ANDREW WAY, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT SCI EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCI'S CONTINUED TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE LIGHT STEEL FRAMING SECTOR, AND HOW TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHT STEEL FRAMING CONTINUES TO THRIVE.
GUIDANCE AND DISSEMINATION
Since its inception The Steel Construction Institute (SCI) has had an overarching objective to promote the effective use of steel in construction. This has included fundamental research and technical development of light steel framing systems for over 25 years. My own personal involvement with light steel framing at the SCI goes back a little over 15 years (as during the early years of my career I was more involved with hot rolled steel frames and sheet piling coffer dams).
Over the years the SCI has disseminated their work in multiple technical publications and design guides which have been used by the industry and have been fundamental to the growth of the light steel framing sector and the wider acceptance of this technology. The work of the SCI and their publications has given the credibility to this once emerging method of construction. Many of these publications have of course been updated since their original release and other publications are in the pipeline.
CERTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION
Despite the significant amount of guidance for light steel framing and cold formed steel design (over 50 publications from SCI, plus national design standards, codes of practice and publications from other organisations) there continues to be a need for more guidance and more information. One of the services the SCI provides to its members is the Advisory Desk, calls are regularly received from practitioners looking for guidance on situations which they cannot find covered in guidance documents. Of course, not all situations and scenarios can be included in published guidance, and in these circumstances, SCI are able to offer advice. In many cases it will be necessary to apply engineering first principals to a problem, or perhaps consider the use of structural testing, depending on the topic.
However, where design methods are described in guidance documents or national standards, it is imperative that they are applied correctly. The process of third-party certification and verification enables any errors or misunderstandings in application to be identified and corrected. The SCI currently operates three types of certification;
• SCI Assessed,
• SCI Product Certification,
• SCI/NHBC Stage 1 System
With all three schemes it is extremely rare that the initial technical submission which is received by SCI is the same as the final submission which is accepted for certification. There are various reasons why changes are required to the technical submission and these cover a range of severities in terms of implications for the final design. In all cases where the certification has been completed, the companies involved have appreciated the benefits that come from the review process and in some cases the resulting improvements to their design methods. The use of third-party verification is particularly important as technical development and innovation with light steel framing systems continues to thrive.
Readers may be aware of a scheme recently launched by NHBC called 'NHBC Accepts'. This is a separate scheme to SCI/NHBC Stage 1 System Certification, however, for light steel frame systems one of the requirements to achieving NHBC Accepts is having a valid Stage 1 certificate from the SCI.
NEW LOGO
The SCI/NHBC Stage 1 System Certification scheme is specifically for light steel framing systems in accordance with Chapter 6.10 of the NHBC Standards. However, until recently there has not been a specific logo for companies to use after they have achieved the certificate. This situation was addressed with the creation of a new logo which will help to differentiate between SCI's other assessment and certification schemes.
Since July 2020 our new logo has been used on the full technical certificates and also on the one-page display certificates which are issued with the scheme. Companies with a valid certificate will also be able to use the new logo individually on their marketing materials and websites.
The new style certificates are issued as new certifications are achieved and as old-style certificates are successfully renewed. Any companies with an existing valid Stage 1 Certificate can contact SCI at assessment@steel-sci.com to request the new SCI/NHBC Stage 1 System Certification logo.
For more information visit: www.steel-sci.com
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