Metsec has supplied approximately 40 tons of lightweight cold-roll formed steel purlins to help create the largest and most technologically advanced plastic bottle recycling facility in Europe.

The new £10m facility, at Hemswell Cliff in Lincolnshire, replaces AWS Eco Plastics’ bottle-sorting and storage facilities, which were destroyed by fire shortly after opening in August 2009.

At 9000m2, with an eaves height of over 16m, the new structure is around twice the size of the original, allowing for future capacity expansion.

Hemswell is the largest plastic bottle sorting plant in the UK.  The new recycling sort line and facility has the capacity to process upwards of 140,000 tonnes per annum.  The creation of this new facility is being seen as a further positive step towards driving UK recycling rates towards levels comparable with other European countries.

The majority of the plastic bottles processed by AWS Eco Plastics end up being granulated into a flake at the plant, prior to sale to plastic companies in the UK and overseas.  Over 70% of it is food-grade PET or HDPE.  The remainder can be used to create a wide variety of new plastic products, including fleece jackets, pipes, packaging and toys.

Fire is a persistent hazard as plastic bottles sent for recycling can retain residues of unknown highly flammable liquids previously stored in them.  The new building is therefore split into three distinct fire zones, each with their own fire protection.  Both the Environment Agency and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service had an input into the planning for the new facility.

Robinson Steel Structures was appointed to construct the new building.  With their extensive experience in the fabrication and erection of steel framed buildings, and having erected the original facility which was destroyed by fire, it was only natural for the company to undertake the project.  Robinson Steel Structures Project Manager, Adrian Slack says:  “Metsec is one of our preferred suppliers.  It was an obvious choice for them to supply the cold-rolled elements of the structure.  We know that we can rely on the quality of their products, efficient service and design support through their MetSPEC design software.”

The UK’s largest supplier of cold-rolled steel, Metsec re-launched its purlin range in June 2008 with more efficient profiles, to save weight and cost on construction projects whilst maintaining maximum performance.  Made from cold-rolled galvanised steel, with a minimum yield strength of 450 N/mm², Metsec’s purlin range includes fully compatible Z- and C-section profiles in depths ranging from 142mm to 342mm.

The latest version of Metsec’s building shell design software, MetSPEC 12, has enhanced functionality over previous versions and includes design analysis to Structural Eurocode EC: Part 1.3.

Commenting on the Hemswell project, Kevin Jones, Sales Director for Metsec’s Purlin Division says: “We are pleased to be associated with the creation of this state-of-the-art facility, which will contribute towards the UK’s environmental targets.  As a company we are concerned for the environment and do our best to reduce not only our own impact, but that of the structures for which we supply steel.”

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Email us at interactive@metsec.com

Metsec’s SFS (Steel Framing System) has provided the framework for a state-of-the-art hospital, designed not only to create a positive environment for patient care, but also to offer a new kind of service based on same day treatment.

The New Victoria Hospital, which serves South Glasgow, is one of the largest in Scotland and is expected to treat around 400,000 patients a year. It offers integrated diagnostic and treatment services including outpatients clinics, day surgery, rehabilitation and specialised emergency services. Twelve 23-hour short stay surgical beds are enabling clinicians to extend the range of surgical procedures offered. Thousands of surgical patients, who would normally have needed an overnight stay, can have their operations as day procedures and go home the same day. A new dedicated Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) means that patients with minor or less serious injuries gain rapid access to highly skilled clinical teams, leaving A&E teams to concentrate on more seriously ill patients.

All of these services and more are offered in an environment which exudes style and a sense of calm. The hospital has set new standards, with light, airy public spaces, comfortable waiting areas and modern consulting rooms creating an atmosphere that is attractive and reassuring for patients and visitors. A team of artists has added subtle and thought-provoking artistic themes throughout the building, with nearby Queen’s Park providing a source of inspiration.

The new hospital was commissioned by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and designed by HLM Architects. Donald MacDonald, project architect, explains: “The design strategy for the building revolved around the concept of a ‘hospital within a park’. The aim was to group principal healthcare functions within a single purpose-made facility creating an environment which is calm, welcoming and avoids the institutional associations of the traditional hospital.

“By emphasising the presence of natural light in clinical, non clinical and circulation areas, a strong connection has been encouraged between the inside and outside space. The user never feels deep within an institutional building. All these factors enhance the resultant experience at every stage of the journey for those using the building.”

The building consists of a basement area, three upper floors and a roof level plant room. The basement area is predominantly brick and block, the plant room is cladding rails and composite cladding, while Metsec’s SFS has been used for all other floors and on all façades, including within courtyards.

SFS was specified because if offers a variety of benefits. It is lightweight and quick to install. It can also compensate (to a degree) for any construction discrepancies in the steel frame and concrete floors. Because of the hospital’s size and location, a lot of effort went into producing a building whose scale matched the adjacent (predominantly residential) buildings. This led to a design with varying levels, setbacks and materials. Given this variety Metsec’s SFS system was ideal in providing a standardised base (with a sheathing board and breather membrane to provide a high degree of weather protection) to which the different external treatments could be added. This led to an economy of scale. Also, with just one system covering the complete building, programming was easier and the contractor, Balfour Beatty Construction, could progress without clashes with other subcontractors. The different finishes were able to be installed without disruption to the progress of internal works.

Metsec’s design team worked closely with HLM Architects, Balfour Beatty and the approved SFS installer PFP to fully detail the design and offer the best cost value solution for the project. Structural calculations were supplied to support the design in terms of lateral wind pressure and deflection criteria in conjunction with the various cladding loads.

Adrian Bellingham, Sales Director of Metsec’s Framing Division, says: “Being lightweight, yet strong and flexible, SFS is particularly suited to creating iconic modern buildings, such as the New Victoria Hospital that are of an interesting or unusual shape. We are delighted to have been invited to collaborate on this project and help to create an impressive building ideally suited to delivering contemporary health care.”

Metsec’s SFS is structurally proven and independently tested to provide thermal, acoustic and fire resistance. Design and detailing is covered by Metsec’s professional indemnity insurance and a full warranty can be provided.

Alasdair Fernie, Project Director, Balfour Beatty Construction Scottish and Southern comments: “The Metsec option allowed Balfour Beatty the capability of encompassing each of the external wall finishes and their interface, be it block/brick, cladding, windows or curtain walling, whilst at the same time eliminating the requirement for additional secondary support steelwork. Working closely with the Metsec’s design engineers allowed timely installation of these interfaces in line with our on-site construction programme requirements.”

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The creation of a new campus of state-of-the-art buildings to house North Leamington School (NLS) was the realisation of a long-term plan to bring students together on to a single site and provide an inspirational setting for 21^st-Century learning.  Infill walling for the five faculty buildings was provided by Metsec, cold rolled steel specialist and market leader in light gauge, galvanised steel structural framing systems.

The brief to Architects, Robothams, was to design a complete secondary school including teaching spaces, sports facilities, community theatre and administration, to replace an existing school.  Their solution was to create an open campus with a group of buildings focused on a central courtyard.  Key to the overall design were sustainability, energy efficiency and low running costs, so the buildings incorporate framed structures, passive ventilation, recyclable materials, and sedum roofs.  The school also has a biomass boiler.

NLS is a Specialist Performing Arts College with places for up to 1,500 students aged 11 to 18.  Its five faculty buildings house: Maths and Science; Humanities and Languages; Design Technology and Engineering; Sports; the Performing Arts (Dance, Drama and Music); and a Sixth-Form Centre, known as ‘The Hub’.  The new facilities, from the sports centre and the floodlit all-weather surfaces to the 400-seat theatre, also provide a much-needed resource for the local community, enabling NLS to operate effectively as an ‘Extended School’.

When it came to construction Metsec’s design team worked closely with approved installer Measom DryLine, supplying fully detailed drawings to facilitate the accurate installation of the Metsec steel framing system (SFS).  Metsec’s design and detailing is covered by its professional indemnity insurance and a full warranty can be provided.

Adrian Bellingham, Sales Director of Metsec’s Framing Division, explains: “Involving Metsec in the design process at an early stage helps to reduce overall project costs, especially in unusually shaped buildings.  SFS panels can be designed to deal with a variety of structural openings via the use of compound cold rolled sections.  This can often save on the amount of hot rolled steel typically designed around these openings which can lead to a significant cost saving.

Metsec SFS is a fast track cold rolled steel stud and track external wall framing system which is fixed between the main structural frame members – in this case concrete columns – providing a carrier for insulation, exterior cladding and interior wallboard.  It is manufactured at Metsec’s factory in Oldbury in the West Midlands.

The SFS system is structurally proven and independently tested to provide thermal, acoustic and fire resistance.  It offers a fast track alternative to block work and can be insulated and dry lined with the flexibility of supporting a number of external finishes, ranging from traditional brick work to modern rain screen cladding façade finishes.  Recent research carried out by Faithful & Gould has demonstrated a cost saving of up to 39% when using SFS compared with block work.  The research report may be downloaded from Metsec’s website.

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Email us at interactive@metsec.com

Metsec’s SFS (Steel Framing System) has created the framework for a visually stunning new home for The Bridge Academy in the London Borough of Hackney.

The Bridge Academy, which specialises in music and mathematics for 11 – 19 year olds, wanted a flexible space that could be easily modified to adapt to changing needs in the short and the long term, as well as suit community use outside of school hours.

The inspirational new building is situated next to the Regents Canal.  It was conceived by architects BDP (Building Design Partnership), based on their successful ‘schools without corridors’ concept, and comprises a central social and learning hub surrounded by horseshoe-shaped galleried learning space on six levels.  Teaching terraces form outdoor classrooms overlooking the canal.

A sweeping structural arch supports the centre of the building to allow the learning space to be column free and totally flexible.  A central library is suspended from an exposed hooped tubular truss over the open plan hub.  The classrooms vary in shape and size and a number of them can be adapted quickly for small or large groups.  They can also be altered over time to accommodate increasing student numbers as the Academy grows to full capacity.  The building is designed to minimise energy use by maximising daylight in the teaching spaces.  It is also predominantly naturally ventilated.

The innovative design and sense of light and space in the building make The Bridge Academy a friendly and welcoming place for students, staff, and the local community alike.

Metsec’s design team helped to realise the architect’s vision, providing full detailed drawings to enable the accurate installation of Metsec’s Steel Framing System (SFS).  “This was a complex project, which stretched the boundaries in terms of product application,” says Lee Winton Norman, a designer for Metsec.  “The building has lots of sloping walls and changes of direction, so the basic framing design was challenging in achieving an acceptable method of restraint back to the primary frame.  This was further complicated by the incorporation of numerous structural openings and the necessity to maximise space between the faming members to allow the integration of the natural ventilation system.  The high strength-to-weight ratio associated with the SFS sections and overall lightweight nature of the system made SFS the only real solution for this complex building envelope.”

Metsec’s design team worked closely with approved SFS installer R & S Driwall, who were contracted to create the structural envelope.  The SFS framing formed the majority of the external walls, parapet wall framing and ‘pod’ type classrooms at roof level.  “This was such an interesting and challenging project that we decided to enter it for the FPDC (Federation of Plastering and Drywall Contractors) Plaisterers’ Awards,” says Matt Voss, Business Development Manager at R & S Driwall, “and we were delighted to win the Technical Steel Framed Systems category.  The awards are among industry’s oldest and most prestigious, recognised for rewarding the highest standards of skill and excellence.  Traditionally they related to plastering and associated trades, but have recently been extended to include steel frame systems, in recognition of the significance these have in contemporary construction.”

Metsec’s Steel Framing System (SFS) offers a fast track alternative to block work when providing an inner leaf to an external wall.  SFS can be insulated and dry lined with the flexibility of supporting a number of external finishes, ranging from traditional brick work to modern rain screen cladding façade finishes.  In the case of The Bridge Academy, the cladding is Western Red Cedar with small areas of coloured insulated render and an inclined ETFE façade to the central atrium.

A cost saving of up to 39% when using SFS compared with block work has been demonstrated in research carried out by Faithful & Gould.  The research report may be downloaded from Metsec’s website: www.metsec.com.

Metsec’s design and detailing is covered by its professional indemnity insurance and a full warranty can be provided for the system.

Contact us on 0121 601 6000
Email us at interactive@metsec.com

Bucks New University (BNU), formerly Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, was awarded full University status in 2007.  Soon afterwards internationally-renowned architects RMJM were commissioned to design a new learning resources centre, which could house a wide range of activities.  Metsec’s SFS (Steel Framing System) was chosen to provide the structural envelope.

The University offers diverse, vocationally-targeted, degrees – from commercial pilot training to music management, textiles and furniture – and has over 9,000 students, many of whom are mature students.  The architect’s vision for the new building was a sustainable and contemporary structure providing facilities for the whole student body and contrasting with the existing campus architecture to establish a new and distinctive identity for the University.

The structural strength and flexibility of Metsec’s SFS make it ideal for unusually shaped buildings.  The main use of the SFS at BNU was as external wall infilling to the concrete structure.  Further framing was also incorporated into areas of the project known as ‘cut outs’.  These are large projections from the main structure – the largest spanning some four storeys high and featuring large areas of glazing.  Each ‘cut out’, which is unique in size and shape, forms a 3-D-type entity finished with sloping or shaped walls, cills and heads to create elaborate architectural detailing and optimise natural daylight.  The challenge was to integrate the SFS wall framing into the minimal structural steel projections and then form the required shapes to each ‘cut out’.

Metsec Project Engineer Lee Winton Norman provided fully detailed drawings to ensure accurate installation of the SFS.  “It’s interesting to work on a project such as this which pushes the boundaries of product application,” he says.  “The development of a suitable, economical, framing design and its associated construction sequence was time consuming, but the end result is a remarkable building, with which we are proud to be associated.”

The new landmark building offers space for social functions, teaching, learning, specialist multi-media and sports science facilities.  The exciting mix of uses reinforces the public nature of the campus and, combined with the 24/7 access, creates a memorable ‘gateway’ building for the University and High Wycombe, dramatically improving the experience of staff, students and visitors.

The ground floor elevations of BNU’s new building incorporate Trespa cladding panels and the upper levels are finished in ‘Rheinzinc’, a pre-weathered zinc panel system with an optical blue-grey surface.  SFS can be insulated and dry lined with the flexibility of supporting a number of external finishes, ranging from traditional brick work to modern rain screen cladding façade finishes.  Metsec’s Steel Framing System (SFS) offers a fast track construction solution when providing an inner leaf to an external wall, whether the design is complex or a standard rectangular shape.

Research recently carried out by Faithful & Gould has demonstrated a cost saving of up to 39% when using SFS compared with traditional block work.  The research report may be downloaded from Metsec’s website.

Metsec’s design and detailing is covered by its professional indemnity insurance and a full warranty can be provided for the system.

Contact us on 0121 601 6000
Email us at interactive@metsec.com

When Weston-super-Mare’s Edwardian Grand Pier burnt down in July 2008, there were many who mourned its passing. Happily, less than a year later work started on the construction of a new pier, which its owners describe as ‘for the 21^st Century’. A new Pavilion is set to rise from the ashes of the old one, with purlins and side rails from cold rolled steel specialists Metsec providing the framework to hold the structure’s cladding.

Angus Meek Architects won the competition to design the new pier, which was chosen by the pier’s owners – Kerry and Michelle Michael – with the help of a public vote.  The new colourful and illuminated 18m high design reflects the original Pavilion – built in 1904, but offers contemporary style and functionality. The Pavilion will have four tall cylinders, which echo the four towers of the old building, but will house a host of exciting new attractions designed to thrill 21^st Century visitors. For traditionalists, an Edwardian-style tea room will also be included.

Construction is being undertaken by contractor John Sisk & Son (Sisk), with structural steelwork supplied by local firm Haley Engineering. Sisk reports that more than 100 tonnes of steel a week will be used as work on the new Pavilion gets underway. This will include a total of around 50 tons of cold rolled steel from Metsec.

As the tides at Weston rise and fall sharply, a barge with a large crane has had to be anchored alongside the pier to deliver the structural steel from beach to site.

The first task was to sink some 70 new piles 30m into the sea bed to take the weight of the larger Pavilion and state-of-the-art attractions. A new metal deck was then attached before work on the Pavilion commenced.

As the new Pavilion goes up its progress can be tracked via web cams placed on site by the local newspaper – www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/webcam.aspx. From November 2009, Metsec steelwork started to be put in place.

Metsec was specified by project consultant W A Fairhurst, by utilising Metsec’s sophisticated Metspec design software. Steel fabricator, Haley Engineering, was happy to work with Metsec. General Manager, Will Haley, comments: “Metsec designed and manufactured purlins and side rails for us to deliver a successful project to a happy customer “

Kevin Jones, Sales Director for Metsec’s Purlin Division says: “This must be the first Pier to be built in the UK in around 100 years so it’s attracting a lot of interest. We are delighted to be a part of the project and hope that the new Pavilion will still be giving pleasure to visitors 100 years from now.”

Metsec’s purlin range was re-launched in June 2008 with more efficient profiles, made from cold rolled galvanised steel with a minimum yield strength increased to 450 N/mm² to give maximum performance for minimum weight. The range includes fully compatible Z- and C-section profiles in depths ranging from 142mm to 342mm.

The new pier at Weston is due to be open in time for the Summer 2010 tourist season and will have cost its private owners around £34m. New attractions will include a ‘surf board’ ride around the perimeter of the pier on the roof canopy, a roof-height twin-chute helter skelter and an 85m panoramic tower that will rise up and revolve 360 degrees. A £1m lighting scheme will provide energy-efficiency green and blue LED illumination underneath the pier.

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Email us at interactive@metsec.com

“It’s now official – Metsec Steel Framing System (SFS) reduces construction costs by up to 39%.  That’s the conclusion of a newly published report from Faithful & Gould, which analyses the main construction cost differences between traditional block work and Metsec SFS to the inner skin of an external wall.”

The Report was based on a four-storey residential building and compared Metsec SFS against block work both in conjunction with facing brickwork on the ground floor and lightweight render or timber cladding on the upper floors. The average cost saving on the building was 32% summarised in Appendix A of the Report.

In the first scenario – facing brickwork, the relatively cheap block was counter-balanced by the requirement for wind posts, head restraints, site attendance and site preliminary costs.  In the second and third scenarios – insulated render or timber cladding, the cost of the cement particle board required with the SFS was significantly lower than that of the additional wind posts and head restraints necessary for the block work.  For block work, the timber cladding proved to be the most complex and labour intensive and required a secondary timber frame as well as relatively expensive plywood backing resulting in a 39% cost saving in favour of SFS.

The research also highlights a number of other advantages to using Metsec SFS over block work. These advantages relate particularly to time saving and environmental issues.  The Report recommends that building users and clients seriously consider the consequence of building delivery being earlier and the resultant earlier rental and return income, when deciding whether to use block work or SFS.

Main Contractor, Shepherd Construction Limited, was particularly pleased with the way that Metsec SFS  assisted in the construction of Greenquarter Block 6 in Manchester.  They calculated that Metsec SFS could be erected over three times faster than block work.  This quicker installation allowed the envelope substrate works (cement particle board and EPDM weathering operations) to start much earlier.  Once two floors of the substrate had been completed, work started on window installation to a given floor.  Using this system meant that floors were weather tight and internal fit-out could commence dramatically quicker than using block work would have allowed.  The installation of Metsec SFS was programmed in tight behind the removal of the back propping for the RC concrete floors.

Adrian Bellingham, Sales Director of Metsec Framing Division, says:

“We commissioned this research to provide independent evidence of the benefits of using Metsec SFS.  Specifiers no longer need to simply take our word for it that significant savings can be achieved.  Obviously each job is different and there will be a variety of factors to take into account, but SFS offers such a range of advantages, that it has to be a serious option, whatever the project.”

Contact: Adrian Bellingham on 0121 601 6182.

To request and download Faithful and Gould’s full report click on the link below:

http://www.metsec.com/asp/forms/formFramingCostReport.aspx

“The companys continued willingness to invest has seen, over the past two years, two new rolling mills and an Auto Stacker installation being installed in its CRF Division, a new mill installed in the Hepsec Division and a new mill and Auto Forming cell in the Metstrut Division; totalling over 6 million worth of capital investment.”

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Commercial Feature.

The award-winning steel company thats on a roll

An award-winning West Midlands business is bucking the current economic trend and continuing to go from strength to strength.

Metsec is the UKs largest specialist cold roll-forming company providing products for the construction and manufacturing industries.

The companys continued willingness to invest has seen, over the past two years, two new rolling mills and an Auto Stacker installation being installed in its CRF Division, a new mill installed in the Hepsec Division and a new mill and Auto Forming cell in the Metstrut Division; totalling over 6 million worth of capital investment.

Over the past 10 years, Metsec has implemented a steady programme of expansion and modernisation. This has included two new factories and the installation of new or upgraded equipment which has contributed to the production of 100,000 tonnes of roll formed steel each year.

But, as any successful company knows, its the people involved that differentiate a business from the rest.

Managing director Erle Andrews comments on the strength of the business: It has a lot of local character within it which gives it its individuality. It gives me great pride when I hear someone refer to a generic product as a Metsec item, and I know that this comes from our commitment to clients and our solid reputation within the industry.

The company regards sustainability as a core social and corporate responsibility. Steel is one of the worlds most sustainable materials and the company works constantly to improve its environmental profile.

It has achieved Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Councils Platinum Environmental Charter Award following an audit of its procedures for reducing the use of natural resources.

Metsec was the first cold roll-forming company to be awarded the prestigious Gold Standard under the BCSA Steel Construction Sustainability Charter. It is also qualified to BS EN ISO 14001 for its Environmental Management System.

All of this has been achieved by applying common sense to the business, for example  the transport department works to ensure full loads are maximized on all trips thereby reducing the number of journeys made.

Designs of new buildings are planned to ensure efficient material handling, the maximum use of natural daylight, energy efficient lighting and automatic roller shutter doors to reduce heat loss. Action has been taken to reduce the risk of flooding on the site and the new manufacturing facility has been built on a brown-field site with measures taken to minimize the risks posed by contamination.

Finally, Metsec is committed to reducing its carbon footprint year-on-year by reducing its use of natural resources. Since 2004 the company has already reduced its CO2 emissions by 25 per cent, its gas consumption by 37 per cent and electricity consumption by 14 per cent.

Metsec is a wholly owned subsidiary of Voestalpine with headquarters in Austria. The group employs over 40,000 staff with locations in 60 different countries.

In addition to its own steel making facilities, at the headquarters in Linz the five divisions of Voestalpine; steel, special steel, railway systems, automotive and profilform all occupy top positions within their respective markets.

Responsibility and professionalism for itself and its partners are the company values that staff endorse and enact every day.

As many businesses have discovered, the current economic market conditions are extremely difficult and this is why sadly Metsec have had to make some staff redundant bringing the total currently employed to 320.

Tonnage volume is down by approximately half, sales margins are under pressure and raw materials are both rising in cost and becoming difficult to obtain. However, it is against this background that Metsec has continued to prove itself within the industry.

Because Metsec has spent valuable time building on its strengths and developing established contacts within the industry, it is now in the ideal position to emerge from the recession with the ability to provide new avenues of business.

It is ready to step into the gap left behind by the economic crisis and ensure financial strength to a weakened market.

Erle adds: When you look at Metsec, you can see its strength  from the clean modern factories to the professional staff. We have a willingness to give the highest quality service possible, and thats what motivates us daily. Whatever the economic outcome, be it a quick recovery from recession or a long slow climb over a number of years, Metsec now has the strength, commitment and confidence to know that not only will it survive but will emerge stronger and more willing to continue to build and develop to meet the challenges of the market and our customers.

Article 2

Delivering care and satisfaction

METSEC is fronted by salesmen who know their product, know their market, know their customers and are motivated to win orders by delivering, in person, the best possible support to the customers.

The factories have the best trained rollers, operators, loaders and staff with other skills who consistently deliver high quality products, on time and in full

A number of training schemes in operation throughout the business allow staff to keep up to date with the latest changes in the market.

A full-time training manager is also on hand to lend support to more than 20 apprentices currently in training with the company, as well as over-seeing senior qualifications undertaken by the established engineers.

The companys offices are staffed with managers, engineers, draughtsmen, administrators and other skilled personnel, who want to work for Metsec and who see their efforts reflected in high customer satisfaction.

Its success in focusing in all aspects of customer service is what has allowed Metsec to maintain the strong position it holds. And in surviving the current climate it will continue to strive to achieve an even higher level of customer satisfaction.

It is important that, as a company, it focuses on the individual customer needs as they vary. Some require quick deliveries, some need technical support, for others it is sales support, or price support.

Regular client meetings ensure that every measure is taken to conduct a swift and efficient delivery. External sales staff liaise with customers at their own businesses and each sector has its own dedicated team of professionals.

Whatever the need, Metsec is ready to help.

Metsec enhances lattice beam design for composite floors

“A new lattice beam from Metsec designed specifically to support poured concrete floors brings four major benefits.”

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The latest innovation from Metsec is a new lattice floor beam designed specifically for composite floor construction which brings four major benefits. The new Composite Lattice Beam from Metsec’s Lattice Beams Division is manufactured off site with pre-welded shear connector plates that eliminate the need to stud weld on site. One hour fire protection is provided by just one coat of factory applied intumescent paint. Longer column free spans are possible with a standard open web configuration providing a flexible uninterrupted route for M&E services.

Adrian Bellingham, Lattice Beams Division Sales Director, says the Composite Lattice Beam has been developed in conjunction with international structural engineers Buro Happold and engineers from the University of Sheffield using Vulcan fire analysis software along with a full fire test at the Bodycote Warrington fire testing centre which achieved a full 1 hour fire certification.

Lighter than alternative long span hot rolled beams, the Composite Lattice Beam with its unique cold rolled top chord member with integral off site pre-welded shear connector plates eliminates hot works created by on-site stud welding.

Taking advantage of new manufacturing processes for trapezoidal metal decking that enable a closed end to be formed during the roll forming process, this innovative feature eliminates the need for end caps to be installed on site. This feature in conjunction with the increased spanning capability of modern decks and lower concrete usage all add up to a value engineered solution with significant programme savings.

Like all of Metsec’s lattice beams, joists and trusses, the new composite beam is a bespoke design to suit the customer’s requirements. Whilst the standard open web configuration provides unprecedented flexibility for the routing of M&E services including the ability to cross over services within the depth of the beam, bespoke oversized rectangular openings can be designed to offer even more flexibility, maintaining minimum floor zones to maximise floor to ceiling heights or reduce the overall height of the building.

Metsec’s Free Design Service offers Architects and Consulting Engineers the facility to forward scheme drawings, together with any design parameters, for review by Metsec’s dedicated team of engineers and specialist 3D draughtsmen who will offer a full set of calculations and details to support the design of the composite beam and steel floor decking system. Structural layouts and sections to assist the site team along with full fabrication drawings are produced at no charge to the customer.

Metsec plc has been established for over 75 years and is the UK’s largest cold roll-forming company providing structural steel components for the UK construction and manufacturing industries. The Structures division, based in Oldbury in the West Midlands, produces a wide range of building shell and mezzanine floor systems, long-span lattice beams and trusses as well as light gauge framing systems including site fixed infill panels or standalone Metframe superstructures currently up to nine storeys high.

“Cold roll-formed steel specialist Metsec plc has launched a range of initiatives to make life simpler for lattice beam specifiers and contractors.”

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Cold roll-formed steel specialist Metsec plc has launched a range of initiatives to make life simpler for lattice beam specifiers and contractors. To keep specifiers up to date it has published a fully revised version of the Lattice Technical Manual, and developed a comprehensive CPD seminar on lattice beam technology. Where specifiers elect not to take advantage of their free design service, Metsec can also supply a new version of the free LatticeSPEC software. This easy to use software enables specifiers to design all types of lattice joists and trusses quickly and efficiently and then export these designs into a common drawing package such as AutoCAD. Time savings are possible on site with Metsec’s simplified chord section, which makes it easier to attach other components to trusses and joists. Further information is available from Metsec on 0121 601 6000 or HYPERLINK “http://www.metsec.com” www.metsec.com

Adrian Bellingham, Beams Division Sales Director, says Metsec has a continuous research and development programme which enables it to keep pace with the changing structural and architectural needs of the market. “Our new CPD seminar is an opportunity to share key elements of our knowledge with users and to highlight the possibilities that lattice beams offer the construction sector,” he says. “Lattice beams are renowned for their excellent strength to weight ratio, ease of handling and installation, and the simplicity of installing services. They also offer enormous opportunities for visually attractive designs.”

Metsec Lattice Beams Division offers a wide range of pre-engineered truss and joist solutions with spans up to 40m, providing optimum structural performance in roof and floor constructions. All solution types are detailed in the new free Lattice Beam Technical Manual, together with typical fixing details and applications, chord details, design examples and load tables. To simplify specification, Metsec’s lattice products are also included in the NBS Plus specification system.

Darren Bird, Divisional Director of the Beams Division, says Metsec is a pioneer in the provision of design software packages. He says: “We produced our first program for lattice design in 1989, and we’ve been improving the range continually since then. The new LatticeSPEC is a standalone package to help specifiers save valuable time when designing projects that incorporate parallel, pitched and curved trusses or joists.”

The package facilitates the quick and easy design of all types of lattice joists and trusses. It also includes an option to export the profiles of the truss, with its end section, in .dxf format, enabling specifiers to import direct to their working drawings, to speed up the completion of their detailing.

Metsec has redesigned the profile of its larger chord sections for lattice beams. Darren Bird says: “The new profile is just as strong but can be manufactured more rapidly and, more importantly, using less energy. The profile of the new beam also makes it much easier for contractors to attach other roofing and flooring components, so they are able to complete their part in the construction process more quickly.”

Metsec plc has been established for over 75 years and is the UK’s largest cold roll-forming company providing structural steel components for the UK construction and manufacturing industries. The Structures Division, based in Oldbury in the West Midlands, produces a wide range of building shell and mezzanine floor systems, long-span lattice beams and trusses as well as light gauge framing systems including site fixed infill panels or standalone Metframe superstructures currently up to nine storeys high.