Metek Plc were appointed to design and install the light steel structure & balconies. All homes benefit from open plan living, with stylish kitchens, work from home space and private balconies to enjoy. Additionally, they have been constructed with a range of energy efficient features.
Overview
The development forms part of Hatfield’s bold and ambitious regeneration plan to provide contemporary homes to new and existing residents, who are passionate about the local community, its location, and the unique amenities which the area has to offer.
In the Light Steel Frame industry, sustainability goes hand-in-hand with efficiency; as a progressive and dynamic business, we are continuously evolving our system to reduce our carbon footprint and drive our commitment to net zero.
Metek installed the structural light steel frames, 170mm decking, concrete floors and roof, lift shafts and accessories, brick support plates, 100% of the external walls were pre-boarded with window openings pre-made, 85% of the internal walling, cat ladders, all the precast stairs, balconies and powder coated balustrades.
This project was used as the pilot for our ongoing drive to increase panel sizes first from 1.8m to 2.4m and then onto 6m whenever possible. This, in turn helps to reduce the frequency of deliveries and the amount of materials needed to fix panels together.
Construction Details
The speed of the erection was a key aspect in ensuring return of investment back to our client. The Metek system not only outperformed the concrete frame by 14 weeks it also finish edits contractual programme 4 weeks ahead of schedule. This helped to minimise construction disruption for the local community even further.
By engaging early and working closely with our client, we were able to offer significant efficiencies in project cost and buildability, by enabling the project team to design out details requiring complex solutions whilst still achieving the overall intent.
Moreover, as this was a first for the project team, having never delivered a steel frame structure previously, we were able to spend time educating them on best practice and solving potential problems long before they arose on site. Our speed and efficiency in taking the contractually agreed programme for each block and shortening these considerably, aided earlier occupation of the dwellings.
Throughout the works, our site team worked methodically and logically leaving areas complete and clean and tidy whilst still progressing quicker than the agreed programme. Indeed, our approach to addressing “snags” at the point of occurrence and eliminating these for subsequent areas was at the heart of delivering the project right first time.
Application Benefits
- Built to AECB standards- homes will be designed to have low heating demand
- Early completion 4 weeks ahead of programme
- Fast construction system – 14 weeks faster when compared to traditional construction
- Early engagement between client and Metek led to cost and time efficiencies
- Metek provided HRS elements as well as LGSF
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Metek have supported this exciting and challenging development by ensuring Modern Methods of Construction were implemented, as well as providing early commercial information which allowed the steel to be procured earlier than would normally be expected which ultimately led to a ‘6 figure’ material saving which was key to the project’s viability.
I look forward to working with Metek on future projects.
