In this article, we will share and summarise TRUECORE® Steel’s Technical Guide. Let’s start by explaining what structural integrity, structural design, and corrosion are and then explain why they are important to your building.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY

A building’s structural integrity affects its functionality and safety. Over time, some framing materials warp, sag, or shrink, which increases the risk of cracked walls, jammed doors, and waving rooflines. These risks are not the case with framing made from steel.

Steel frames are dimensionally accurate and are manufacture straight and stay that way for years to come. TRUECORE® steel is strong and highly resistant to deformation once formed.

Biological attacks from pests and water damage can have major impacts to the integrity of timber framed buildings. Steel frames made from TRUECORE® steel are resistant to insect infestation from termites and borers and do not absorb moisture so won’t grow mould or fungi.  You won’t even have to treat them with any nasty chemicals making them sensitive to those with allergies and reducing your ongoing maintenance costs.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Structural design is the process of designing a structure, in our case a building, that is safe, reliable, and functional under any load it is subjected to. The structures stability, strength and rigidity while resisting loads is analysed and then a safe designed is created.

While it’s important for a buildings design to be aesthetically pleasing and highly functional, at its heart a building is nothing if it is not stable and strong when weight is applied to it. If a building is not properly designed or fabricated to hold this weight, there can be serious consequences.

TRUCECORE® steel is designed to be a structural grade building material. This steel has high tensile strength and comes with a guarantee of 550 MPa yield strength. The high tensile strength together with its forming flexibility allows buildings made using TRUECORE® steel to optimise and handle their structural load more efficiently with less support – meaning you need fewer structural building materials over larger spans of space. This makes designing and building contemporary open plan living spaces easier while ensuring they are structurally sound.

The benefits of it’s lightweight but strong form also make it easier to erect onsite. The ease of handling requires minimal lifting costs and contribute to a quicker installation – helping you reduce your construction costs and operate your projects and your business more efficiently.

Steel frames are also non-combustible increasing the structural design benefits and improving the structural integrity of your building, and when used properly, have a minimum service life of 50 years. That’s longer than most of us will stay in one place!

CORROSION

Corrosion, also know as oxidisation is caused by the chemical reaction between metal and water and oxygen. When they react with metal, these environmental elements begin to deteriorate the metal and its strength.

Due to its ZN/AL coating technology made up of 43.5% zinc, 55% aluminium and 1.5% silicon, TRUECORE® steel is superior in its corrosion performance when compared to other galvanised steel. The zinc-rich area of a TRUECORE® steel frame, provides excellent sacrificial/surface protection, while the aluminium-rich area provides durable barrier protection. It’s these two characteristics of TRUECORE® steel that enable high levels of corrosion resistance.

INVEST IN YOUR BUILDINGS FUTURE

Termite-free. Chemical free. Mould free. Fire resistant.  Lightweight but strong. Fewer structural building materials needed. Design flexibility. Long-lasting durability. Dimensionally accurate. Environmentally friendly. Less build time. Reduced construction costs. Highly sustainable and 100% recyclable. And all with a 50-year warranty for eligible applications. You get all this and so much more with TRUECORE® steel frames and trusses manufactured by Metframe Australia.

Isn’t it time you invested in your building’s future? Start using Metframe Australia steel frames and trusses for your new build or renos today!

Contact our team at Metframe Australia to learn how we can help your business grow with light gauge steel frames and trusses.

Resources:
– TRUECORE® – TRUECORE® Technical Guide
– FAO – Rural structures in the tropics: design and development -2011