The Power of Prefabrication: Embracing Panelization for Efficiency and Quality

Panelization is a prefabrication technique where wall panel assembly occurs off-site in a controlled environment, making it an ideal method for cold-formed steel framing systems since framing members are cut to exact lengths.

Compared to traditional building methods, panelization significantly shortens construction schedules, providing benefits to developers, owners, and construction teams. High-quality materials are crafted in a controlled working environment, ensuring superior results.

Key advantages of panelization include:

      • Increased durability: CFS panels resist splitting, shrinking, cracking, and warping.
      • Design flexibility: Tailor panels to meet a wide range of architectural requirements.
      • Reduced on-site labor: Minimize workforce requirements and streamline construction.
      • Cost savings: Optimize resource usage and decrease project expenses.
      • Lower maintenance: Rely on long-lasting, resilient panels for enhanced performance.

 

By choosing panelization, you’re investing in a method that offers greater efficiency, quality, and value in the construction process.

 

Offsite Construction: The Future of Building

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in offsite construction as a modern and efficient method of building. And for good reason – here are just a few of the benefits:

Safety and Quality Control

The factory environment offers a predictable and stable setting, free from the weather and visibility variables of a construction site. This results in fewer errors and mitigates some of the most dangerous hazards of onsite construction, such as equipment accidents and falls from heights. Quality control is also greatly improved, with consistent manufacturing processes and rigorous inspections.

Efficiency and Predictability

Offsite construction streamlines the manufacturing process, resulting in increased performance and faster production times. By eliminating delays in site conditions, and with scheduled deliveries, offsite construction offers greater predictability and certainty for project timelines.

Cost-Effective

Offsite construction can save on labor costs, reducing the need for on-site workers and minimizing wage expenses. The controlled environment of a factory also leads to less waste, more efficient use of materials, and lower costs for transporting the finished building to the site.

Sustainability

Offsite construction is more sustainable and eco-friendly, using less energy and heavy machinery. Material requirements can also be calculated with precision, allowing for bulk purchasing and reducing waste even further. By choosing offsite construction, you’re not only getting a superior product, but also contributing to a greener future.

 

Cold-formed steel offers a number of benefits when it comes to insurance savings, including:

      • Non-combustible structures: Cold-formed steel structures are non-combustible and can withstand high temperatures, which can reduce the risk of fire damage.
      • Lower risk: Insurance underwriters consider cold-formed steel structures to be lower risk, which can result in lower insurance premiums.
      • Better loss histories: Cold-formed steel structures have a better loss history compared to other building materials, which can also lead to lower insurance rates.
      • Broader coverage: The lower risk associated with cold-formed steel structures may allow for broader coverage options, including additional coverage for events like earthquakes or hurricanes.

Steel Benefits

  • Super fast

    Super fast

    • Production and assembly are done in house
    • No delays thanks to controlled working conditions
    • Fast and accurate assembly on-site
    • Up to 60% faster construction time compared to traditional construction methods
  • Light construction

    Light construction

    • Light steel frames
    • 30% less load on the foundation compared to traditional construction methods
    • Steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio
    • Very suitable for, for example, height increases and poor soil
  • Sustainable

    Sustainable

    • Completely in accordance with the cradle-to-cradle principle
    • A steel frame is fully recyclable and reusable
    • Minimum energy and waste during the production phase
  • Incredibly strong

    Incredibly strong

    • Does not lose strength, despite lightness
    • Large structural spans possible
    • Also perfectly suited for apartments and large industrial projects
  • Resistant to weather

    Resistant to weather

    • Resistant to termites
    • Withstands extreme climates such as severe storms
    • Very high seismic resistance
  • Reduced costs

    Reduced costs

    • Savings in terms of foundations and structure
    • Lower costs for site installation and management
    • Reduction of management costs and fixed costs of a project
    • Faster income generation thanks to faster commissioning of the building
  • Architectural freedom

    Architectural freedom

    • No concessions in terms of design, both inside and out
    • Our designers and engineers match the frames perfectly to the architect’s design
    • The strength of the steel provides great flexibility
    • Suitable for both small and large complex projects
  • accordance

    100% in accordance with requirements

    • Steel produced according to the strictest standards
    • The design of our cold-rolled steel profiles is determined by the Eurocodes 3
    • Steel frame buildings perfectly meet the European fire resistance requirements (REI 12O)
    • This is also true for the thermal (EPB-proof) and acoustic (WTCB-tested) insulation requirements
  • Clean construction site

    Clean construction site

    • Off-site production leads to a minimum of construction waste on-site
    • Dry construction method guarantees a clean construction site
    • No water consumption required on the construction site
  • Off-site design & production

    Off-site design & production

    • In-house assembly from steel profiles to steel frames
    • Digitised and automated production process: precision down to the millimetre
    • Controlled production conditions
    • No unforeseen delays (due to rain or freezing cold, for example), which leads to significant time savings
    • No drying times
  • Limited transportation requirements

    Limited transportation requirements

    • Lower transportation costs
    • Very limited number of displacement teams

FAQ

What is cold-formed steel?

CFS (Cold-formed steel), also known as prefabricated or prefab steel, is an alternative to traditional construction. Wall panels, floor joists, and roof trusses are manufactured as individual steel studs and then assembled or prefabricated in a factory environment before being shipped to the site. The process by which a sheet of steel is formed into a stud is called cold forming, and it happens at room temperature or below it.

How much does it cost to build using cold-formed steel?

It is hard to tell on the go, we will need to look at your architectural and structural drawings, and only then we can provide you with an initial rough estimate. Design complexity varies per project, and we need to take that into account before giving you pricing information.

Is steel cheaper than traditional construction ? How much money can I save?

Using CFS  and engineering software and equipment there are significant speed advantages which often result in the delivery of the overall project being cheaper.  For example, homeowners insurance and builders’ risk insurance are lower, and labor time is shorter than that of traditional buildings. Wall panels, joists, and roof trusses are pre-fabricated in house and then brought to site for erection. You are paying for a better, non-combustible, non-shrinkable product that will reduce your maintenance cost over the long term.

How long does it take to build a house?

Given the ideal conditions, a builder can add one level in less than a week, assuming that the site is ready for framing. It will take about two days for the first level walls, add another two days for the floor joists. Once we have your architectural and structural drawings, our Project Manager will put up a design, production, and erection schedule and have a timeline for you.

What about engineering?

Every shop drawing we make must be checked, sealed, and stamped by a current Professional Engineer  before production. It is a crucial step and forms part of the design, pre-production process.

Why should I use steel instead of traditional construction ?

With steel, you are looking at multiple advantages. In the long term, steel stud framing will not cause molding, won’t shrink, crack, or rot, saving money on maintenance and renovations. Overall, you will be living in a healthier environment. Another main advantage is that steel is non-combustible and has a good fire rating .

Does your company provide engineered drawings?

Before the manufacturing stage, we send drawings produced by our detailers to a Licensed engineer for revision – or a consultant of your choice. So yes, every project we take on does include engineered drawings.

How many floors can be built?

With CFS, buildings can be between two and 12 floors, such as multi-family condos, hotels, schools, hospitals, or shopping malls. The higher the building is, the more complex the engineering and local building codes are, as it may also impact how many floors can be built.

Does steel rust?

No. We use a specific type of zinc-coated galvanized steel. Here is where CFS gets its durability and anti-rusting mechanical properties. We use G60 and G90 coatings, which means 0.60 and 0.90 ounces per square foot.

Does steel limit home design capabilities?

No. Because of steel’s strength you can design your home with larger open spaces. With a steel frame, the walls will remain straight and true and can be finished with any materials that are traditionally used.

Will a steel framed home look different to other homes?

No. A steel frame home will look exactly like any other home. The same exterior finishes can be applied to a steel frame as those applied in standard construction.

Is a steel frame safe from lightning in storms?

Yes. A steel frame actually allows more protection for the occupants since it provides a direct path to the ground in the event of a lightning strike. This reduces the likelihood of explosions or secondary fire.