Steel Construction Vol 40 No 4 - Metal Cladding and Light Steel Frame | Page 6

SAISC FEATURE Light Steel Frame Buildings: Sustainable, Durable and Comfortable By Denise Sherman, Editor, Steel Construction Journal “The South African LSFB market has grown by 38% over the last 5 years. Although it’s very popular in the residential market, its growth in usage is not limited to residential applications.” Above, right and opposite page: Saint-Gobain’s Stand 47 Case Study, interior and exterior. So comfortable, quiet and relaxing, we didn’t want to leave! 4 Steel Construction Vol. 40 No. 4 2016 While some may view Light Steel Frame Building as the “new kid on the block”, this “kid” has grown up and is developing a solid reputation as a sustainable, durable and efficient way of building. Saint-Gobain Gyproc has done a great job of shifting public perceptions through their Stand 47 Case Study, an LSFB home constructed in Monaghan Farm eco-estate. As Editor of Steel Construction (and a brick and mortar home dweller) I had the privilege of experiencing the famed comfort and convenience factors of Stand 47 first-hand. The case study details the entire process, from the initial drafting of an accomodation schedule to design and construction.This thorough approach makes it a valuable educational resource as well as an effective experiential marketing tool, used to illustrate the LSF building methodology for homeowners, contractors and even, the local Tshwane municipality. “One of the challenges we had when building Stand 47 in 2013 is that the Tshwane Municipality didn’t fully understand how this alternative building method met the required SANS legislation. To solve that problem, we invited the Municipality representatives into the SaintGobain offices, where John Barnard of the Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association (SASFA), demonstrated that it not only met the requirements but actually exceeded them” says Michelle Cerruti,