The benefits of offsite steel frame manufacturing have greatly improved the speed, the cost and accuracy of construction, but there’s still a customer preference for concrete frame construction. Well it’s now possible to have the best of both!
Introducing LTCM “Load Transfer Construction Method”. A genuinely innovative new construction system.
LTCM combines the speed, accuracy and cost benefits of offsite steel frame manufacturing with the structural performance of concrete frame construction. This entire construction system, of wall, ceiling and slab frames are CAD designed after consultation with the architect and structural engineer.
By spending time early in the design process ‘modelling’ with the LTCM team issues can be addressed that wouldn’t normally be discovered until it’s too late ie during construction. The material time and cost savings the LTCM system achieves, enables me to design a better looking building, produce a lower priced finished product and make currently unviable projects viable.
Once the wall frames are installed, which includes the formwork for the concrete columns, the steel decking is fitted in readiness to pour the next level of suspended slab and columns. Each level of suspended slab formwork completes the floor assembly, ‘locking’ in the structural integrity, until the designated weight above triggers the shear bolts and transfers the load bearing to the concrete structure below. Installation of wall frames on each new level can commence immediately, upon setting of the slab.
The steel frames are load bearing during construction, eliminating the lost curing time required with current concrete systems, allowing for rapid construction. The structural load is gradually transferred from the steel frames to the concrete columns during construction, resulting in a traditional ‘Class A’ concrete frame building, and of course there is the 50 year guarantee on the TrueCore steel from Bluescope.
The cost savings are numerous, including a smaller crane, less cost in foundations, cheaper steel wall frames, less concrete used, less on-site labor required and of course, a substantially shorter construction time.
This is an exciting new complete construction method!
For more information go directly to their website ltcm.com.au
