news from the BRE Group
published: 12/5/2005
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Leading European off-site construction company at OFFSITE2005
The UK's newly revived interest in off-site construction contrasts with the rapid development of off-site methods during recent years in parts of Europe. Among those leading this European off-site expansion is the Finnish company, Ruukki, which is demonstrating its extensive capabilities at OFFSITE2005 in Watford on 6-9 June 2005.
Ruukki operates in 24 countries, and its York-based subsidiary is at the forefront of the spread of off-site construction methods into commercial and industrial markets here in the UK.
It is both a main sponsor and exhibitor at OFFSITE2005 - the largest and most ambitious event on off-site and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) ever seen in this country.
Ruukki will construct an extensive outdoor display to show off the capabilities of systems providing a complete off-site constructed solution, which include (see notes for more details):
- roofing elements especially suited to industrial buildings, warehouses, sports halls and large-scale housing,
- off-site constructed elements for use in walling applications that can accommodate almost any form of conventional cladding, including rainscreens and profiled sheets. They are often delivered to site with windows, doors and façade cladding already fitted.
For more information on OFFSITE2005, contact BRE Events on 01923 664800,
Email events@bre.co.uk, visit www.offsite2005.com
For more information on Ruukki's off-site solutions, contact Ruukki UK Ltd on 01757 249334, Email claddingsalesUK@ruukki.com , visit www.ruukki.com
Photographs are available from harveyt@bre.co.uk
Notes for editors
Ruukki construction systems
Ruukki makes a roofing element especially suited to industrial buildings, warehouses, sports halls and large-scale housing. All aspects of each element are manufactured off-site, including a single-ply external membrane that saves a lot of on-site installation time and cost - the only requirement is to weld overlapping membrane joints in-situ.
This roof system normally spans up to 6 metres between supports, reducing the need for secondary steelwork and improving internal building aesthetics. Stronger sections can be introduced to the element to allow spans of up to 8 metres.
Its versatile nature allows for fine tuning adjustments to be made to the precise construction to achieve different performance levels. For example, different types of heavy board can be introduced to improve sound reductions levels up to 66dB from the 47dB level provided by the basic element. Enhanced sound absorption in noisy internal environments can be achieved by use of a perforated liner tray.
Elements feature holes for eyebolts at each end to facilitate easy mechanical lifting onto the roof structure. They are simply fastened to the steel frame by using shot-fired nails or self-drilling/self-tapping screws, inserted at pre-determined intervals. They are sealed together using a pre-installed EPDM strip.
Installation speed is perhaps the most impressive aspect of this off-site solution. One UK airport project recorded an amazing figure of 1400m2 installed in just one night shift! Ruukki's off-site assembled roofing elements have been widely used on buildings at both Heathrow and Gatwick Airport, as part of initiatives to avoid build programmes disrupting flight schedules.
Ruukki also manufactures an off-site constructed element for use in walling applications, to provide a seamless envelope solution. Instead of featuring a single-ply PVC membrane, it can accommodate almost any form of conventional cladding, including rainscreens and profiled sheets.
Another exterior wall system is pre-fabricated in ready-made elements, based around a framework of thermally broken steel purlins, commonly described as thermo purlins.
Available in a wide range of sizes, typically 3 metres x 8 metres, Elements are delivered to site, often with windows, doors and façade cladding already fitted.
Facades can be made using profiled or flat steel and aluminium sheets, rainscreens, wood, bricks, glass, render, as well as stone or ceramic tiles.
Elements usually provide the load bearing capacity for the structure of houses, up to three storeys. They fully answer the current call for more rapidly constructed, affordable dwellings.
In residential multi-storey buildings, elements are non-load bearing and are generally used as quickly installed curtain walling, cutting construction time. They can be pre-cut to accommodate features including arches, difficult corners or even balconies.
OFFSITE2005
OFFSITE2005 will be the largest and most ambitious event on off-site and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) ever seen in this country combining:
- full scale exhibits of building systems from around the world, many of which have never been seen before in the UK,
with
- a stimulating case study based seminar programme that will demonstrate how MMC are delivering quality homes and buildings to time, to budget and sustainability standards.
for more information go to www.offsite2005.com
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