Metsec site fixed SFS for Canterbury College

Redevelopment programme at Canterbury College used Metsec's site fixed Steel Framing System (SFS) for infill walling when constructing the external envelope of the building.

Phase 2 of the project, completed in December 2007, combines an arts and media centre, food hall and a new block housing a learning resources centre, refectory, and conference rooms, as well as travel and tourism and student support areas.

The new college facilities are laid out in a distinctive street-like plan, with the travel shop and restaurant areas open to the public as well as to staff and students.

Specialist contractor Chartway used a total of 110 tonnes of 150mm SFS sections, typically secured at 600mm centres, for the new steel-frame building's infill walling.

Chartway's Steve Whitewood says, "We have worked with Metsec for many years, and we know we can depend on them for a quick response and a fast turnaround".

"We know we can rely on delivery dates being met, which is critically important on a project of this size." Canterbury College has over 9,000 students and offers more than 300 courses in higher and further education.

It has been nationally recognised with the awards of Centre in Vocational Excellence, Matrix Award, Action for Business College status, Investors in People and the Charter Mark.

Metsec's SFS is a fast track infill panel frame system for exterior walls on steel or concrete-frame buildings.

It consists of lightweight, cold rolled galvanised steel sections which are manufactured, cut to length and bar-coded offsite ready to be simply screwed together on site.

SFS is ideal for projects where the speed of construction and / or a lightweight frame is required, or where masonry blockwork is too slow or too heavy.

Metsec's technical teams assist design stud size, spacing and anchorage as well as assisting with detailing which are all determined by floor-to-floor heights, deflection criteria and lateral wind pressures.

All Metsec framing design and detailing work is covered by our Professional Indemnity insurance and warranty documentation.

Metsec plc is the UK's largest specialist steel cold roll-forming company, providing solutions for the UK construction and manufacturing industries.

In May this year, 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.

Metsec is the first cold rolled steel manufacturer to be awarded the prestigious gold standard under the Steel Construction Sustainability Charter drawn up by the BCSA.

The Charter aims to develop steel as a sustainable form of construction in terms of economic viability, social progress and environmental responsibility.

Established for over 75 years, Metsec plc is owned by the voestalpine group, one of Europe's leading specialist engineering companies and the world's largest manufacturer of cold roll-formed sections with a global network in the UK, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, USA, Russia and France producing in excess of 800,000 tonnes per annum.

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