ENDUROFRAME EASES GROWING PAINS FOR CHILDCARE CENTRES

The trademarked Enduroframe building system is a light gauge steel framing solution that encompasses the design, detail and manufacture of steel trusses and wall frames applicable to a range of scheme types.

One such construction is a Childcare Centre in the Melbourne suburb of Rowville; one of a number currently being rolled out across the Victorian capital by the Greenwood Early Education Centre.

Melbourne company Steer Manufacturing has produced frames for numerous similar projects using the Enduroframe building system, confirms Alexander White, frame designer, Childcare Facilities, at Steer Manufacturing.

“The project was initially detailed in timber and structural steel. The construction company we work with have been impressed with light gauge steel framing from previous childcare centres we had designed for them. They asked us as part of our price package to create the job in light gauge steel framing using structural steel only where necessary.

Earlier in the year we built a centre in Donvale that utilised light gauge and structural in a few places over doors and windows on the exterior. However, we found that by working together earlier in the process we could eliminate the structural steel altogether.”

A single storey building over a split level, the building at the Rowville site proved a suitable candidate for steel framing, says White. “We also found the depth of the roof design and use of the hallways as load bearing paths were a perfect span for the roof trusses.”

“The Rowville project contained cantilevered awnings and a multiple pitches in the roof line, for which light gauge steel framing proved a good solution.”

The use of Enduroframe at the Rowville (Vic) Children Centre, resulted in a markedly reduced contruction timeframe.

“Some of the challenges we faced were creating the cantilevered awnings that covered the entrances and exits of the building, the size of the roof trusses as some came out to over six metres high, and the removal of all the structural steel. This build only required a single beam where there was a large opening.”

The overhanging awnings also required back spanning purlin material, which on a timber building would be structural, White explains. “However, as we are able to adjust and move sections of roof trusses, I was able to create support points throughout the building that the purlin could be attached to, as it weaved through the trusses with which it intersected.”

Detailed modelling and the use of specialised software were critical to a successful outcome.

“We found that modelling the whole job early in the process allowed us to point out errors in the architectural drawings that would have created water leaking issues later. This way they were prevented.”

“Earlier in the year we built a centre in Donvale that utilised light gauge and structural in a few places over doors and windows on the exterior. However, we found that by working together earlier in the process we could eliminate the structural steel altogether.”

Alexander White – frame designer, Childcare Facilities – Steer Manufacturing.

Enduroframe Business Development Manager Warren Tharle says the use of Truecore steel is central to the system’s effectiveness. Truecore steel is consistent in quality, termite-proof, resists warping, shrinking, twisting or rotting, and non-combustible, he notes. “Backed by a warranty of up to 50 years, Truecore steel is 100% recyclable.”

“Truecore steel structures are shaped by our state-of-the-art Endurocadd software,” he adds. “Endurocadd is built on data gathered from full-scale testing of connections wall, floor, and roof framing in a NATA accredited laboratory. This extensive testing, combined with over 20 years of operational use, makes for an efficient design both in terms of engineering and material usage.”

“Despite this back-end sophistication, Endurocadd also provides an extremely user-friendly front-end experience that makes it easy for builders to design engaging child care centre layouts that can be transported as stacks and erected onsite in a flash.”

“Simply choosing to build with Truecore steel puts a child care centre ahead. Health and safety concerns may be alleviated because no pesticides are required to prevent termite damage to the building structure, while the strong yet flexible design options afforded by the Enduroframe system mean that creating modern, efficient, open plan learning environments is simple.”

Steer Manufacturing owner Simon Steer concludes that Enduroframe has opened up untold opportunities for the company. “We complete a lot of commercial jobs that have tight deadlines. Using the Enduroframe system and prefabrication we can construct an entire building in 12-15 weeks, and this sheer speed dramatically reduces the chance of anything going wrong.” ■