Laura M.
Pretelt Alvarez
Lmpretelta@unal.edu.co
Project tecnology II
Abstract
The object of study of Design Workshop III is
the dwelling, in this particular case a dwe-
lling for multiple people, where the structure
plays a fundamental role, since in the type of
dwelling there should be little flexibility
when designing and / or or modify the spaces
in addition to being as efficient as possible, in
terms of energy and assembly, so the Steel
frame was chosen as the construction system
because it allows creating projects much
faster, more efficiently and cleanly, with
great resistance and easy to assemble, and all
this without limiting the architectural
design.
What is steel frame?
It’s an open construction system, based on
the use of cold-formed galvanized steel profi-
les to make a framework. It’s a light and very
resistant system that works as a whole with
the sub-systems that compose it (structural,
insulation, terminations, etc.). Its main fea-
ture in its construction process is dry moun-
ting.
Some of its characteristics are:
Structure: Galvanized steel with a very
low thickness separated from each other
every 40 or 60cm.
Mounting: It is done on traditional foun-
dries.
Closure: Exteriors and interiors resolved
by placing different types of plates.
Energy efficiency: High level of thermal
insulation through the use of insulating
materials between the panels.
Installations: Short installation times
with great ease for future repairs or modi-
fications.
What materials does the steel
framing contain?
Galvanized steel is a material made up of a
steel sheet
cold rolled or hot rolled, which receives on
both sides a layer of molten zinc
practically pure, which when solidifying,
joins the base steel forming a material
highly resistant to corrosion and easily
transformable.
OSB panels (Oriented Strand Board) or
oriented chip board, is made up, like pheno-
lic multilayer, of several sheets of rectangu-
lar chips placed in two orientations alterna-
ting forming 90 ° with each other. This form
of conformation also gives it the necessary
strength for its use.
Glass wool is basically made of sand and
glass mixed with
a special process to obtain wool-like fibers.
Architecture
f
Architecture facuilty
Medellín headquarters
STEEL FRAME FOR
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
Construction elements
Foundation: this system is compatible with all types of foundations.
Wall panels: divide the structure into a large amount of structural
elements, so that each resist a portion of the total load.
Slabs: they are resolved under the same concept as the panels. It divi-
des the structure in a quantity of equidistant elements, which are the
beams.
Enclosures: is composed of the outer and inner cladding.
Cover: the profiles that make up the roof are perfectly aligned with the
uprights of the panels, so that the loads are transmitted axially. Figure 1: Schematic view of a house in Steel Framing
Wall panels
The panels are the structure of the steel frame, and their shape
depends on the function to be performed (vertical enclosure,
rafters, slabs, etc.).
Therefore, there are different types of panels according to the
load they received or the availability of spans; In this case we
will study the structural or self-supporting panels, since they
are the ones that are supporting the loads of the building.
These can be internal or external.
The elements that make up a panel (Figure 2). The final
conformation of a panel will depend on each architectural
project and the condition of climate and terrain in which it
will be. But its basic elements are a specific upright (PGC
profile) every 40 or 60 cm and joined at its ends by panel
screeds (PGU profile).
Figure 2: Detail of the Pieces that make up a Panel
Structural panels are subject to horizontal wind loads and
seismic movements, as well as vertical loads from slabs, roofs,
and other panels. These vertical loads are transferred to the
foundations through the uprights that have their sections
aligned.
The design of the layers that the panels carry will depend on
what you want to achieve and the conditions to which each
one is exposed.
Slabs
The slabs created with the Steel Frame system have the same
basic principle as the panels, that is, galvanized profiles whose
equidistant separation from the structural elements or
modulation is determined by the loads to which each profile is
subjected. Modulation is generally the same for panels, floors,
and ceilings. Similarly, there are different types of floors, and
Figure 3:Transmission of the vertical load to the foundation. the layers between the panels vary according to type.
Figure 4:Detail of the layers used for a panel with a different type of exterior finish.
Figure 5:Steel Framing slab structure.
Conclusions
There are no studies of a Steel frame structure for a house with more than 4 levels, the existing studies are for houses
with one or two levels, therefore studies would have to be made to determine the highest possible height, and the project
would also be built with a mixed system.
With this correctly made construction system, it is possible to reduce energy maintenance costs, since being well
thermally insulated reduces cooling costs and generates better comfort in the home.
References
Jorajuria M., Servente F. (2015) Steel Framingy sus principales usos en Uruguay (Tesis de pregrado). Universidad de la República. Montevideo
SARMANHO, A. (2007). STEEL FRAMING: ARQUITECTURA. Santiago de Chile.
Consulsteel. http://consulsteel.com/documentacion-tecnica/.