A beginner-friendly guide to the components of LGSF Structure
Steel has gained popularity as a construction material worldwide in recent decades. Since The 1990s, steel construction has been prevalent in Germany, the USA, and earthquake-prone regions like Japan.
Light Gauge Steel Framed Structures (LGSF) are built from galvanized steel components designed to meet regulations, produced by cold forming method, and assembled at the site to form structural steel frameworks for buildings of varying sizes.
LGSF can be used to construct a roof system, a floor system, a wall system, a roof panel, a deck, or a whole building.
LGSF components are manufactured in factories as galvanised steel sections of precise dimensions. The assembly of these components is performed on-site using special screws and bolts.
In this blog, we have attempted to explain the components of the LGSF structure as effectively as possible. So let’s take a look.
Wall System
The steel sections for LGSF buildings are cold-formed, meaning they can be bent or shaped at
room temperature. The LGSF wall system comprises:
Load bearing walls
Structures such as these protect the construction from the wind by supporting upright loads above or perpendicular to the roads. In addition, bracing straps and sheets can sometimes be used to provide additional strength.
Non-load bearing walls
These internal walls do not have to bear any truss loads. Non-load-bearing walls do not require noggins and diagonal bracing to stabilise the studs.
Wall Cladding and Partitions
Wall claddings are designed to resist wind load. Polystyrene, gypsum board, heavy-duty cement particle board, etc., are joined to the peripheral flange of the steel with self-drilling screws.
Wall connectors
Once all the panels have been aligned and plumbed accurately, steel bolts, washers, and nuts are used as connectors to hold the structure together. These connectors make steel-to-steel connections or connect steel structures to concrete floors. In addition, the frames come with pre-drilled holes for attaching fasteners.
Wall openings
It comprises internal and external doors.
You can also use the window frames and doors used in conventional construction in LGSF. For example, the timber door frames can be secretly fixed to the internal walls by screwing or nailing them to the studs behind the door.
Roof System
The steel roof framing system typically uses structural steel of grades C75 and C100. They can be screwed directly into the wall frame for roof designs, including gable, hip, dable, and dutch.
LGSF’s roofing system is widely used in airport terminals and industrial, residential and educational buildings.
The steel roofing sheets are galvanized with zinc aluminum to serve as a protective layer against corrosion.
A minimum slope of 1:4 should be added to the flat roofs to allow sufficient drainage of rainwater. Since decking may reduce the roof angle, creating ponds of rainwater, the pitch might need to be increased.
LGSF roof systems are also considered to be very eco-friendly. First, since they are made from ozone-friendly materials, and second, because steel is recyclable, which reduces the need for developing more construction materials, thereby promoting a greener environment.
