The proposed construction technology based on a light steel frame (LSFK) is currently the most popular, due to the reduction in the cost of construction and the reduction of operating costs of the building, without loss of quality.
The manufacturer produces only standard metal frames and house kits,
which are subsequently sold to end customers as finished products.
The plant does not sell materials separately.
The LSTK panel consists of a galvanized steel frame made of a thermal profile with a width of 150 to 200 mm, sheathed on the inside with a GSP slab (2 layers), and on the outside with a slab made of LATONIT fiber cement sheet or DSP. P In this case, the LSTC panel frame is used as guides for fastening the internal and external cladding.
LSTK technology is reliable:
- high degreefire safetyLGTS structures, in the production of panels only non-combustible materials are used, which is confirmed by relevant certificates
- LSTC panels are not exposed to the external environment, neutral with respect to humidity, temperature and biological processes, unlike timber, wood, etc.
- green construction technology,100%
all used LSTK materials. The materials are environmentally friendly,recyclable
Economical:
- cost of the houseset from LSTK is from 10,000 rubles per sq.m., the final cost of construction is reduced due to the use of a lightweight foundation and a short installation period
- high accuracy of the geometry of the house and the absence of shrinkage of materials; immediately after installing the house from LSTK, you can proceed to finishing work
Fast:
- high percentage of use of ready-made factory-made elements, reduction of design time, production process takes up to 1 month
- absence of wet assembly processes allows installationLSTK structuresat any time of the year, installation of a house on a foundation made of ready-made panels takes 3-5 days
Panel composition:
- Galvanized thermoprofile, cold-rolled hot-dip galvanized RUUKI (GOST 14918-80, 1st class of zinc coating, 275 g/sq.m).Technical characteristics of profiles
- GSP gypsum particle boards (increased strength characteristics)
- Basalt slabs (density 35-40 kg/cub.m). Flammability class NG
- Fiber cement sheet (fibrite, latonite) or DSP. Flammability class NG
The surface of the LSTK panel is painted with weather-resistant paints or covered after assembly with various facing materials (ceramic granite, decorative plaster, facade panels, brick, siding).
The main advantages of LSTK technology:
1. Use of factory-made elements
2. Installation - 5…7 days
3. Team size - no more than 5 people
4. High accuracy of the geometry of the house structure
5. No shrinkage
6. No wet construction processes - the possibility of construction at any time of the year
7. Low cost of home
8. Small mass of the house - a shallow foundation is enough
9. A house with an area of 150 m2 can be delivered using 2 cars
10. Lack of heavy special equipment
11. Wall panels and floor slabs meet the fire resistance limit - REI 45
12. A high degree of reliability of buildings is ensured by the stability of the dimensions of steel profiles, which are not influenced by biological and temperature-humidity processes
13. High energy efficiency of the structure - thermal resistance of the wall is 5.5 m2×K/W
14. Possibility of dismantling and transporting the structure, if necessary, to another place
15. High degree of fire safety of structures
16. The materials used are environmentally friendly
17. Durability of structures - operating experience in northern regions for more than 20 years
18. Seismic resistance up to 8 points due to the use of lightweight panels
The concept is well known in the West Light Gauge Steel Framing what can it mean translated into Russian? Lightweight Steel Thin Wall Structures(LSTK). Light Steel Structure Technology LSTK- frame construction technology based on systems whose load-bearing structures use light steel galvanized profiles, including profiles up to two mm thick. These structures are used to construct residential one- and two-story buildings, shops, garages, and public buildings (hotels, medical and sports institutions). History of construction from LSTK in Europe, the USA and Canada for more than 50 years. At the same time, vast experience has been accumulated abroad in the design, financing, construction and operation of buildings made from light steel frames. Gradually, LSTK are entering the Russian market, especially since in our country there is a huge history of metal construction, extensive experience in metal design and construction.
In the West, this technology for building country houses has been used for more than 50 years. Thus, in Sweden and Japan, the share of individual housing construction built from light steel frames is 15%, in the USA - 6%, in the UK - 3%. In Russia this share is (so far) 0.5%.
Building a house from a metal frame is today the most promising direction in low-rise construction. The variety of possibilities for architectural and planning solutions, high performance qualities of metal structures, ease of assembly and maintainability, efficiency and environmental friendliness make construction from metal structures (LSF) the most preferable.
The technology of building a house from LSTK (metal frame) allows you to quickly and efficiently construct buildings for a wide variety of purposes: it can be a residential apartment building, a private mansion, an office and warehouse building, a store, and is especially relevant when reconstructing roofs and constructing attics.
The use of these structures instead of traditional ones - made of reinforced concrete, brick, wood or rolled steel - gives significant economic effect in low-rise construction due to a reduction in loads from its own weight and seismic loads, a reduction in transportation costs and labor costs for installation, and a reduction in construction time without the use of construction machines.
The basis of the structural system of buildings made from light steel frames is a supporting frame made of bent sections of channel, C-shaped or Z-shaped sections of increased rigidity made of steel with a thickness of at least 1 mm.
For frame elements of external walls, it is envisaged to use wall profiles to prevent the formation of cold bridges. Insulation in external walls is placed within the cross-sectional height of the frame elements and is protected with special films on both sides. External wall cladding is carried out according to the principle of a ventilated facade.
For internal cladding of walls, partitions and ceilings, two or three layers of plasterboard sheets are usually used, depending on fire resistance requirements.
The floor height in buildings can reach 4.2 m. Interfloor ceilings consist of thin-walled galvanized beams made of bent profiles and profiled steel decking with additional elements that provide sound insulation index from airborne noise. The optimal free span of interfloor structures is up to 4.8 m.
Load-bearing structures of coverings with a span of up to 15 m are made in the form of trusses or rafters made of thin-walled galvanized bent profiles. Roofing materials are laid along the metal sheathing of the covering.
The steel frame of the attic floor is also mounted from profiles with a wall, eliminating the formation of cold bridges. The insulation is placed within the cross-sectional height of the frame elements and protected with special films.
The weight of any assembly element of building structures does not exceed 100 kg, which allows installation without the use of lifting equipment in a short time. A team of 3 - 4 people can assemble a house frame with a total area of 150-200 mm2 in 15-20 days.
Structural elements made of steel up to 2 mm thick are connected using self-tapping screws with a diameter of 4.8 - 6.3 mm. It is advisable to connect elements made of steel with a thickness of more than 2 mm using ordinary bolts. It is not recommended to use welding in the manufacture and installation of light steel frames.
The designs of external walls allow the use of a variety of façade solutions. During the operation of the building, it is possible to quickly replace the outer cladding, which changes the architectural appearance of the building. Frame of a one-story house without internal supports with a span of up to 15 m makes it possible to vary space-planning solutions.
The technology for constructing buildings from light steel frames makes it possible to widely use the potential of small and medium-sized businesses and create a competitive environment in the market of construction technologies for low-rise construction.
Construction using LSTK is a type of "dry method" construction." All processes at the construction site are assembly, all connections are made using self-tapping screws in accordance with detailed drawings and instructions . The new technology involves all-season construction in any climatic conditions, i.e., it makes it possible to install structures in winter.
The advantages of using LSTK in low-rise housing construction contribute to the effective implementation of project objectives "Affordable and comfortable housing for Russian citizens"- build reliable high quality houses.
|
Material |
Density Kg/m3 |
Thermal conductivity coefficient W/(m*0C) |
Heat protection |
Required wall thickness for the central region |
Operating humidity |
Shrinkage, m/mm |
Weight 1 m 2 walls, kg |
Frost resistance, number of cycles |
Sound insulation, dBA (with wall thickness |
Duration of construction, months. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Expanded clay concrete |
||||||||||
|
Sand-lime brick |
only the foundation |
8-12 months (severe shrinkage of the foundation) |
||||||||
|
Foam concrete |
||||||||||
|
Aerated concrete |
4-6 months (significant shrinkage) |
|||||||||
|
4--6 months (all year round, (but cannot be finished due to severe shrinkage) |
||||||||||
|
Wooden frame |
2-4 months (there is practically no shrinkage) |
|||||||||
|
2--4 (all year round, no shrinkage) |
Table 1. Technological characteristics of building materials for low-rise construction
Based on the characteristics presented above, LSTK technology outperforms other construction technologies in most respects.
Different building materials have different thermal conductivities. They are influenced by various factors, in particular the density and humidity of the material. Dense material has a higher thermal conductivity coefficient compared to porous material, that is, to maintain normal temperature in the house, greater wall thickness is required when using denser building material.
The most dense building material is reinforced concrete - 2,400 kg/m3, followed by sand-lime brick and expanded clay concrete - 1,800 kg/m3. The lightest are LSTK - 350 kg/m3.
Diagram 1. Density of building materials
The thermal conductivity coefficient (W/(m °C)) is one of the main thermal characteristics of the material. The thermal conductivity coefficient of a material expresses a measure of the conductivity of heat by a material, numerically equal to the heat flux (W) passing through 1 m2 of area perpendicular to the direction of flow, with a temperature gradient of 1 °C/m. The higher the value of the thermal conductivity coefficient, the more intense the thermal conductivity process in the material and the greater the heat flow. Therefore, thermal insulation materials are considered to be materials with a thermal conductivity coefficient of less than 0.3 W/(m °C).
Thus, the higher the thermal conductivity of the building material, the faster the house will give off heat, and therefore, the higher the heating costs.
Concrete has the highest thermal conductivity coefficient - 1.51 W/(m0С), the smallest – LSTC – 0.045 W/(m0C).
Diagram 2. Thermal conductivity of building materials
This indicator characterizes the required wall thickness to maintain a comfortable temperature in the house without taking into account insulation for the Central region of Russia. The greatest thickness of the walls is for sand-lime bricks - 2.5 meters, the smallest - for LSTK - 0.15 meters.
Diagram 3. Required wall thickness excluding insulation to maintain a comfortable temperature in the house for the Central region, m
Frost resistance- this is a conditional service life without visible damage and significant deterioration in the characteristics of the material.
A generally accepted standard with a developed unified methodology for testing materials in order to be able to evaluate and compare the service life of materials. The greater the frost resistance of a material, the longer it lasts in real climatic conditions. Conventionally, this is the number of cycles that the material can withstand in a climate chamber without destruction. During testing, the material is saturated with water, frozen, then thawed, while being irradiated with UV and IR lamps, rapidly simulating the service life of the material. Based on the condition of the material, its frost resistance is assessed, which is indicated in the number of cycles.
Timber and aerated concrete have the least frost resistance - 25 cycles, while expanded clay concrete and LSTK have the highest - 50 cycles.
Diagram 4. Frost resistance of the material, number of cycles
dBA value - sound pressure level measured in dB using a sound level meter containing a correction circuit that reduces the sensitivity of the device at low and very high frequencies
Brick has the least sound insulation - 6.5 dBA, the highest - a wooden frame (construction using Canadian technology) - 70 dBA. LSTK demonstrates a sound insulation level of 60 dBA.
Diagram 5. Soundproofing properties of the material, dBA
The average turnkey construction time for a house varies from 2-3 to 10-12 months. The shortest construction period is characterized by buildings made of lightweight steel frames and those based on a wooden frame - about 3 months, the longest construction period is characterized by brick houses - about 10 months.
Diagram 6. Average duration of construction of a turnkey house, months
The table below shows the average cost of building a turnkey and unfinished house per square meter by type of technology.
|
Monolithic |
Frame-panel |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
27 t.r. Per sq. m – without finishing |
||||
|
from 17.5 to 20 tr. per sq. m (“turnkey”) of which: foundation - 3.5 tr. Per sq. m materials - 8.75 t.r. per sq. m installation - 4 tr. Per sq. m |
||||
|
Polar Sip |
from 25 to 34 tr. Per sq. m turnkey |
17 t.r. Per sq m |
from 20 to 25 tr. Per sq. m turnkey |
|
|
Mechtaevo |
11 t.r. Per sq. m – without finishing |
|||
|
"RNR" housing construction |
from 18 to 30 tr. per sq. m (“turnkey”) of which: foundation - from 3.5 to 4 tr. Per sq. m materials - 10 tr. per sq. m |
|||
|
sunny house |
20 t.r. Per sq. m turnkey |
16 t.r. Per sq. m turnkey |
25 tr.r. per sq. m turnkey |
|
|
Dachny season |
from 10 to 13 tr. Per sq. m - without finishing., 16.4 - "turnkey" with finishing |
|||
|
Without finishing - from 15 to 25 tr. Per sq. m ("Full construction") Finishing and engineering - 4-15 tr. Per sq. m |
||||
|
Taldom Profile |
18 t.r. Per sq. m turnkey |
|||
|
Construction.technologies_Royal_Russia. |
19 tr. Per sq.m. turnkey |
|||
|
from Finnish timber - 50 t.r. Per sq. m (“turnkey”) from home countries. Brusa - 30-35 t.r. Per sq.m. (“turnkey”) |
||||
|
from 18 to 22 tr. Per sq. m (“turnkey”) of which foundation and materials from 12 tr. Per sq. m |
||||
|
Average cost (with interior decoration) |
Table 2. Cost of building a turnkey house per square meter by type of technology
Thus, construction using LSTK technology is the cheapest - 18.5 thousand rubles. per sq.m. on a turnkey basis.
The study identified the main factors influencing the choice of building materials. The assessment of building materials was carried out according to the main parameters. A five-point system was used for assessment, according to which 5 is the highest score, 1 is the lowest score. Thus, based on the data from the assessment of factors, the LSTC technology scored the highest number of points - 67 points, and sand-lime brick received the least - 37 points.
|
Sand-lime brick |
Ceramic brick |
Foam concrete |
Gas-concrete |
Expanded clay concrete |
Wooden frame |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sound insulation (5 – high, 1 – low) |
|||||||||
|
Reliability (5 – high, 1 – low) |
|||||||||
|
Thermal insulation properties (5 – high, 1 – low) |
|||||||||
|
Moisture absorption (5 – high, 1 – low) |
|||||||||
|
Frost resistance (5 – high, 1 – low) |
|||||||||
|
Construction cost (5-low, 1-high) |
|||||||||
|
Ease of transportation (5 – high level, 1 – low) |
|||||||||
|
Required wall thickness for the central region (without insulation) (5 is the smallest thickness, 1 is the greatest) |
|||||||||
|
Ease of construction work |
|||||||||
|
Foundation depth (1 - large, 5 - small) |
|||||||||
|
Service life for permanent residence (5 – long, 1 – short) |
|||||||||
|
Environmental friendliness (5 – high, 1 – low) |
|||||||||
|
Fire safety (5-high, 1 – low) |
|||||||||
|
Shrinkage (5 - weak, 1 - strong) |
|||||||||
|
Duration of construction (5 – short terms, 1 – long construction) |
|||||||||
|
Total points |
Table 3. Factorial assessment of building materials
Our company “LSTKstroyGroup” brings to your attention ready-made projects based on a frame made of LSTK. If you are not ready to independently develop and think through the entire future construction, then you can familiarize yourself with our proposals and buy one of the ready-made projects presented by us. This can be a building of large or small size, which will be based on a metal frame made of galvanized thermoprofile LSTK (Light Steel Thin-Wall Structures) and finished with high-quality materials suitable for a given situation.
First of all, we always focus on the wishes of our client, so if necessary, we can recommend any option for a residential building for purchase. The basis for our recommendation will, of course, be the conditions set by the customer. If you are sure that you cannot select any of the options presented on our website, then we suggest leaving a request for our designers.
Thanks to the experience of our specialists, according to your application, we will create an individual project for a prefabricated building (private house, industrial building), as well as produce a metal frame from thermoprofiles. A full construction cycle is also possible, from the design of a prefabricated building to turnkey delivery.
When building a residential building, we suggest you immediately think about other buildings - such as a garage and a bathhouse.
| Garage 6x4 m. gable roof type 3 | Garage 6x4 m. pitched roof type 2 | GARAGE FOR 3 CARS - 60 sq.m. | Garage 6x4 m. pitched roof type 1 |
| BATH - 29 sq.m. | BATH - 36 sq.m. (6x6) |
Not everyone wants to buy a project that, most likely, has already been installed somewhere else. This is especially true for residential country houses. If you do not want to buy residential buildings presented in our catalog, we can suggest you contact our designers. Based on LSTK, they will be able to design a frame for you, which in the future will become a full-fledged country house.
What will be the features of our proposal? Our specialists work efficiently and always take into account the basic wishes of clients. We do not imagine working under any other conditions possible. It is customer focus that allows us to create excellent residential buildings. Every element has been worked out in them so that no inconsistencies arise during the construction and erection of the structure.
Therefore, by contacting our planners, you can count on successful production and completion of construction. Adequate recommendations regarding the use of building materials inside the frame made of LSFK will provide you with a durable structure. However, you can count on durability when choosing our standard prefabricated buildings. The LSTKstroyGroup company guarantees their quality by independently checking each frame for compliance with all norms and rules. You no longer have to look for where you can order a finished construction or layout of your next building according to your desired parameters. Our company will provide you with everything you need for a pleasant life in a country (or city) area.
Our specialists will promptly provide you with structures made of light steel thin-walled structures and inform you about the necessary materials and components at your site. Only a well-developed project can cope with any task assigned to it, and our company will do everything to ensure that your object is the result of just such a project.
Prefabricated frame houses built using modern LSTC technology (light steel thin-walled structures) have a number of undeniable advantages:
| Light weight
Due to the insignificant weight of enclosing structures (external walls), they do not require the cost of reinforced foundations. Such buildings can be safely mounted on bored or screw piles without fear of shrinkage and “swelling” of the soil. The distance between the ground and the floor partition of the house can be used for storing garden tools, building materials not subject to temperature changes, etc. A shallow foundation with a grillage is also sufficient. |
||
| Construction time
The speed of construction is significantly reduced due to the absence of lifting equipment at the construction site (during the construction of private houses). The metal frame of a prefabricated building up to 150 square meters will be assembled by both a team of experienced specialists of two people, and by non-experienced specialists of three people, in a maximum of seven days. First you need to study the design of the KM stage (this is the main instruction for assembling a metal frame from a thermoprofile), which will not take much time. |
||
| Lack of highly specialized specialists
When constructing prefabricated buildings, workers of such specialties as masons, carpenters (for the construction of the rafter system), etc. are not required. The metal frame is delivered directly from the factory, all thermal profiles are of the appropriate size in accordance with the project and do not require “adjustment” on site. |
||
| Construction cost
Prices for prefabricated buildings (metal frame) are much lower than other technologies. Many people argue that a wooden frame is cheaper. When lumber is delivered to the construction site, yes, it is cheaper. But when the customer starts hiring experienced specialists for assembly, he realizes that it is not cheap at all. It is necessary to cut the material to the appropriate size and purchase metal corners for complex load-bearing units. This is where the expenditure of funds begins. Few people pay attention to the proper antiseptic treatment of wooden frames. According to construction standards, antiseptic treatment is required every three years, which means an additional expenditure of money for the purchase of appropriate products and labor costs. |
These are just a few examples of the fact that the construction of prefabricated houses using modern LSTK technology is today less labor-intensive and will allow you to save a significant amount of money. You can find out about other advantages of houses based on a metal frame made of galvanized profile by calling the specialists of the LSTKstroyGROUP company or sending your questions to the company’s e-mail.
You can see detailed information on all stages of construction.
If you have not found the building or design you need on our website, you can send a request and our designers will call you as soon as possible
Light steel thin-walled structures (LSTS)– modern technology for the rapid construction of buildings and structures, which are made of steel building elements up to 3...4 mm thick. Abroad, in Europe, this technology is called Light Gauge Steel Framing (LGSF).
LSTK technology is an alternative to wooden frame construction and was developed to reduce the cost and speed up the process of building low-rise, middle-class houses. Building elements made from lightweight steel frames are used as self-supporting structures of low-rise buildings ( photo 1) or in combination with traditional technologies for constructing buildings from standard building materials: wood, metal, brick, reinforced concrete ( photo 2).
Photo 1_Frame low-rise buildings from LSTK
Photo 2. Building elements made from light-weight reinforced steel in combination with traditional technologies for constructing buildings from standard building materials
Countries such as Canada, the USA, Western European countries, and China have quite a lot of experience in the construction of light steel thin-walled structures (LSTS). In Russia and Ukraine, as well as in other CIS countries, the design and construction of metal structures (MS) and light metal structures (LMS), which have significant differences from LSTK technology, were more practiced.
Let's consider the main features of light steel thin-walled structures (LSTS):
The main building elements of LSTS structures include profiled or perforated galvanized steel thin-walled profiles, from which racks, lintels, guides, purlins, etc. are made, photo 3.
The basis of a building built using LSTK technology is a load-bearing rigid and durable frame, which is assembled from light steel thin-walled structures. Due to the light weight of buildings made from light steel frames, shallow foundations are often used (on average, the height of the foundation is 0.6 m, the width is 0.2...0.6 m).
Photo 3. LSTK frame elements
Bent LSTK profiles are represented by 4 main types of cross sections, photo 4:
Profile height – 100…350 mm.
Photo 4. Varieties of LSTK profiles: 1 – U-shaped (guide) thermal profile; 2 – C-shaped (rack-mount) thermal profile; 3 – hat thermal profile; 4 – U-shaped (guide) profile; 5 – C-shaped (rack-mount) profile; 6 – galvanized corner; 7 – Z-shaped profile
Connections between the building elements of LSTK are made using:
The frame of the building is made of LSTK and sheathed with standard modules, photo 5:
To increase the heat and sound insulation properties of the panels, insulation is installed inside them (most often it is mineral wool).
Photo 5. Standard building modules made from light steel frames: a) roofing panels; b) wall panels; c) floor panels
For the construction of low-rise buildings using LSTC technology, external walls can be made in two versions:
LSTK thermal panels are manufactured to individual order at specialized enterprises and are designed to fill the space between the building frame and the formation of external walls. LSTK thermal panels are used in the construction of residential and office buildings, hotels, cafes, shopping centers, etc. The thickness of the panels is 15...25 cm (the normalized heat transfer resistance of the wall is 3.2...5.1 m 2 °C/W).
Thermal panels mainly consist of the following components, photo 6:
The peculiarity of thermal profiles lies in their design. Galvanized steel thermoprofile elements are perforated (notched) in the form of long holes arranged in a checkerboard pattern. With this arrangement of perforations, a decrease in the thermal conductivity of the steel profile is achieved (the effect of increasing the length of the heat-conducting section through which heat loss occurs).
Photo 6. Schematic diagram of a building based on thermal profiles. Thermal panel structure: 1 – external finishing; 2 – gypsum fiber boards (2 layers); 3 – mineral insulation; 4 – vapor barrier film; 5 – guide thermal profiles; 6 – rack-mount thermal profiles; 7 – thermal profile jumper
LSTK thermal panels are manufactured at the enterprise and, ready-made, are installed directly on the construction site, photo 7.
Photo 7. Installation of LSTK thermal panels
Photo 8. Advantages of using LSTK technology for building construction
Photo 9. Destruction of a structure made of LSFC due to neglect of assembly technology
On photo 10 examples of the use of LSTC construction technology are given.
Photo 10. Scope of application of LSTK technology
Publication prepared by an expert
Konev Alexander Anatolievich
Building structures made from thin-walled metal profiles have a number of advantages and positive features, but despite the large list of advantages, LGST technology sometimes encounters significant disadvantages associated with unscrupulous manufacturers. In Russia, the shortcomings of LSTK can be for several reasons.
Thin walls.
The first drawback can be characterized by the words “thin wall”. In our country, since the times of the USSR, people have become accustomed to quality, the characteristically high quality of manufactured products. Thus, there is an ambiguous opinion, which is that structures made of light steel fiber reinforced concrete are not strong enough and can be easily broken or damaged.
This is unfounded information that is devoid of evidence, since when designing a structure, information is included with calculations of possible and critical operational loads, taking into account the climatic characteristics of the region. Yes, individual elements (for example, a cold-formed LSTC profile) can be deformed by applying force, but in its finished form the LSTC structure is a strong and rigid frame!
Low service life.
The second disadvantage is the service life. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage, everyone knows how modern permanent structures are built, what kind of “quality” residents have to deal with, so the disadvantage that determines the fragility of the structure also applies to all buildings made of brick and concrete. Is it possible to know for sure whether a house made of brick, stone and concrete will last 70 or 120 years? - No one can answer this question with certainty. The same situation occurs in prefabricated frame construction, where the service life of a structure made of light steel frames with professional assembly is 50-120 years or more.
Inconsistency of product quality.
Basically, all the shortcomings of LSTK, which are common and known, exist exclusively in Russia. Do not trust dubious factories and enterprises to produce a set of prefabricated buildings from LSTK. Often, for the purpose of additional enrichment, “enterprising” owners of metal structures factories violate quality standards for manufactured products, underestimating the actual characteristics of products in pursuit of low cost. This quality will not correspond to the stated characteristics. A standard, typical case is a reduction in the thickness of the profile and zinc layer, which negatively affects the quality and reliability of the future structure. This drawback can be avoided by entrusting the design, construction and production of products to proven enterprises with a positive reputation in the LSTK services market.
Dependence of the buyer on the manufacturer.
This is the second disadvantage of LSTK, which relates to the previous, production disadvantage. If any element was produced with a violation of the geometric shape or an important design detail was lost in the kit, then problems may arise during installation. At any stage of construction, a situation may arise when the parts do not fit together or there is not enough fastening element.
Electromagnetic safety of LSTK.
In the Russian Federation, unfortunately, there are still no conclusions on the electromagnetic safety of living in houses made of light steel thin-walled frames. There is no information on possible threats to human life in a house made of metal profiles. This drawback also occurs only in our country; many enterprises that monitor quality and their image adopt and use international standards in the construction of prefabricated LSTK structures. Structures made from light reinforced steel reinforced concrete, built according to international and European standards, are safe for living.
Human factor.
The construction of any structure made of light steel thin-walled profiles and profiled sheets must be carried out by highly qualified professional workers. The safety of the structure depends on the level of the specialist.
Furniture installation.
This disadvantage can be attributed to low-rise residential buildings where it is necessary to furnish the interior. The furniture is mounted on a solid surface (walls), so you need to think in advance about the places where the cabinet or picture, shelves or any other objects will be installed. In places where furniture will be attached, the walls of the house made of LSTK are additionally reinforced with transverse platforms made of boards or timber.
High level of fire hazard.
LSTC technology has disadvantages that appear when a fire occurs inside the room. When exposed to high temperatures, steel profiles begin to deform, lose rigidity and sag under higher loads. The design takes into account all these shortcomings, so take the time to additionally protect the structure from fire and fire with special fire-retardant compounds (impregnations).
Low load-bearing strength.
Many people believe that a structure made of LSTC cannot cope with the weight load on the frame. This opinion is erroneous and cannot be considered a shortcoming. Each project is unique; the possible permissible load and the critical load that the building can withstand are always calculated. Another refutation of this shortcoming is the high popularity of frame construction from LSTK in Japan, the land of the rising sun, where there is a high level of seismic activity.
Construction from light steel thin-walled structures (LSTC) has its disadvantages and advantages. The benefits have been tested by numerous experiments of reputable Western organizations. For example, Japanese scientists conducted a test that confirms the high service life of LSFC. During the experiment, LSTC elements were placed in the highly aggressive environment of sea water and remained unharmed. Disadvantages of LSTK have mixed opinions, certain news agencies, frame construction is safe and economically profitable.
Advantages of LSTK:
The advantages clearly outweigh all the disadvantages of LSTK. Metal frame buildings are widely in demand and popular all over the world. Trust construction and design to professionals.
