Structural Steel to Timber Framed Building at Five Ash Down
If you’re looking to achieve a rustic and charming finish for a project, timber frames are a fantastic choice. However, if you want to reduce spending but enhance the structural integrity, it’s a great idea to combine timber with steel.
In this case study, we explore how we supplied and installed high-quality steel to a timber-framed building at the Five Ash Down site.
Steel to Timber Frame Project Overview
This project required us to supply and install top-quality steelwork. On most occasions, we also create the CAD drawings to ensure our structures are perfectly aligned with the requirements, However, this wasn’t required in this instance so we instead used the supplied designs to fabricate the steel frames.
To ensure the building’s integrity was guaranteed, all of our steelwork was certified to EXC 3 (Execution Class Level 3). This consideration also played a key role in the building’s overall safety sign-off upon completion.
Why Combine Steel with Timber Frames?
Incorporating structural steel into a timber frame allows for design flexibility, increasing load-weights for multi-level structures, and improves the overall longevity.
Adding steel to a framework also means that timber size can be reduced. This not only saves money, but can mean more interior space is provided. Pre-fabricated steel frames, like the ones used in this project, also make it easier to complete construction. This is because off-site preparation can mean installing structures is quicker. As well as again a money saving experience, this is ideal for busy construction sites as it means teams are able to have dedicated times to complete their part of a project.
Finally, combining structural steel with timber frames also offers fire-safety and sustainability benefits, which are two important elements for any project.
Issues that we Overcame
We frequently encounter access constraints for construction sites. This is especially relevant when working on residential properties and within countryside locations. On this occasion, the access to the site was down a very tight driveway, meaning we had to load the steel on our smaller truck for delivery. While this meant extra journeys, we were able to accommodate this as we do have a fleet of vehicles in various sizes.
Due to the tight access to the site, we also had to use a compact truck-mounted crane to lift steel into location. This can be tough as it means different safety clearances are required for the site. However, again, it’s all completely possible for us thanks to our available machinery and team of professionals.
Choose Two J’s Metalwork
Are you looking to combine timber with steel frames for an upcoming project? Whether you already have designs to work with or need something created from scratch, our team is on hand to help you.
Contact our team today to discuss your building requirements.
What Needs to be Considered When Designing a Fire Escape Staircase?
Steel staircases are a common product that we design and install. As a robust piece of structural steelwork, there are lots of safety considerations and regulations to adhere with. This includes the following:
Legal Requirements – In the UK, all fire escapes must align with strict safety regulations. This not only relates to the structure design, but also the materials being used. This means all designs need to align with BS 9999, BS EN 1993, and EN 1090, plus also be fire and heat-resistant.
Loading Weight – Steel staircases also need to be designed to hold heavy loads as they will experience heavy footfall during evacuations. This also means welded connections and installation points need to be of top quality.
Material and Design Considerations – Evacuation staircases need to include strong handrails, slip-resistant surfaces, safety guards, and wide platforms to ensure they can be used with ease.
Longevity Considerations – Finally, fire escapes must be corrosion-resistant to prevent any issues from occurring when they are being used.
Issues that we Overcame
One of the main factors we had to overcome was working with restricted access hours due to the ferry terminal’s operating hours. This meant we had to complete all work at night. However, this is not an issue for our team as we have lots of experience of scoping out project factors and ensuring we can work to meet them, with restrictive times being just one example.
Being so close to the sea also meant that the steelwork had to be galvanised and then powder coated. This added extra processes to the manufacturing time but was essential as this provided maximum surface protection and longevity given the location of the staircase.
Choose Two J’s Metalwork
No matter the location of your required steelwork or architectural metalwork, our team of professionals can design, manufacture and install professional solutions to meet your needs. Contact our team now to discuss your upcoming project.
