It is a fundamental of good design that residential buildings should be safe and that measures to enhance their environmental performance should not compromise this essential requirement. Here Steve Thompson, Managing Director for specialist steel framing manufacturer EOS, considers taking a safety-first system approach to specification.
Improving levels of occupant safety together with increasing the quality of the build, is under the microscope. Risk, quality, time, costs and performance — need to be managed and controlled. The performance of building materials is under an unprecedented spotlight. Regulations tend to deal with individual products and how they perform in laboratory tests. However, we consider material providers should have full-scale testing regimes that study the performance of products working together to see how they interact in ‘real’ circumstances, like under fire conditions or when exposed to wind and rain.
We are committed to technical competence and as part of Etex, we have some of the best fire experts in the UK on our team. They work closely with certification bodies to jointly develop and design technical solutions.
A fragmented supply chain results in components being offered by a multitude of manufacturers, therefore warranties are complex, for very limited timescales or simply non-existent. This uncertainty also extends to the costs involved, the speed of build and the quality of the final outcome.
In response to these challenges, EOS has developed a range of Thrubuild® light steel frame panelised systems, offsite manufactured to rigorous quality standards. Our Thrubuild® system range has been engineered for structural performance to the latest Eurocode and after completing rigorous fire, acoustic, weathering, airtightness and mechanical testing – are supported by a 30-year warranty.Â
Developed in collaboration with Etex brands – EOS, Siniat, and Promat, these fast-track solutions make use of the latest products, technical know-how and manufacturing excellence of the combined team. The range of Thrubuild® systems deliver an ‘all in one’ walling and flooring solutions providing crucial time and cost benefits. A system approach ensures the outcome is more predictable and repeatable, eradicating the risk of onsite variability.
Thrubuild® Testing Regime
The Thrubuild® range has multiple applications and can be used for external or internal walls together with internal and separating floors. The detailed structural design is carried out by qualified engineers in accordance with loadings to EN 1991-1 and building regulations, calculated to EN 1993-1-3 and EN 1993-1-5 and further relevant parts of the Eurocodes for robustness, stability and resistance. All specified fire performance is the result of testing to BS EN 1365-1 for walls and BS EN 1365-2 for floors.
The Weather Defence used in the panelised system is a revolutionary new external sheathing board, faced with water repellent material for superior weather protection. Designed exclusively by Siniat, it is strong, highly moisture resistant and A1 non-combustible. Weather Defence can be left installed and exposed for up to 12 months on site before the final cladding needs to be completed.
Warranty
All Thrubuild® systems are supported by a 30-year warranty. Only tested configurations are available for selection.
Additional Evidence
More information is available on the EOS website: www.eosframing.co.uk The Thrubuild® System Specification Guide can be downloaded from the EOS Information Centre: www.eosframing.co.uk/information-centre