structure must be engaged for the structural analysis and design.