Metsec SFS is first choice for Myhotel

Metsec designed, manufactured and supplied its site fixed Steel Framing System infill wall framing for almost 4,000 square metres of the building's facade.

Positioned in Jubilee Street, part of Brighton's famous North Laine retail and entertainment area, myhotel Brighton is the company's third hotel after two successful openings in London offering a truly different experience.

Described as an 'exhilarating destination', the new hotel claims to combine cutting-edge design and technology with the principles of feng shui.

Metsec's SFS is a fast track steel stud panel frame which is fixed as infill between the main structural frame members and provides a carrier for insulation, exterior cladding and interior wallboard.

SFS frames are designed and manufactured to suit the dimensions, loading and deflection criteria for each floor height panel.

Head and base tracks, vertical studs and window trimming sections are all manufactured from lightweight, cold rolled galvanised steel sections, cut to length and bar-coded ready to be screwed together on site.

It is ideal for projects where the speed of construction and / or a lightweight frame is required.

Specialist subcontractors Drytech were keen to use Metsec SFS for this landmark project not only for its simple functionality, but also because of Metsec's technical support which Drytech describe as "second to none".

Dytech has incoporated Metsec SFS into an overall 'throughwall' construction for the external envelope, from the specialist render to the finished plasterboard internally, complying with all thermal, fire and acoustic requirements of the client.

Metsec's SFS fast track building system is designed using the FrameSPEC 4 software program which was developed in-house to optimise the stud sections, spacing and anchorage according to the required floor-to-floor heights, deflection criteria and lateral wind pressures.

Metsec calculated wind loads to ensure the most efficient design solution.

For the hotel's 2.75m spans Metsec supplied 100mm wide, 1.2mm gauge studs, at 600mm centres along with 1.2mm gauge base track and 2.0mm gauge head track incorporating a deflection head detail.

In myhotel Brighton's entrance lobby area, where spans were up to 3.5m, Metsec supplied 150mm wide, 1.2mm studs.

Metsec plc Framing Divisional Director, Peter Watkins, says, "SFS is lighter and quicker to install than blockwork, so there are time savings to be made, which can also mean lower project costs".

"Similarly, the lighter weight of SFS infill panels compared to blockwork reduces overall project weights whilst the excellent 94% combined re-use and recycling figure for constructional steelwork ensures that sustainability objectives can also be met".

"Finally, because we offer a system backed by Professional Indemnity, rather than just the basic components, the architect has the reassurance that the building goes up as specified, and the contractor knows that all the elements are supplied as a ready-to-assemble package from a one-stop shop".

In 1999, myhotel opened in Bloomsbury, London, and it was followed in 2002 by myhotel Chelsea.

This revolutionary hotel brand delivers unique hospitality, combining the style, culture and technology of the west with the observant, graceful and respectful service standards of the east.

The new hotel in Brighton realises the shared aesthetic ideals of Karim Rashid and myhotel founder Andy Thrasyvoulou, who describes it as a place "where Freddie Mercury meets the Maharishi".

Metsec plc has been established for over 75 years and is the UK's largest cold roll-forming company providing structural steel components for the UK construction and manufacturing industries.

The Structures division, based in Oldbury in the West Midlands, produces a wide range of building shell and mezzanine floor systems, long-span lattice beams and trusses as well as light gauge framing systems including site fixed infill panels or standalone Metframe superstructures currently up to nine storeys high.

In addition to its ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental performance, Metsec is the first cold roll-forming company to be awarded the prestigious gold standard under the Steel Construction Sustainability Charter drawn up by the British Constructional Steelwork Association.

In May 2008 The Sunday Times included Metsec in its 'Green List', a roster of the UK's 50 best green companies, and positioned Metsec as the highest ranking manufacturer in the Midlands for its sustainability practices.

The company has also been assessed as part of consultant Arup's Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine (SPeAR).

In its report, Arup says, "Metsec is already meeting legislation or best practice in the large majority of areas".

"In some cases Metsec is starting to move beyond best practice".

Since 1998 Metsec has been part of the Profilform Division of voestalpine which is a leading European processing group with its own steelmaking facilities and headquarters in Linz, Austria.

The five divisions of voestalpine - Steel, Special Steel, Railway Systems, Automotive and Profilform - all occupy top positions in their respective markets.

Today, voestalpine has almost 40,000 employees, production and sales locations in 60 countries and is the World's largest manufacturer of cold roll-formed sections.

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