Framing ~ comprising inner leaf wall panels of standard cold-
formed galvanised steel channel sections as structural support,
with a lined inner face of vapour check layer under plasterboard.
These panels can be site assembled, but it is more realistic to
order them factory made. Panels are usually produced in 600 mm
wide modules and bolted together on site. Roof trusses are made
up from steel channel or sigma sections. See page 532 for
examples of standard steel sections and BS EN 10162: Cold rolled
steel sections.Standard channel and panel.Background/history ~ the concept of steel framing for house
construction evolved in the early 1920s, but development of the
lightweight concrete ``breeze'' block soon took preference. Due to
a shortage of traditional building materials, a resurgence of
interest occurred again during the early post-war building boom of
the late 1940s. Thereafter, steel became relatively costly and
uncompetitive as a viable alternative to concrete block or timber
frame construction techniques. Since the 1990s more efficient
factory production processes, use of semi-skilled site labour and
availability of economic cold-formed sections have revived an
interest in this alternative means of house construction.Steel Frame Construction (1)