Steel Framing

Metsec developed and now lead the market when it comes to light gauge, galvanised steel structural
framing systems suitable for a wide range of applications in most sectors of construction.
Metsec guarantee expert design and cost effective bespoke high quality solutions and our unrivalled
customer support package includes taking the structural design responsibility from the customer at
the outset.
Our highly experienced technical team of structural engineers will produce detailed designs which
are covered by our Professional Indemnity Insurance. Similarly, our manufacturing capacity ensures
the fast and accurate supply of materials to site ready for installation, which enables customers to
meet the tightest of building programmes.

Which Steel Framing System Do I Need?

Metsec Steel Framing is extremely versatile and it can be used to provide solutions to many different
types of building construction. Metsec Framing can provide a variety of value engineering solutions
from external wall infill panels to internal high bay separating walls to complete superstructure load
bearing solutions.

To find out more, click the relevant link below for a summary of the benefits and key differences
between each system.

External Walls
SFS Infill Walling

Constructed from the floor to soffit of the primary structural frame to infill the external wall
zone
Most economical framing method

SFS Continuous Walling

Oversails the edge of the primary structure

Studs sail past slab edge to maximise floor area
Cladding does not need to bridge deflection joints at each floor

MEWS: Metsec External Walling System

Pre-Panelised Continuous Walling

Reduction in on site programme
Eliminates scaffolding from critical path
Can offer early weather tightness to building

Internal Walls
SFS High Bay Walls

Provide high separating walls for factory units or atriums

Lightweight separating walls up to 20m

Often no need to add foundations

Up to 3 hrs fire protection

No need for expensive hot rolled steel wind posts

Load Bearing Structures

SFS Load Bearing Structures

Lightweight structures up to 3 storeys

Ideal for penthouses and inset structures
Stick Built to ensure maximum flexibility
Lower transport costs compared to pre-panelised solution

Metframe

Pre-panelised system for structures up to 11 storeys

Can incorporate concrete or lightweight joisted floors
Ideal for residential, hotels and student accommodation

Can readily incorporate balconies, cantilevers or insets

SFS Infill Walling

The most common application for Metsec SFS is infill walling. In this scenario the Metsec is
constructed from the floor to soffit of the primary structural frame to infill the external wall zone. This
option is typically the most economical solution and allows the SFS to be installed from the inside of
the building.

Unique Slotted Head Track

The studs are designed to resist lateral wind loads only, using Metsecs patented slotted
head track to allow the primary structure to deflect without applying any vertical load
into the studs.

Parapets and downstands

Parapets and downstands can readily be formed with SFS using Metsecs cantilever
posts, which can be incorporated within the Metsec framing. These posts can also be
used to break up the span of wide openings and also allow the formation of ribbon
windows.

Value Engineering
Metsec Engineers will always design to the lowest gauge and locally increase gauges
around opening where necessary. Different gauges can be readily controlled on site by
the colour coding of the Metsec sections. The design drawings are also colour coded to
coincide with the product colours.

Compound Sections
Where it is necessary to use sections with a higher capacity, single sections can be fixed
together to form compound sections. This can be done for jamb, cill and lintel sections.

SFS Continuous Walling

Continuous walling is where the SFS is designed so that it oversails the edge of the primary
structure. This method is often used when a design team wants to maximise the amount of internal
floor area or if they are using a cladding which cannot accommodate horizontal deflection joints at
each floor level. Continuous walling is typically constructed from the outside of the building.

Slotted Cleats
Studs are designed to resist lateral wind
loads plus the accumulative vertical load
from the self-weight of the external
walling. Therefore the framing needs to
be fixed with Metsecs slotted cleats to
ensure that any vertical movement of the
primary frame is not transmitted into the studs.
The SFS is supported by the primary structure at the base by either the concrete slab or ledger
angles.
Continuous walling does tend to be more expensive than infill as sections need to be spliced at
regular intervals and there is also the additional cost of the cleats. It does however have the benefit
of being able to cantilever past the slab edge to form parapets or downstands.

Metsec External Walling System

Metsecs External Walling System (MEWS) is a new pre-panelised option of installing SFS. The
system uses Metsecs experience of working with pre-panelised construction with our Metframe
product and applied this to the SFS continuous walling system.
The full benefits of MEWS can be exploited by engaging Metsec early in the project development to
ensure maximum savings to the site programme and minimise on-site construction costs.

MEWS is a pre-panelised system to ensure that there is zero waste on site. The panels are designed
so that they are restrained to the primary frame with minimal fixing points whilst cantilevering past
the edge of the floor slab, to provide edge protection. This helps remove the scaffolding from the
critical path of the construction programme.

The panels are constructed with cement particle board to the external face and a compressible joint
between the panels which allows for the installation to deal with any site tolerances of the primary
frame construction. This compressible joint also provides an early weather tight seal between the
panels allowing internal trades to start earlier in the construction programme.
To contact us for more information about MEWS click here:

SFS High Bay Separating Walls

High bay walls are similar to infill walls, except they are used internally to provide high separating
walls for factory units or atriums. As they are often constructed within hot rolled steel portal frames,

the amount of primary frame deflection that needs to be accommodated can be much greater than
required for infill panels and bespoke details are typically provided to suit project requirements.
Metsec high-bay walls can be constructed up to 20m high and because of their lightweight
construction there is rarely any need to provide additional foundations underneath the wall.

The high strength to weight ratio of the Metsec studs enables these high separating walls to be
constructed without any need for any hot rolled steel wind posts which would be necessary in an
equivalent wall of masonry construction.
Walls can also be designed to meet project specific acoustic and fire rating requirements.

SFS Load Bearing Structures

Load bearing structures make use of the axial capacity of the Metsec SFS studs, with studs
designed as a series of columns to provide complete load bearing wall panels. Joists are provided to
produce the floor and roof construction. These structures are typically stick built on site, which
ensures maximum flexibility of the structure to suit site requirements. This flexibility makes load
bearing structures ideally suited to penthouses or high level inset structures where it is important to
keep the loads to a minimum. They also benefit from reduced crane and transport costs, when
compared to pre-panelised solutions.

Metframe

Metframe is a pre-panelised system which is used to provide the load bearing structure for low to
medium rise structures. The system uses the studs in the same way as load bearing SFS, except
they are bolted together off site to form panels. The incorporation of heavier gauge studs and the
bespoke designs allow structures to be constructed up to 11 storeys in height. Metframe structures
can incorporate steel joisted or concrete floors, depending on the clients requirements. Joisted floors
will offer a much lighter structure, but concrete floors generally provide a higher level of acoustic and
fire protection. Pitched, dormer or flat roofs can be readily incorporated in Metframe structures as
well as balconies, cantilevers, insets etc.
Metframe is an extremely competitive building solution when compared against the cost of timber
and volumetric construction. Metframe delivers a high quality building but importantly a major key

benefit is speed of build, with Metframe structures taking under two weeks per floor to construct.
Sustainability is at the forefront of Metframe buildings which offer zero waste and a low carbon
footprint.

External Finishes
Typical Wall Build Up

103mm Brickwork
50mm cavity
Kingspan insulation (see below)
100mm studs@ 600 centres
15mm board (see below)
15mm board (see below)

Fire Performance
Board

Performance Values

2x15mm Gyproc WallBoard

60 Minutes

2x15mm Gyproc FireLine Board

120 Minutes

Thermal Performance
Insulation

40mm Thermawall TW55 (stainless steel fixings to brick-tiechannels)

0.29 W/m2K

50mm Thermawall TW55 (stainless steel fixings to brick-tiechannels)

0.26 W/m2K

75mm Thermawall TW55 (stainless steel fixings to brick-tiechannels)

0.20 W/m2K

Insulated Render
Typical Wall Build Up

Performance
Values

Sto Render System

Cavity
12mm external grade sheathing board
100mm studs @ 600 centres + 50mm multi purpose slab
15mm board (see below)

15mm board (see below)

Fire Performance
Board

Performance Values

1x15mm Gyproc WallBoard (inner face)

1x15mm Gyproc WallBoard Duplex

60 Minutes

1x15mm Gyproc FireLine Board (inner face)

1x15mm Gyproc FireLine Board Duplex

120 Minutes

Thermal Performance
Insulation

Performance Values

70mm Sto EPS Insulation 15Kg/m2

0.28 W/m2K

90mm Sto EPS Insulation 15Kg/m2

0.24 W/m2K

130mm Sto EPS Insulation 15Kg/m2

0.20 W/m2K

The above details are based on a 20mm cavity formed by Sto Support Rail and Sto
calculations

Timber Cladding
Typical Wall Build Up

Cedar Cladding
50mm cavity
Kingspan insulation (see below)
100mm studs@ 600 centres
15mm board (see below)
15mm board (see below)

Fire Performance
Board

Performance Values

2x15mm Gyproc WallBoard

60 Minutes

2x15mm Gyproc FireLine Board

120 Minutes

Thermal Performance
Insulation

Performance Values

50mm Thermawall TW55

0.29 W/m2K

60mm Thermawall TW55

0.25 W/m2K

90mm Thermawall TW55

0.19 W/m2K

Rainscreen

Typical Wall Build Up

Rainscreen System
Cavity
Rail system with brackets fixed to studs through sheathing board
Insulation fixed around brackets - see below for specification
12mm external grade sheathing board (e.g. cement particle board)
100mm studs @ 600 centres + 50mm multi purpose slab
15mm board (vapour check)
15mm board

Fire Performance
Board

Performance Values

2x15mm Gyproc WallBoard

60 Minutes

2x15mm Gyproc FireLine Board

120 Minutes

Thermal Performance
Insulation

Performance Values

60mm Kingspan Kooltherm K15

0.30 W/m2K

Insulation

Performance Values

80mm Kingspan Kooltherm K15

0.26 W/m2K

90mm Kingspan Kooltherm K15

0.34 W/m2K

130mm Kingspan Kooltherm K15

0.20 W/m2K

Many facade finishes are available to use on rainscreen systems including:

Metal Cladding

Resin Tiles


Stone Tiles

Terracota Tiles

Fibre Cement
Carrier systems and brackets may vary, depending on manufacturers requirements.

Composite Panels

Typical Wall Build Up

Composite Panel
50mm cavity
Kingspan insulation (see below)
100mm studs@ 600 centres
15mm board (see below)
15mm board (see below)

Fire Performance
Board

Performance Values

2x15mm Gyproc WallBoard

60 Minutes

2x15mm Gyproc FireLine Board

120 Minutes

Thermal Performance
Refer to manufacturers' details for thermal performance of composite panels.

http://www.metsec.com/steel-framing/external-finishes/