The Best Practice For Light Steel Framing Starts With A Commitment To Quality

[Brenda Bailey]

Light Steel Frame is a structural design technique with a skeleton frame made up of steel columns and horizontal I - beams, built around a rectangular grid to supports the walls, roof and floors of a structure that are connected to the skeleton frame. The development of this concept made the construction of the world's first skyscraper possible. The building of the Empire State Building in New York was completed in just a span of 14 months using a system of connecting light steel frames with concrete parapets at their bases. This allowed the building of the tallest building in the world to be completed without causing any damages to the surrounding buildings.

Today, it is possible to construct buildings that are much higher than previously conceived as well as being much more durable than traditional concrete constructions. With a lightweight property, these buildings are capable of withstanding stronger earthquakes and even more powerful hurricanes. With a lightweight property, even a small building can easily be erected or relocated without causing much damage to surrounding structures. With a lightweight property, it is possible for many different types of buildings to be erected in a limited amount of time and with minimal disruption to surrounding neighborhoods. Lightweight properties also make erecting these buildings easier since smaller frame sections can be bolted together with greater ease than large sections.

The use of light frame in construction industries has become much more prevalent due to advancements in material handling and design, as well as increased speed in assembly. Previously, if a piece of equipment required for a new connection, the entire process would require a full day to complete. With a lightweight frame, this is no longer necessary. With the use of a light steel frame, the same piece of equipment can be connected to each other in a matter of seconds, making it possible to finish construction on time, increase production and reduce costs. In addition, it is possible to produce as many buildings as needed, providing a great resource of jobs for those in the construction industry.

As mentioned above, lightweight structures provide reduced risk in earthquake loading. The reduced load on the structure also decreases the structural support load required to keep the structure in place during an earthquake. A standard building should meet the National seismic criteria, but a lightweight structure can meet these criteria much more effectively than a traditional building could. For a quick example, consider a two-story building with two floors. The structural load required to hold the upper floor is not too great, while the lower level requires extensive reinforcement to withstand severe lateral load.

A second reason why lightweight construction is so important to most construction industries is that it reduces time spent during pre-start requirements. Construction generally begins after receiving the appropriate permits, but there is plenty of time spent in preparing the site for installation of any equipment. With a light steel frame, the amount of time spent measuring and preparing the site is greatly reduced, allowing contractors and subcontractors to get right to work. This also means that inspections and testing can begin much sooner, which increases both productivity and customer satisfaction. A light steel frame can also significantly increase the ability of the facility to resist future loads, reducing waste, and minimizing accidents.

Lastly, a light steel frame consists of trusses, joists, and beams. Each of these materials has specific applications in the construction process, requiring different types of equipment for each application. A light galvanized steel section used to connect beams in a header system requires special equipment to drill holes through trusses, as well as install the beams. The number and size of braced joists are critical in the installation of interior walls. The right types and sizes of braced joists are necessary for the type of wall frame comprised, and all of these parts must be extremely resistant to extreme weather conditions.