Jamshedpur, May 09, 2003

In a step towards steel intensive construction, the first building using steel load bearing wall systems is now complete. Built to serve as a club house, this building is located in the Subarnarekha Flats, Gandak Road, Sakchi, Jamshedpur. The technology for the steel house has been brought by Construction Solutions Group, Tata Steel which also coordinated its construction.

For long steel has been considered by experts as the most efficient material for applications like construction. Many prominent buildings all over the world have successfully used steel in construction. In the developed world, this form of steel intensive construction has become very popular. This popularity is attributed to the greater seismic stability, fire resistance, speed of construction, ease of alteration of internal layout, temperature resistance of the steel building. This is also a dry system of construction requiring small quantities of water.

Along with the steel intensive buildings, steel accessories like doors, windows etc are also popular in the west. Of late, these have also caught on in our country. Replacement of wood and such like material which affects the ecological balance with steel will also go a long way in preserving the green cover. Long lasting and impervious to attacks by the elements and insects, these building accessories provide the long lasting and aesthetical solutions to the house owner.

DETAILS OF THE CLUB HOUSE

This facility of approx. 2300 sq.ft. in built up area is intended to be unique as it is constructed out of Light Gauge Steel.

• The foundations is of conventional materials ( shallow load bearing brick work foundation).

• The superstructure comprises of load bearing walls made out of sandwich prefabricated sections. These sections consist of Light Gauge Steel forms sandwiched between fibre cement boards. The gaps between the steel and the outer boards is filled with suitable insulating material ? in this case expanded polystyrene insulation. This method of construction using LGS load bearing panels and stud framing is called the Vesta Quik-Build ? System developed in Canada, and has been executed by Minaean Habitat (India) Pvt. Ltd. of Mumbai, the Indian licensees for the system.

• The roof is color coated steel. (The roof color is terracotta.)

• Doors and windows are steel formed and filled with insulating material.

• The house bears the name "STEEL HOUSE" in bronze color to provide contrast against the ivory colored walls and match with the terracotta roof. The Club House intended for TATA Steels' employees, consists of a large multi-purpose hall, a ladies room, club office, storage area and washrooms/toilets. The speed of construction was due to the pre-engineered and 'manufactured' materials which minimized materials wastage and construction time at site, while at the same time providing a high quality of finish.

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