Specialists branching out from fitting interior partition systems to the world of light gauge steel framing can find that there are a significant number of transferable skills between the two disciplines. There are also many rules unique to the latter which must be observed and adopted and which specialists cannot afford to ignore or take lightly. FPDC’s Steve Halcrow considers the requirements of steel frame systems (SFS).
I am pleased to say that as I go around sites now I am seeing what in my opinion is an improved and improving standard of fixing of light gauge steel framed systems. There are still however too many fundamental errors being made which appear largely to stem from assumptions being made that if something works for internal drywall then it must be okay to do it the same
way on SFS systems.
Simple examples of this include:
• Inadequate fixing of studs to tracks where required
• Improper forming of deflection head details
• Insufficient framing of openings
• Incorrect fixing of SFS frames to surrounding structure
Quite simply we MUST make sure that the operatives we are asking to fix these systems are suitably qualified and experienced and we must put in place more stringent and dedicated checking procedures to make sure things are not missed.
I will resist the temptation to apologise for repeating these warnings, because it is vital we get this right and I still believe there is considerable room for improvement. As so often with such things we are highlighting critical points and in doing so I do not which to imply that there isn’t plenty of good practice out there; our challenge is getting this to be the base level of competence and to get the entire workforce to that standard to ensure quality and consistency.
Taking the main points above in order:
a) Metal-to-metal connections: in most non-load bearing internal drywall partitions there is no need to mechanically fix where studs and channels intersect; in much of SFS it is the opposite. If it says “three wafer head screws per connection” then that is what it must be, and of the correct type. I have witnessed these missed out on many a site visit and I have also seen excessive movement in a finished system that appeared to result from their omission. Potentially this is a catastrophic situation; at the very least it can contribute to cracking and other issues.
b) Deflection heads in SFS follow the same principles as for drywall but with very different detailing. It is of the utmost importance that these are formed correctly as recommended by the manufacturer in question. There is a little latitude in forming these in non-load bearing walls, far less in SFS.
c) One of the most critical details of all, there are numerous configurations depending on the size of opening and loading condition. I frequently see operatives fixing them the wrong way because their way is “the one we have done loads of times before” – such assumptions are dangerous.
d) Fixing to structure: the most common mistake I encounter in this regard is the use of too few and/or the wrong type of fixings. This is what holds the whole panel in place under significant loads, so is once again vital. Also these details must be carefully formed as often, depending upon the design strategy in place, we may also be forming air seals and water-tight details, so the correct construction of these is pivotal to the ultimate result.
To many of you this may seem blindingly obvious, but my observation is this: whilst most of these issues are picked up and addressed at design and preconstruction phases, they can easily get overlooked when the hurly-burly of installation starts, with tight programmes and commercial considerations.
The answer lies in solid checking procedures. Make sure the people involved – operatives and particularly supervisors – are all thoroughly briefed and properly trained, and supply them with checklists to reduce the chances of them missing or forgetting anything.
FPDC members will be able to access some suggested checklist templates via the members’ area of the FPDC website. If you have any queries or comments please get in touch with me through the usual channels.
Smartphones are now the must-have tool of choice and they’re being used for more than phone calls, according to Richard Blain of Hilti: “Cost pressures have meant that customers have reduced their back office teams so ordering of consumables is being done on mobile devices by supervisors and contractors.”
During the last 12 months Hilti’s interiors team has grown its online sales from 25 per cent to around 40 per cent of interior sales.
The established tradecentres are still the preferred choice of tradesmen who want to see the tools demonstrated when buying but online works best on consumables, which is why Hilti launched Hilti Screw Selector – a dowloadable app for iPhones and Android smartphones. The new app provides information on screws with a convenient tool which allows customers to select or search Hilti fasteners based on materials being fixed, fastening type and screw parameters.
Richard Blain explains: “Once the customer has used the online service they’re ordering three or four times a week – so they know what they want and they want to do as quickly as possible. You have multiple lines with some 15 or 20 items which can be fiddly to write out and fax or email. As consumables orders are often repeat orders, being able to repeat an order quickly is a real bonus. You can even check back over an order history.”
Travis Perkins has also launched a free app for iPhone, iPad and Android users. The app comes with a host of innovative features including directions to the nearest branch and local
branch services.
This interactive app is also a handy tool for use on site. The brick calculator can be used to purchase exactly the right amount of product for any job by taking into consideration brick size, wall space, total area of doors and windows and whether the wall will be single or double skin. And the handy built-in spirit level will help make sure that the resulting wall is straight and level.
Jon Parry, multi-channel director for Travis Perkins, said: “Our aim is to make it easy for our customers to do business with Travis Perkins. With more and more of our customers using smartphones, we hope that this new app will help our customers save time and money.”
FPDC’s annual Plaisterers’ Awards reflect the dynamic nature of the plastering, drywall, SFS and screeding industry and provide a unique opportunity for members to showcase and be recognised for their work.
The 2013 Plaisterers’ Awards open for entries on 31 May and FPDC is once again inviting contractors to submit their projects for the sector’s most prestigious accolade.
Last year FPDC added categories to enable a wider range of companies to enter while significantly increasing the chances of winning for all entrants.
Steve Halcrow, FPDC’s executive director, commented: “Our annual awards are a fantastic way to celebrate with our members and recognise their high quality work and commitment to improving
the built environment. We know that there is a wealth of tremendous work within the industry and would encourage all members to enter and showcase their skills.”
The FPDC Plaisterers’ Awards 2013 categories opening for entry are:
Fibrous & GRG – heritage
This category is open to projects that have used either Fibrous plaster or GRG (glass reinforced gypsum) in a restoration setting, e.g. churches, listed buildings, hotels, theatres etc.
Fibrous & GRG – new build
This category is open to projects that have used fibrous plaster and/or GRG as part of the construction of a new development or the non-original redevelopment of existing spaces.
Plastering – internal
This category is open to projects displaying exceptionally good quality solid plaster work in an interior.
Plastering – external
This category is open to projects displaying exceptionally good quality solid plaster work (probably, but not exclusively, rendering) in an exterior setting.
Screeding
This category is open to screeding projects, either solid or liquid, that demonstrate
both excellent workmanship and innovative use of screeding technologies and techniques to overcome inherent difficulties presented by the project.
Drylining – residential
This category is open to projects demonstrating excellent workmanship and application of drylining in a residential setting e.g. housing, apartments or hotels
Commercial contract under £1m
This category is open to projects demonstrating excellent workmanship and application of drylining in smaller scale commercial projects with a contract value (for the drylining
component) of under £1M.
Commercial contract over £1m
This category is open to projects demonstrating excellent workmanship and application of drylining in larger scale commercial projects with a contract value (for the drylining
component) of over £1M.
Steel framed systems
This category is open to projects demonstrating excellent workmanship and innovative usage of modern lightweight steel framed systems in the core of a development or substantial area of a larger development.
Entries open on 31 May 2013 and each entry costs £100 + VAT to enter. Entry closes at 5pm on Friday 26 July 2013 after which an expert panel of adjudicators will shortlist entries for announcement during October. Application packs and further information can be found at www.fpdc.org
The prestigious awards will culminate in a gala awards luncheon at Plaisterers’
Hall, London on Tuesday 4 February 2014. Tickets can be booked by emailing events@fpdc.org
Komfort’s double glazed partitioning and storage walls have been installed at the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic at Little France, Edinburgh, due to their exceptional hygienic qualities.
Funded with a £10 million donation from author JK Rowling, the Anne Rowling Clinic is a University of Edinburgh clinical research facility, hosting NHS out-patient clinics specialising in degenerative neurological conditions.
At the clinic, eight Komfort double glazed Polar Vision partitions were installed. These are dry-jointed partitions, constructed without mullion posts to provide a seamless style, and were used mainly to front the consulting rooms. In facilities such as this, hygiene and cleanliness are of the highest priority and the Komfort products installed can be wiped clean with ease, significantly lowering the risk of infection and contributing to a hygienic environment for both patients and staff.
Komfort partitions were also used to create a space for the main office named the ‘Glassbox’. Within this space, two KM3 storagewalls were installed, with two more in the clinic reception. David Kelly, from contractor Souness and Boyne, said: “Overall, the look and quality of the products installed provide a superior finish and look fantastic. The Komfort partitions provide a great source of natural light.”
Featuring Fermacell, Urban Splash has completed the first phase of its multi million pound regeneration of a Grade 2 listed council estate in Sheffield.
Urban Splash is transforming the 1,000 flat estate into a modern mixed use contemporary scheme. Phase 1 has three flanks and Block A incorporates 78 one and two bedroom flats. Manchester-based Complete Wall Solutions has installed 40,000 square metres of fibre reinforced gypsum board for walls with acoustic performance of 43dB.
Visit Park Hill project story for more details
Timloc has launched its latest range of beaded access panels designed especially to offer builders and contractors an attractive, robust and cost effective alternative to costly, dated plasterboard faced products.
Designed for use in drylined walls and ceilings that are pre plaster skimmed, Timloc beaded
access panels consist of a metal-faced door skin with a smooth powder coated finish to facilitate over-painting. The door skin is inserted into a perforated frame that creates a good plaster key and leaves a plaster-beaded edge around the door aperture. The result is a concealed access door with no visible frame, superior aesthetic appearance and quality finish.
The panels have a fully removable door for ease of installation. The quick release hinge allows easy access and can also be positioned to open left or right handed. Fire-rated and non fire-rated versions are available.
For more information visit www.timloc.co.uk
An eye-catching façade featuring Cembrit True cladding has been created at Barnfield West Academy in Luton. The academy is an impressive development and the elevation featuring True uses the dark Etna colour to make a modern and striking visual statement.
Barnfield West features a fully glazed, double height entrance atrium that provides views into the heart of the school, and showcases the Academy’s specialisms.
The entrance is framed by the sports hall and the performing arts building, set back from the
road to form an entrance courtyard. 500m² of True was supplied by Vivalda of Birmingham and theproduct features on the sports hall elevation facing the main street.
Cembrit True is a through coloured cladding board which is protected by a specially developed
transparent coating which helps minimise maintenance. True is part of the Urbannature range whichis available in nine different colours and in a standard format or individually cut to suit a particular project specification. The range is supplemented by a complete range of accessories to ensure simple, easy installation and a sleek, stylish finish that will endure.
The latest figures from the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) have revealed that over 9,200 Green Deal assessments have been carried out in properties across the UK and £68.9 million worth of contracts have been let through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) brokerage system.
The figures indicate that there is rising demand for energy efficiency measures since the launch of the Green Deal and ECO at the end of January. Minister of State for Climate Change Greg Barker said that the latest statistics indicate a “promising start for the Green Deal” with “genuine interest from consumers”.
The construction industry has a key role to play in greening the UK economy and CITB has urged SMEs to act now and qualify their workforce to ensure that the demand for energy efficiency measures can be met. Over 830 installers are now registered with the Green Deal oversight and registration body enabling them to carry out projects under the Green Deal.
Being Green Deal certified also opens up other business opportunities as the recognised certification standard PAS 2030 is expected to apply to future low carbon work under the
implementation of building information modelling (BIM), new nuclear projects and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
The figures from DECC also show that £26.9m of contracts for work under ECO, the Green Deal’s sister scheme, have been let in the first two months of 2013.
Social housing landlords have invested significantly in improving insulation as John Barnham, head of sustainable investment at Orbit Heart of England, said: “We’re looking to contractors to come up with some ideas as to how we might best install insulated render systems. My main
concern is that, while CESP schemes comply with building regs,I don’t believe 65mm is enough insulation to ensure that we won’t have to go back at some future point and add additional insulation. We’re focused on improving the energy performance of F and G grade homes and we’ve established a performance spec and are now approaching contractors to suggest the most appropriate solution. What’s key is that the supply chain understands what we’re trying to achieve.”
The Plaisterers’ Company commitment to support training has received a further impetus with the awarding of Master Plaisterer certificates and the launch of the 2013 Plaisterers’ Training Awards.
At a ceremony in the historic Tallow Chandlers’ Hall two further Master Plaisterer certificates and an Associate’s certificate were presented. Details of how to become a Master Plaisterer or an Associate may be obtained from the Clerk of the Plaisterers’ Company, by emailing clerk@plaistererslivery.co.uk
Plaisterers’ Training Awards 2013 application forms for the ‘National and Regional College Awards’ and the ‘Student of the Year Award’ are now available. Full information has been sent to training colleges throughout the UK, and for the first time there will be a separate award for colleges in Northern Ireland. Details about the trophies and prizes, together with the application forms, can be found at www.plaistererslivery.co.uk
Sponsors for the 2013 Awards are British Gypsum, Formula, the Hadley Group and the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers Charitable Trust.
A £2.1 million affordable housing scheme by housing association Family Mosaic on New Kent Road – near Elephant and Castle, London – includes latticed façades inspired by ivy vines, making use of Trespa’s Meteon panels.
The 21-unit development revived an existing brownfield site and the building’s distinctive front and rear façades are designed to resemble a creeping vine, in the form of triangular cladding on the front and rear elevations.
Trespa’s Meteon panels helped to create the distinctive and striking façade. Yet the panels are also vandal resistant, tough and easy to keep clean and retain their appearance over a long period of time.
Trespa’s products are weather resistant, coping with extreme climate changes. Both the UV resistance and colour stability of the vertically applied decorative surface comply with the highest score classification 4-5 measured with the grey scale according to ISO 105 A02.
The key benefits of Meteon are a pore free surface structure, ensuring that practically no dirt accumulates; guaranteed high impact resistance; and testing has proved the panels fall within one of the most favourable fire retardant classes.
This combination of aesthetics, flexibility, strength and safety are showcased in this development.
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