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Frequently asked questions …
Q. As a builder, why should I build in steel?
A. In a nutshell, because all indications are that consumer driven demand for steel framed houses is rapidly increasing. Steel frames represent the future of house framing due to continual product improvement and consumer awareness programmes offered by us. People are more conscious of the continual threat from termites. With steel frame construction you build the major termite management into the building rather than add it on. A steel framed house is a quality product that delivers to the customer long-term peace of mind and cost savings. Callbacks are reduced and your reputation can be enhanced. Although steel frames require slightly different techniques they are quick and easy to erect. Because steel has consistent strength and complies with strict standards and tight tolerances, every stud is a good stud. Steel frames are lightweight and easy to handle, time is not lost sorting to select suitable pieces, there is no need for call backs to straighten framework on-site and wastage of material is reduced.
Q. Is steel framing expensive?
A. No. Steel framing is very competitive on price, particularly when you consider its quality. A steel frame gives value for money. It is a premium quality product that sets the benchmark. It has many advantages over timber, even the best quality timber. The fact is that discerning buyers are increasingly demanding steel frames. A Steel Frame Solutions frame remains straight and true, even if exposed to the weather for an extended time.
Q. Will the Steel Frame Solutions system be approved by councils and lending authorities?
A. Yes. Steel Frame Solutions provides ‘Certification Documents’ to satisfy council requirements as a matter of routine, and lending authorities see steel framing as an excellent long-term investment.
Q. Will I need costly tools to build a steel frame home?
A. No. You actually require fewer tools to build a steel frame than what you would require for a timber frame.
Q. Will I be able to find qualified plumbers and electricians to work on the steel frame?
A. These trades have been working on commercial steel buildings for years and they find steel framed houses very easy. In fact many prefer steel frames because all of the studs are pre-punched, making for easier installation of cables and pipes.
Q. Is steel framing noisy?
A. No. The CSIRO conducted a study in which they surveyed a number of occupants of steel framed dwellings. They published the results in Building Materials and Equipment, Vol.17. They found that most occupants either reported no sound emitted from the frame, or if they did, said that it constituted no problem. In considering the occurrence of thermal noises in steel framed houses it should be kept in mind that considerable noise may be apparent in conventional dwellings. In fact four of the subjects volunteered the information that there was less noise in their present homes than in timber brick veneer houses they had occupied previously.
Q. Why won’t steel frame rust?
A. Steel frames are made of steel protected against corrosion by a hot-dipped metallic coating of a zinc-aluminum alloy. These coatings conform to the appropriate Australian standards or their equivalent. In external applications such as roofing these products are exposed to the elements and have excellent durability, so in less exposed applications such as inside the building envelope they weather far more slowly. Where there are cut edges the galvanic action, or sacrificial protection, of the coatings protects the exposed steel edge against corrosion.
Q. Is a steel frame safe when exposed to a live electric wire?
A. Yes. Steel frames are safe because they are earthed. It is a requirement that all new housing be fitted with circuit breaking safety devices, so there is little chance of you touching anything live. A broken or pierced wire in a timber frame can remain live and leaking current can cause trouble-some faults and fire risk.
Q. I have heard that steel frames are made of thin steel. How do I know they will be strong enough?
A. The properties of steel are known and consistent, and conform to Australian standards or their equivalent. Steel framing components are designed around those properties with an extra allowance included for safety. The Steel Frame Solutions system uses high tensile steel components with appropriate jointing methods, and is engineered to pass strict performance tests.
Q. Do homes with steel look different?
A. Yes, they look better. Walls, ceilings and roofs do not have ripples or bumps in them and there are no “nail pops” in the plasterboard linings. Roofs of steel-framed homes do not sag over time, so the finished job keeps looking good. In fact because of steel’s strength you can design your home with larger open spaces whilst the exterior looks like any normal home.
Q. How much flexibility do I have with design?
A. Freedom of floor plan and architectural style is practically unlimited. Steel Frame Solutions can produce almost any one or two storey home design seen in the Australian market today. Further-more, it is possible to produce designs in steel that are difficult with other materials. By taking advantage of this feature you can often build with less expense than by using more conventional materials.
Q. Does a steel frame interfere with radio or television reception?
A. No. Electro-magnetic waves can diffract around steel as easily as timber. Waves pass through the spaces between the studs, allowing the use of all household appliances without any interference.
Q. How does a steel frame perform in a fire?
A. When a fire breaks out in a building the safety of individuals in paramount. Unless quickly brought under control, a fire can intensify and spread at frightening speed and therefore it is most important to have warning devices installed and for people to be able to get out of the building as quickly as possible. Smoke and heated air and/or asphyxiating gases are responsible for about 75% of fatalities in house fires. A steel frame will not burn. It will not therefore contribute to the fire or its spreading, and will not release smoke and carbon dioxide. Electrical faults cause many fires in wall cavities. An electrical fault cannot ignite a steel frame. If fire gets into the ceiling and ignites timber trusses it can spread very rapidly to the rest of the house. In a bushfire the point of ignition is often the roof cavity when burning embers are blown in under the eaves or tiles. House fires have been known to break through ceilings into the roof cavity. A steel roof truss cannot be ignited in either of these ways.
Q. Have steel framed buildings been proven over time?
A. Yes. In Globally steel framing has been used successfully in housing since the early 1950s. The Australian steel framing industry has a well-earned reputation for being highly innovative. Today’s framing represents the results of years of research, testing and product improvement. It is a thoroughly engineered product. In responding to the needs of the New Zealand customer, we have harnessed the technology from both Australia and America who are world leaders with Steel Framing technology. Don’t forget that steel frames have been used in commercial buildings for many years because of their superior attributes.
Q. What underlies the quality of a steel frame?
A. The steel in a Steel Frame Solutions frame is produced by New Zealand Steel, a quality-accredited producer to appropriate National Standard Specifications. The components are precision manufactured and assembled to very tight tolerances using advanced techniques. Computer-aided design, computer-controlled manufacture, and advanced engineering, ensure the homebuyer gets the design he or she wants, and that installation is quick and easy. Strength and performance are engineered into the frame. |
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