Superstructure (excluding roofs)

6.10Light steel framed walls and floors

This chapter gives guidance on meeting the Technical Requirements for light steel framed walls and floors and:

  • applies specifically to ‘warm frame’ construction using 0.45-3.2mm thick framing
  • does not apply to light steel framed walls used in basements.

Definitions for this chapter

Differential movementMovement between the frame and cladding, e.g. due to thermal expansion, shrinkage (in concrete masonry) and moisture expansion (in clay masonry).
External infillWalls which are built between the floors of steel or concrete frames and are designed to resist wind loading and to support the weight of the other wall components. They do not provide stability to the building or resist floor loading. External infill is considered as a secondary structural component.
Hybrid constructionCavity construction where insulation is installed both between the studs and on the cavity side of the steel frame.
LSFLight steel frame. In this chapter, ‘LSF’ refers to construction framing members made from cold-formed profiles 0.7-4.0mm thick.
Primary structural
components
Elements of the structure designed to carry and transfer primary loads of the building as a whole, including self-weight, dead loads and live loads.
Secondary structural
components
Elements of the structure which do not play a wider role in the structure, but carry loads directly imposed on them (and transfer them to the primary structure) such as self-weight, wind loads, cladding and openings.
SheathingBoard applied to the outside of the steel frame (installed where required by the design).
Warm frameCavity construction where insulation is installed on the cavity side of the steel frame.