Construction from lstk advantages. About technology

The construction of buildings using LSTK technology has the following important advantages:

Small specific gravity of light weight structures

The weight of the frame and finished buildings made of LSTK-profile is several times less than similar structures made of stone and wood. Due to this advantage, when building a new building, the foundation costs are significantly reduced, and the possibilities of building on difficult soils are expanding. LSTK technology greatly simplifies the reconstruction of old buildings, including very weakened and emergency ones. In addition, due to this advantage, it becomes possible to carry out construction on tight city streets, since the use of heavy construction equipment is not required.

Ability to use any type of foundation

As you know, the cost of the foundation can be up to 30% of the total cost of building a house. Buildings built using the LSTK technology have a low dead weight, so any type of foundation can be used for their construction. In addition, the foundation itself, regardless of the type chosen, will be less “massive”, and therefore less expensive for the customer’s wallet, compared to foundations for buildings made of brick or foam concrete. Well, if you are so lucky that the site has a high bearing capacity of the soil and a low level ground water- LSTK buildings can be placed directly on non-buried brick columns.

Ease of construction

The finished house kit is delivered by one or two trucks to the site. Since the LSTK profiles themselves are light in weight, they are easy to unload and transfer to a storage location. Each profile has a unique marking, which ensures the error-free assembly of the building frame.

High accuracy

Modern design technologies and computerized machines for the manufacture of LSTC profiles make it possible to achieve absolute accuracy of frame structure segments. The profile manufacturing error is 0.5 mm, and the error of the entire building structure is up to 5 mm. This advantage allows you to reduce construction time (since there is no need for adjustment), accurately calculate all costs, purchase necessary building materials in the right amount (without the need to buy in addition).

High construction speed

Since the LSTK frame is calculated and cut to size according to the project at the factory, there is no need to adjust the height of the profiles. All that is required is to install the profile in the right place and fix it with self-tapping screws to another profile. Three people are building a 250 sq. m, including the installation of the roof - for three weeks.

Possibility of winter construction

The absence of "wet" processes in the construction of buildings using the LSTK technology, i.e. there is no need to build structures using cement-sand mortar, which is afraid of frost, puts LSTC technology out of competition when building houses in winter.

Durability

The LSTK frame is made of galvanized steel, which predetermines its durability. According to the calculations of the profile manufacturers, the service life of buildings built using the LSTK technology is at least 50 years, and the frame itself is even longer. With proper care of the roof and facade of the building, it will be enough for your age and for children and even grandchildren.

Ease of use

It's no secret that wooden structures can "walk" over time, depending on changes in the temperature and humidity conditions in the room. Even in houses built from profiled timber, after two or three years, you can notice gaps in the “wet” (kitchen) and “wet” rooms (bathroom). The steel frame of the house is immune to changes in humidity, remaining exactly in such geometric dimensions just like at the time of construction.

Environmental friendliness

Wooden wall structures and especially truss system roofs are exposed to fungus, from which even potent pesticides do not save for a long time. Steel structures of LSTK are devoid of this shortcoming, which favorably affects the health of people living in the house. Frame structures are made of high quality galvanized steel. As heaters, ecowool, mineral or stone is used. These building materials are absolutely environmentally friendly, they can be completely recycled, i.е. do not harm the environment. The cladding of buildings from an LSTK profile is usually made from gypsum-fiber or gypsum plasterboard sheets.

Seismic resistance

The LSTC profile used in the supporting structure of such buildings is very flexible due to the use of additional connections. According to the test results, it is recognized that buildings built using the LSTC technology can withstand earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 9 points. Of course, this factor is not decisive for Central regions Russia, but he talks about the excellent "elasticity" of buildings made using this technology.

Comfort

Buildings made of LSTK profile are comfortable, have excellent sound insulation, and are resistant to moisture and air tightness. A well-designed ventilation system can improve the efficiency of these indicators. The hollow walls of structures erected from the LSTK profile can be insulated with mineral or stone wool (other heaters), and the design of the walls allows the use of any available materials, depending on the requirements of the customer and the conditions of the project.

Economy

Buildings erected from LSTK-profile have a low operating cost, since the structure is stable, well protected from the influence of biological (atmospheric) factors external environment, differs in durability, and if necessary overhaul does not require as much cost as buildings made from conventional building materials. You will save a lot, because a metal frame made of LSTK profile is cheaper than traditional wood and brick. The price of construction from an LSTK profile is several times less than for brick buildings. 2-6 people cope with the installation of the frame, depending on the required speed of construction.

fire safety

The absence of combustible materials in the frame of the erected structure allows us to speak of the highest level of fire resistance and fire safety buildings from LSTK-profile.

architectural possibilities

The LSTK technology makes it very easy to cover spans without the use of intermediate supports up to 12 meters, and with the strengthening of load-bearing structures - up to 15. This advantage makes it possible to use inner space buildings with maximum profitability and freedom of planning. In addition, this allows you to more conveniently arrange communication systems and segments built into the walls (niches, pantries, built-in appliances).

Disadvantages of LSTK

Despite all the advantages of LSTK technology, its disadvantages cannot be bypassed. As it sounds not paradoxical - first of all it is a small specific gravity structures. But this is a disadvantage only on heavily heaving soils, which, during prolonged frosts, can lift the light structures of light structures of buildings. You can read more about the effect of soils on foundations in the article. To avoid these manifestations, we strongly recommend conducting geological surveys that will allow you to accurately calculate the foundation or take measures to minimize frost heaving.

LSTK designs are quite widespread today, the scope of their use is quite diverse. The abbreviation stands for light steel thin-walled structures.

Application area

The mentioned structures are actively used in the construction of public buildings, cottages, shops, as well as garages. Similar steel systems can often be found today at the heart of hotels, sports facilities, medical centers. Private builders have adapted such structures for the construction of attics, roofs, the latter of which have wide spans. In European countries, LSTC have been common for half a century.

Characteristics of LSTC

LSTC structures are built using a material whose thickness does not exceed 4 mm. In the works, it is used which is produced by the method of cold rolling, and is sold in rolls. The structures are based on profiles that were formed during the production process by a cold method. Their section can be open or closed. The peculiarity of LSTK allows them to be used in the construction of enclosing structures, among which walls and ceilings can be distinguished, but this is far from a complete list.

LSTC structures may include thin-walled profiles that were previously perforated in the wall area, they are also called "thermal profiles". Their main purpose is to improve the thermal performance thermal circuit buildings and ventilation in the heat insulator.

The described components are mated by means of screws, which are of excellent quality and require a self-drilling installation, and they are made of corrosion-resistant steel. As an alternative, carbon steel can be used for such products, which is coated during production with a cadmium or zinc composition. You can get acquainted with the range of profiles, for example, produced by Astekhome LLC, at http://astekhome.ru/lstk.

LSTC construction technology

LSTK structures are built using materials that do not contain metal, these can be drywall, gypsum plasterboard, etc. These coatings are installed on profiles, or, in other words, racks. This is done both outside and inside the buildings. The technology involves the rejection of wet work, which is very common today due to the convenience and speed of work.

This technology is also chosen because, as a result, the building is lightweight, so its mass is 30 kg / m 2. As for the two-story building, the weight increases to 38 kg / m 2. But this does not prevent buildings from being stable and durable. That is why LSTK are built in seismically hazardous areas, to the phenomena of which they are especially resistant. All this is combined with ease of assembly, which increases labor productivity by 2 times.

Consumer reviews

LSTC structures are quite actively used in private construction. Consumers, choosing this technology, note that with its help it is quite simple to build attic floors, which do not exert a significant load on the foundation. Many residents of seismically hazardous areas say that this has become an indispensable solution for them to build houses that are especially resistant during earthquakes. But when arranging a ventilated facade, you can’t do without steel structures. Their consumers choose much more often wooden ones. Buyers note that steel elements serve for more than long period time, do not require repair, and after getting wet they are not deformed. Buyers prefer if they are faced with the task of replacing flat roof on a slope.

Economy Reviews

Today, perhaps, there is not a single person who would not seek to save money during repairs and construction. If concrete is replaced with steel structures, as the owners of private houses and apartments say, then it turns out to save at the time of transporting the material, during its installation and subsequent operation, because concrete requires repair when the building shrinks, but steel elements do not. In addition, private craftsmen and professional builders claim that steel is more often chosen than brick and mortar, since the installation of the first material takes less time and does not require the use of expensive construction equipment.

Features of the calculation of LSTC

LSTC structures are calculated before design. Data on the loads that will affect the bearing structures. Why are the forces that will occur in columns, coverage runs, coverage trusses, and also, but this is not the whole list, determined. The next step is to calculate the cross section. It is also important to determine which profiles are supposed to be used, and then you can start designing elements.

Light steel thin-walled structures (LSTS) should be assembled using the simplest and most durable connections. In this case, bolts can be used, but the welding method is not held in high esteem, since there is a possibility of lack of penetration, which will weaken the profile section. When calculating, experts will take into account external influences. environment. This will reduce the influence of wind, precipitation, soil vibrations. In order to install a light building, a shallow foundation will be sufficient for it, while it should be taken into account that seismic phenomena in the construction area should be minimal.

Fencing LSTC

LSTK structures, reviews of which, as a rule, are only positive, can also be used as fences. LSTK can be used in tandem with ecowool-type insulation, which only improves the quality of the system. If we compare such a wall, which is 100 mm thinner than the one built from lightweight cellular concrete, then it loses heat less by 1.5 times. This suggests that the savings on heating in cold weather will be impressive. In addition, there is an opportunity to win free space in the premises of the dwelling. After all, it will be less.

Advantages of LSTC over structures made of other materials

Lightweight structures, the photos of which can be seen in the article, win the fight against the so traditional today and many years ago. They are quite often used in high-rise construction, since such enclosing systems greatly speed up the work, they have a much lower load, and for installation does not have to resort to the expensive help of professional builders. And here private master, in addition, it will be able to avoid the need for wet work associated with the solution: its kneading and laying. Construction equipment may be needed only to make it possible to raise steel elements to the desired floor, which is completely irrelevant when conducting private construction. But if you are building a two- or three-story house, then you can exclude rent for lifting structures by using a winch.

If LSTK is used as the basis of the house, the enclosing structures, as well as the main walls, can be built from them, while it becomes possible to build a house with up to four floors. If you are just going to build your house, then a lot of concrete work can be replaced with technology based on LSTC. This will save on materials, speed up the process and eliminate the need for wet work, which requires the master to have certain skills that are not required when assembling a house from light steel elements. But it is preferable to entrust the calculation of the LSTK design to professionals.

Frame houses built using modern technology from light steel thin-walled structures are distinguished by high construction speed and low cost. construction works and excellent strength characteristics. What is good about building a house using LSTK technology is the variety of ready-made standard projects, from which you can order a frame kit at a metalwork factory.

Yes, this is exactly what citizens of our country often do, because at home using LSTK technology can be purchased at ready-made, a specially assembled house kit, which is transported to the construction site for further installation.

Houses using LSTK technology are very common in all regions of our country. Construction is always a costly undertaking, but with the advent of frame construction and the introduction of these technologies in the civil sector, much has changed, now it has become possible to build a house 5-6 times cheaper than a conventional brick capital structure.

LGSF technology: origin and development

The abbreviation LSTK stands for light steel thin-walled construction. The elements of the metal structure include profiled sheets of high-strength galvanized steel with a thickness of 2-4 mm and thin-walled profiles.

Construction technology metal structures made of light thin-walled steel was developed by Canadian engineers in 1950. At that time, Canada needed high-quality and inexpensive construction of low-rise buildings for the middle class of the population. Mass production, the availability of material and the possibility of using technology in industrial and industrial construction set a positive development vector for decades to come.

Since 1950, the construction of houses and other frame structures using the LSTK technology has become popular in North America, Japan and Scandinavian countries. In Russia, houses using LSTK technology began to be actively built in 2000, when state standards for the construction of metal structures were approved. Until 2000 and at the present time, many enterprises build houses using LSTK technology in accordance with not Russian, but more faithful and reliable European and international standards.

Today, the construction of frames from light steel thin-walled structures is available to everyone: enterprises provide design and construction services, as well as conduct active sales ready-made house kits.

What are houses built using LSTK technology?

As you already understood, a high-strength galvanized metal profile 3-4 mm thick is used for the construction of the structure. The LSTK profile can be of two types: ordinary (without a longitudinal section) and thermal profile (with a section that increases thermal characteristics walls).

Galvanized metal has high strength, does not give in to corrosion, emergence of cracks and breakages is excluded. Frame elements are not afraid of temperature changes, humidity or microorganisms. Manufacturers guarantee the quality of all manufactured elements of the metal frame. All parts are marked and have the necessary mounting holes; in the assembly, all parts are securely and firmly connected to each other, forming a solid structure.

Construction of houses using LSTK technology: advantages and disadvantages

All innovative technologies in Russia they are greeted with caution, they are waiting for time will pass to know the exact results and efficiency on real examples. Steel construction technology turned 65 years old in 2015, during these years LSTC construction has grown enormously, displacing capital construction in the low-rise residential building sector.

Advantages of LSTK technology

Disadvantages of LSTK technology

The shortcomings of the LSTK technology take place, probably, only in our country. Often, manufacturers of light steel structures produce products that do not meet the declared quality and do not meet the standards. A typical case is the purposeful reduction of the profile thickness with a lower zinc layer (less than 120 g/m2). Also, many “offices” during test assemblies and dismantling may lose a screw or panel, which will make it problematic to install a house using LSTC technology, because the entire frame set is made in a single copy with a set of fasteners, which is provided for by the project documentation.

Reviews speak mainly about the advantages of building a house using LSTK technology, since they are more common than negative ones.

How is the construction of a house using LSTC technology

The entire construction process consists of several stages:

• Order of project documentation (project of the LSTK house).
• Order for the manufacture of a house kit.
• Delivery to the place of assembly.
• Foundation preparation
• Installation of a metal structure.

The most important thing in construction is the design of the house. It is the project of the house that determines the intended purpose of the future structure, options for thermal insulation, roofing, all Supplies and much more. Today, a wide range of standard projects are available for order, which are much cheaper than individual design.

Until the project is determined and the manufacture of the frame of the house using the LSTK technology at the factory is ordered, you can begin to prepare the foundation at the construction site.

Any construction begins with the construction of the foundation. The site needs to be prepared, cleaned and poured the foundation around the perimeter of the house in accordance with the project documentation. Mortgages are left in the corners for attaching the metal frame.

A ready-made set of houses from LSTK can be installed immediately after the foundation is ready. The assembly of the metal frame begins from the corners, intermediate racks are mounted and connected by transverse profiles. The empty space is filled with insulation. An excellent option for insulation is mineral wool (plates), which does not undergo combustion. Inner side the walls are sheathed with a double sheet of drywall, and the outer side with profiled galvanized sheet, siding, sandwich panels, clapboard and other similar materials.

After the walls are erected, you can proceed with the installation of the floor (if the house has more than 1 floor) or ceiling beams. This design holds the rafters. The installation of the roof is completed with a sheathing and covering with roofing material.

All building materials used in building a house using LSTK technology are of artificial origin, low cost and are becoming more popular every day. AT finishing works can be used various options natural wood: timber, sheet pile, block house, etc. modern construction does not stand still and is developing rapidly, LSTK is a technology of the future that can be used today.

Finished houses built using LSTC technology are reliable and durable structures, whose service life in some cases exceeds the service life of capital structures, reaching 60-120 years.

Light steel thin-walled structures (LSTC) – modern technology rapid erection of buildings and structures, which are made of steel building elements with a thickness of up to 3 ... 4 mm. Abroad, in Europe this technology called Light Gauge Steel Framing (LGSF).

What is LSTC? Where LSTC structures are used in construction

The LSTK technology is an alternative to timber frame construction and was developed to reduce the cost and speed up the process of building low-rise middle-class houses. Building elements from LSTK are used as self-supporting structures of low-rise buildings ( photo 1) or in combination with traditional technologies construction of buildings from standard building materials: wood, metal, brick, reinforced concrete ( photo 2).

Photo 1_Frame low-rise buildings from LSTK

Photo 2. LSTC building elements in combination with traditional technologies for building buildings from standard building materials

Enough great experience construction of light steel thin-walled structures (LSTC) have such countries as Canada, the USA, countries Western Europe, China. In Russia and Ukraine, as well as in other CIS countries, the design and construction of metal structures (MC) and light metal structures (LMC) were more practiced, which have significant differences from the LSTC technology.

Signs of LSTC

Consider the main features of light steel thin-walled structures (LSTC):

1. The thickness of the steel from which the building elements are made does not exceed 3 ... 4 mm (0.7 ... 4 mm); steel yield strength 250 ... 350 MPa and more; relative elongation not less than 18%.
2. For the manufacture of building elements, rolled cold-rolled steel is used. steel sheet with zinc coating, the weight of which is not less than 275 g/m 2 .
3. The main elements of LSTK are cold-formed profiles of open and closed sections.
4. Thin-walled profiles with perforated walls (thermal profiles) are used as building envelopes - walls and ceilings - they improve the thermal performance of building envelopes.
5. Basically, LSTK elements are connected with high-quality self-tapping screws from:

• of stainless steel;
• carbon steel with zinc or cadmium coating;
• carbon steel with cadmium coating.

1. The design calculations from LSTK take into account the joint work of all building elements, including the work of internal, external skins and other non-metallic elements.
2. The design of buildings from LSTC is carried out using computer two-dimensional and three-dimensional modeling (using the effects of spatial work of structures).
3. All building elements according to the LSTC technology are manufactured at specialized enterprises, and at construction sites they are only assembled into a single structure.
4. At the enterprise, strictly according to the working drawings, all elements of the frame and its skin are made, special holes are marked or drilled in the elements strictly in the right place to connect the elements into a single frame.

The main building elements of LSTK structures include profiled or perforated galvanized steel thin-walled profiles, from which racks, lintels, guides, girders, etc. are made, photo 3.

The basis of the building, built according to the LSTK technology, is a bearing rigid and durable frame, which is assembled from light steel thin-walled structures. Due to not heavy weight LSTK buildings often use a shallow foundation (on average, the height of the foundation is 0.6 m, the width is 0.2 ... 0.6 m).

Photo 3. Elements of the LSTK frame

Bent LSTK profiles are represented by 4 main types of cross section, photo 4:

• U-shaped profile (channel);
• C-shaped profile;
• z-profile;
• corner.

Profile height – 100…350 mm.

Photo 4. Varieties of LSTK profiles: 1 - U-shaped (guide) thermal profile; 2 - C-shaped (rack-mount) thermal profile; 3 - hat thermal profile; 4 - U-shaped (guide) profile; 5 - C-shaped (rack-mount) profile; 6 - galvanized corner; 7 - Z-profile

Connections between building elements of LSTK are performed using:

• bolts (diameter 5…16 mm);
• self-tapping screws;
• special screws (self-drilling and self-tapping screws);
• rivets;
• powder mounting dowels;
• pneumatic mounting dowels;
• press connections;
• plates;
• hairpins.

The frame of the building from LSTK is sheathed with standard modules, photo 5:

• roof panels, photo 5a;
• Wall panels, photo 5b;
• floor panels, photo 5c.

To improve the heat and sound insulation properties of the panels, a heater is installed inside them (most often it is mineral wool).

Photo 5. Standard building modules from LSTC: a) roof panels; b) wall panels; c) floor panels

For the construction of low-rise buildings using the LSTK technology, the outer walls can be made in two versions:

• load-bearing walls from a frame including thermal profiles;
• self-supporting walls made of prefabricated sheets or panels

What is LSTK thermal panels?

Thermopanels LSTK are made to order at specialized enterprises and are designed to fill the space between the building frame and the formation of external walls. LSTK thermal panels are used in the construction of residential and office buildings, hotels, hotels, cafes, shopping centers etc. The thickness of the panels is 15…25 cm (the reduced heat transfer resistance of the wall is 3.2…5.1 m 2 °C/W).

Thermal panels are mainly composed of the following components, photo 6:

• exterior finish (may be brick, siding, wooden lining etc.);
• gypsum boards (2 layers);
• mineral non-combustible basalt insulation or glass fiber insulation in the form of plates;
• vapor barrier film;
• the supporting frame of the panel, consisting of jumpers, guides and rack-mount thermal profiles;
• internal lining - made mainly of drywall.

The peculiarity of thermal profiles lies in their design. Galvanized steel elements of the thermal profile are perforated (notched) in the form of long holes located in checkerboard pattern. With such an arrangement of the perforation, a decrease in the thermal conductivity of the steel profile is achieved (the effect of increasing the length of the heat-conducting section through which heat losses occur).

Photo 6. circuit diagram building devices based on thermal profiles. Thermal panel device: 1 - external finish; 2 - gypsum boards (2 layers); 3- mineral insulation; 4 - vapor barrier film; 5 - guide thermal profiles; 6 - rack thermal profiles; 7 - thermal profile jumper

LSTK thermal panels are manufactured at the enterprise and are installed in ready-made form directly at the construction site, photo 7.

Photo 7. Installation of LSTK thermal panels

The sequence of organization of construction according to the LSTK technology

1. Determination of the design and size of the house.
2. Execution of settlement and design work, on the basis of which project documentation, and is determined right amount construction elements of LSTK.
3. Produced: manufacturing of building elements, drilling of technological holes and marking of all elements, according to assembly drawings. The production of all elements is carried out on average in 2 ... 5 days (depending on the complexity of the design).
4. Delivery of all items to construction site disassembled or assembled main parts (panels). The set of parts that should be delivered to the construction site includes:

• profile right size, according to the drawings;
• connecting fasteners of nodes (fasteners and parts must be galvanized);
• assembly drawings.

What are the advantages of LSTK technology?

1. High construction speed. For 4 ... 5 months, you can completely build a medium-sized house.
2. Lightweight construction. A building made of LSTK structures does not exert much pressure on the foundation or underlying structures. This property is especially valuable when making add-ons from LSTK of existing buildings.
3. All-weather construction. Possibility of construction using LSTK technology in any weather all year round. In most cases, there are no “wet processes” during construction.
4. Ease of construction. For the construction of a residential building, it is enough to involve a team of installers consisting of 3 ... 4 people. The weight of one LSTC part does not exceed 100 kg. The frame of an ordinary trade pavilion with a total area of ​​200 m 2 can be assembled completely in 3 days by a team of 4 people. There is no need to use heavy lifting equipment.
5. Seismic resistance. In Japan, construction using LSTK technology has become widespread.
6. Minimum heat loss of buildings built using the LSTK technology.
7. Not difficult transportation of construction elements of LSTK.
8. High quality. All elements are manufactured at a factory or a specialized enterprise.
9. Relatively low construction cost. The cost of 1 m 2 of "turnkey" housing is approximately $400...500.
10. Structural advantages. The LSTC structure is relatively easy to dismantle and install again in the right place, at minimal cost (it is possible to erect collapsible structures). It is possible to install different facade finishes on buildings made of LSTK: brick, siding, lining, profiled sheet, etc., rice, 8b.

1. Safe build. Assembly (disassembly) of structures is carried out without the use of welding.
2. biostable material. Mold and fungus do not take root on galvanized steel.

Photo 8. Advantages of using LSTK technology for building construction

What are the disadvantages of LSTK technology?

1. The durability of the load-bearing structures of the LSTK and the building (structure) as a whole strongly depends on the quality of the production of steel profiles and the installation of the LSTK structures. In countries former USSR This technology has been used relatively recently, so the quality of materials and work does not always meet the requirements of this technology. Average durability load-bearing frames from LSTK in our conditions is 40 years (due to corrosion of the galvanized profile, the durability of LSTK is low, compared with stone, concrete and brick buildings; Lightweight steel elements are made of zinc-coated steel in two versions - up to 120 g/m 2 and more than 350 g/m 2 . In the second option, the thickness of the zinc coating reaches 25 microns, which reliably protects the steel from corrosion and ensures a higher durability of the structure).
2. The manufacture of light steel thin-walled structures is carried out only at the factory.
3. Calculation and design should be trusted to professionals, and preferably with extensive experience. Also, the installation of LSTC elements should be carried out strictly according to the drawing, since ignoring the details of the drawing can lead to disastrous consequences, photo 9.
4. For construction in the CIS countries, there are practically no LSTC design standards. When designing LSTK in Europe, they are guided by DIN and Eurocode standards.
5. Low fire resistance of the steel structures of the building frame (it is necessary to increase it by making fire-resistant protective sheathing.
6. After a fire, the load-bearing structures of the LSTK frame cannot be restored and require a complete replacement.

Photo 9

Scope of LSTK

• construction of enclosing structures in the construction of multi-storey buildings;
• construction of low-rise buildings (cottages, townhouses) and ancillary buildings (garages, sheds, utility blocks, etc.);
• construction of interfloor and attic floors;
• construction of attic floors;
• construction of warehouses, shops, garages;
• arrangement of ventilated facades;
• construction of office buildings;
• construction of prefabricated and prefabricated buildings (structures);
• execution of superstructures of existing buildings.

On the photo 10 examples of the use of LSTK construction technology are given.

Photo 10. Scope of LSTK technology

The publication was prepared by an expert

Konev Alexander Anatolievich

Building structures made of thin-walled metal profiles have a number of advantages and positive features, but, despite the large list of advantages, the LSTK technology sometimes has significant disadvantages associated with unscrupulous manufacturers. In Russia, the disadvantages of LSTC can be for several reasons.

Disadvantages of LSTK

Thin walls.

The first disadvantage can be summarized as thin wall". In our country, since the times of the USSR, people have become accustomed to quality, the characteristically high quality of manufactured products. So, there is an ambiguous opinion, which lies in the fact that LSTK structures are not strong enough and can be easily broken or damaged.

This is unsubstantiated information, which is devoid of confirmation, since when designing a structure, information is laid down with calculations of possible and critical operational loads, taking into account the climatic features of the region. Yes, individual elements (for example, a cold-formed LSTK profile) can be deformed by applying force, but, in its finished form, the LSTK design is a strong and rigid frame!

Low service life.

The second disadvantage is the service life. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage, everyone knows how modern capital structures are built, what “quality” residents have to face, therefore the disadvantage that determines the fragility of the structure also applies to all brick and concrete buildings. Is it possible to know for sure whether a house made of brick, stone and concrete will stand for 70 or 120 years? No one can answer this question with certainty. The same situation occurs in prefabricated frame construction, where the service life of a LSTK structure during professional assembly is 50-120 years or more.

Product quality discrepancy.

Basically, all the shortcomings of LSTK, which are common and known, take place exclusively in Russia. Do not trust the manufacture of a prefabricated building kit from LSTK to dubious factories and enterprises. Often, for the purpose of additional enrichment, "enterprising" owners of steel structures factories violate the quality standards of manufactured products, underestimating the real characteristics of products in pursuit of low cost. Such quality will not correspond to the declared characteristics. The standard, typical case is a decrease in the thickness of the profile and the zinc layer, which negatively affects the quality and reliability of the future structure. This shortcoming can be avoided by entrusting the design, construction and manufacture of products to trusted enterprises with a positive reputation in the LSTC services market.

Dependence of the buyer on the manufacturer.

This is the second disadvantage of LSTK, which relates to the previous, manufacturing disadvantage. If any element was produced in violation of the geometric shape or was lost in the kit important detail design, installation problems may arise. At any stage of construction, a situation may arise when the parts do not fit together or there is not enough fastener.

Electromagnetic safety of LSTK.

In the Russian Federation, unfortunately, there are still no conclusions about the electromagnetic safety of living in houses made of a light steel thin-walled frame. There is no information on possible threats to human life in the house from metal profile. This disadvantage also takes place only in our country, many enterprises that monitor the quality and their image, adopt and use international standards in the construction of prefabricated LSTK structures. LSTC structures built according to international and European standards are safe for living.

Human factor.

The construction of any structure made of light steel thin-walled profile and profiled sheet should be carried out by highly qualified professional workers. The safety of the structure depends on the level of the specialist.

Embedding furniture.

This disadvantage can be attributed to low-rise, residential buildings, where you need to equip the interior. The furniture is mounted on a solid surface (walls), so you need to think in advance about the places where the cabinet or picture, shelves or any other objects will be installed. In places where furniture will be attached, the walls of the LSTK house are additionally reinforced with transverse platforms made of boards or timber.

High level of fire hazard.

The LSTK technology has disadvantages that manifest themselves with the onset of a fire inside the building. Steel profiles under the influence of high temperatures begin to deform, lose rigidity and bend under a higher load. The design takes into account all these shortcomings, so take the time to additionally protect the structure from fire and fire with special flame retardants(impregnations).

Low bearing strength.

Many believe that the LSTK construction cannot cope with the weight load on the frame. This opinion is erroneous and cannot be attributed to shortcomings. Each project is unique, the possible permissible load and the critical load that the building can support. Another refutation of this shortcoming is the high popularity of LSTK frame construction in Japan, the land of the rising sun, where high level seismic activity.

Pros and cons of LSTK:

The construction of light steel thin-walled structures (LSTC) has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages have been verified by numerous experiments of reputable Western organizations. So, for example, Japanese scientists conducted a test that confirms the high service life of LSTC. During the experiment, the LSTC elements were placed in a highly aggressive environment sea ​​water and remained unharmed. Cons of LSTC have mixed opinions news agencies, frame construction is safe and cost effective.

Advantages of LSTC:

1. Environmental friendliness.
2. Low cost.
3. Fast construction time.
4. Easy installation.
5. High service life.
6. Seismic resistance.
7. All-weather installation.
8. No shrinkage on .
9. Excellent heat saving.
10. Detail geometry accuracy.
11. Factory quality.
12. Compact for transport.

Pluses reasonably win over all the shortcomings of LSTC. Metal frame buildings are widely demanded and popular all over the world. Trust construction and design to professionals.

Video about the LSTK house: