Supporting Social Housing Providers Achieve Safety and Compliance Standards

Registered Social Landlords and Housing Associations are facing challenging times. With the increase in Local Authority housing targets, the need to build at speed is essential but compliance and safety combined with quality – are of equal importance.

With a 14-strong in-house team of designers and engineers, light steel frame specialists Frameclad are gearing up to meet the demands of the Future Homes Standard which comes into force next year. The more stringent regulations are designed to reduce carbon emission by 75-80% than homes delivered under current regulations.

Responsible social landlords recognise that by providing high performance buildings, tenants live in warm and comfortable surroundings, gaining vast savings on energy costs leaving more disposable income for rent and a better quality of life.

Increasing Thermal Efficiency
The use of light steel allows for more efficient insulation systems when compared to other materials such as concrete or masonry blocks. The accuracy achieved through the precise manufacturing and assembly of Frameclad’s light steel frame structures delivers high levels of airtightness. Lightweight metal studs create pockets that can be filled with insulating materials which reduces heat loss through walls or roofs and increases thermal efficiency within the structure.

Incorporating thermal mass is vital in meeting the Future Homes Standard. Highly energy efficient light steel structures are achieved by integrating concrete floors, gypsum boards, or using phase change materials (PCMs) within the building envelope. Phase change materials offer a versatile solution for improving thermal performance and energy efficiency in buildings and can help to stabilise indoor temperatures – reducing heating and cooling costs for tenants throughout the lifespan of the homes.

Overall, light steel provides many environmental benefits. Its low weight facilitates easy transport and quick assembly on site while its ability to support multiple types of finishes make it suitable for a variety of design options allowing architects greater scope without compromising sustainability goals.

Steel has a unique characteristic as it can be reused and recycled repeatedly without losing its qualities as a building material. All steel used in today's construction projects has some recycled content. In line with circular construction principles, the steel used by Frameclad contains at least 60% recycled content and is 100% recyclable.

Building Safety
Social housing providers have many key drivers, but safety is always top of the agenda. Frameclad can develop bespoke light steel framing systems which are better for the environment and the budget without compromising on quality, safety, performance or compliance.

In addition to the Future Homes Standard, the technical experts at Frameclad have an in-depth knowledge of the new Building Safety Act regulations to enhance safety performance.

Steel is non-combustible and does not add to the fire load of a building. The hazard of fire during construction is mitigated and importantly for tenants, the risk is vastly reduced when the homes are in use. The light steel systems designed and manufactured by Frameclad fully comply with the requirements of the Building Safety Act and can be used in social housing developments over 18 metres.

Spearheading a New Era of Light Steel Solutions
Frameclad has made substantial investment in cold roll-forming machinery, supported by customised Tekla software, to produce one of the largest ranges of steel sections available in the UK today from a single manufacturer. Offering assurances, fire test data provides confidence to construction and public sector clients. But what really sets Frameclad apart is technical know-how and a 14-strong in-house team of outstanding designers and engineers.

To discover more about Frameclad, the company’s advanced light steel technology, products and services, go to: www.frameclad.com

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