24.1.

2016

SteelModularBuildingSystemsOffsiteConstructionExperts

Steel Modular Building Systems

Around the world the eyes of those who create buildings are fixed firmly on modular
construction. With such amazing benefits such as incredibly fast building time,
cheaper delivery costs and considerably less impact on the environment compared to
traditional construction, modular construction simply cant be overlooked. This
article examines the nitty-gritty of what goes into differentiation between different
types ofsteel modular building systems.
Despite the giant benefits and lowered risk profile modular construction are still
fairly new to the world of medium to high rise buildings. There are a lot of you out
there scratching your heads about this topic, I know. Since it seems so alien and
weird to make buildings in a factory, yet so obvious are the benefits! We wanted to
help you out so we put together an insightful and straight forward guide to the most
successfully usedsteel modular structures. We hope that by peeling back a layer of
mystery, and revealing the structural design differences between steel module types,
that youll feel a bit more friendly with them!
The UK boasts the largest market for modular buildings and it is emerging as world
leader in the use of these building systems to deliver medium to high-rise buildings.
The UK also has, arguably, the most diverse range of modern construction systems,
from timber frame to Light Steel Frame (LSF) and from Structural Insulated Panels
(SIPs) to Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). Despite the wide range of building systems
available the bulk of modular buildings in the UK are mostly variations on
steel modular systems. Such systems have emerged as a leading technology to
achieve the most impressive build heights, the best safety records, the highest
reliability, and fastest speeds of delivery.

Cold Formed (CF) Corner Posts

This system uses CF or light gauge steel corner posts to limit the amount of Hot
Rolled (Red Iron) steel in the build. The CF corner posts can also be formed to
suitable shapes, such as J profiles so that additional flexibility in terms of the design
geometry can be levered in order to allow more possibilities for module to module
connections, better panel to panel orientation, and more versatility for cladding
systems.
In this type of CF module design the walls are sandwiched between the floor and
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ceiling panels. The load is considered to be Uniformly Distributed along the walls
and corner posts. This is a very important aspect of this design but it means that it is
difficult to remove walls from any one side of the structure. This makes the system
less versatile in terms of the room layouts that can be achieved.
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Style

Structural

Maximum

Ease of

Members

Build Height

Assembly

G+3

***

CF Corner

All CF Galv.

Posts

Sections

Hot Rolled (HR) Posts

This steel modular building systemintegrates HR (Red Iron) structural steel sections
into the design in order to increase the overall build height. HR posts can easily be
swapped out for the CF corner posts in the previous design concept if the geometry
of the steel stud and track in the walls are designed correctly.
In this type of module the load transfer is through the HR posts. These posts can also
be included along the length and width of the module to increase load capacity. Load
transfer into the walls should be avoided. Additionally the use of HR posts means
that its easier to include beams over large openings in the module sides which in
turn leads to the possibility of designing more flexible room layouts than the CF
system above.
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Style

Structural

Maximum

Ease of

Members

Build Height

Assembly

G+12

**

CF Galv.
HR Posts

Sections HR
Posts (Zinc
Primed)

Hot Rolled (HR) Frame

A natural progression from the inclusion of HR posts into the module structure is the
use of HR steel as ring beams around the floor and ceiling of the module. This allows
for improved lateral load transfer and open span modules. This method of
construction can be fully welded or bolted assembly. Modules with fully welded HR
frames tend to be more rigid which isa desirable factor in order toachieve high
modular buildings.
These modules use a point loaded structure, meaning that gravitational (downward)
load transfer into the walls is avoided. Again, this leads to a more versatile and
configurable module capable of producing highly configurable room layouts.

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Style

Structural

Maximum

Ease of

Members

Build Height

Assembly

G+12 to G+35

****

CF Galv.
Sections HR
HR

Posts (Zinc

Frame

Primed) HR
Beams (Zinc
Primed)

Cold Formed Full Height Walls

A different way to achieve medium-rise build heights using CF sections only is to
design the module with full height walls and suspend the floors and ceilings inside
the walls. In this type of design modules with back to back studs in the walls can be
used to double-up or triple-up the load carrying capacity of the wall. This allows
for modules at the base of the building to be triple studs, modules half way up the
building to be double studs and near the top of the building the modules only need
single studs. In this way an economic use of steel sections can be designed into the
modular building system.
Open module sides can be achieved using HR steel goal post structures around or
inside the walls.

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Style

HR Posts

Structural

Maximum

Members

Build Height

CF Galv.
Sections

G+12

Ease of
2
Assembly
****

Balloon v Platform
The use of full height walls means that the floors and ceilings of each module are
suspended between the walls. This style of module is very similar to a traditional
method of timber framing called balloon framing in which the outside walls were
erected first and the intermediate floors were then built within the walls. Though
there are some restrictions in terms of the overall building structural design balloon
framed modules have been used successfully within the UK for a large number of
student accommodation buildings.
The more recent method of framing used in construction is called platform framing.
With this method the walls are built between the floors and ceilings. While this
method might pose some difficulty in terms of gravitational load transfer through the
floors and ceilings into the walls it is easier to achieve a shear plane across the
entire building floor. This is desirable in high rise building construction. Depending
on the load transfer mechanisms of the modular system, it might not be necessary to
use the walls to transfer gravitational load, but again, this is a consideration that
needs to be carefully balanced with the method of manufacture and structural
loading scheme of the modular building design.

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Conclusion
There are a number of different ways to design the structure of a LSF modular
system. The different methods should be carefully considered in terms of the pros
and cons in relation to the manufactured method and desired product performance.
Though this page has been dedicated to steel modular systems there are a wide
range of building systems on the market. Not all of the systems available to you will
be modular, not all of them will be steel. From pre-cast concrete to cross laminated
timber panel systems and from volumetric bathroom pods through to structural
modular systems, the range of systems on the market is growing on a daily basis.
If youre about to take your first footsteps on the path of modular building design
then the construction of the module is just one of the primary design issues that you
must address. For help and more information on this topic or anything related feel
free to contact us and ask any questions you might have. We are here to help you
make the most economic and effective choice for all your future construction
projects.

Find Out More

Contact Us Now

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