Engineered
floor systems 
iLevel™ Trus Joist® and Frame Wise face high-rise challenge
A new seven-storey timber frame residential
development in the heart of Swindon town centre is nearing
completion despite four developers deciding the site was not
feasible for development using traditional brick and block.
The development, which utilises iLevel™ Trus Joist® engineered
floors, is surrounded by existing high-rise buildings. The acute
lack of site access, especially to the south elevation meant no
scaffolding could be erected. This led to timber frame
contractors, Frame Wise Ltd, based on the Welsh borders in
Presteigne, constructing fully finished panels, including
render, brickwork and windows, two metres inside the building
line of each floor, before lifting them into position.
To overcome the problem of storage space on the former petrol
station site, Frame Wise operated a ‘just in time’ construction
schedule, making up to five deliveries a week to site, with each
one craned immediately into position.
Nearly, 6,700 linear metres of TJI® joists in varying sizes were
used for the project, supplied to Frame Wise by the Gloucester
branch of iLevel™ Service Partner, Howarth Timber Engineering.
To meet the disproportionate collapse requirements of the
current Building Regulations, over 80m3 of Parallam® PSL was
installed around the perimeter of each floor to support its load
should a wall panel be removed.
Commenting on the use of timber frame Richard James, contracts
director for Frame Wise said: “With limited site access and
storage, the project has been challenging. Nevertheless, timber
frame offered the only real solution for the developer.
Traditional alternatives would have required the space for
access to be increased, which in turn would have reduced the
overall size of the building, making the project less
economically viable.”
The development by Contract House Builders Ltd comprises 61
one-bedroom apartments, close to the town’s railway station. It
has been built on a 350mm thick concrete podium slab, under
which there are 30 car parking spaces.
Each floor took approximately two weeks to construct. “By using
timber frame we were able to work through the worst of this
winter’s weather including snow that would have brought a normal
concrete build to a standstill,” said Paul Philips, site manager
for Contract House Builders. “What has been a 14 week structural
build would have turned into more like 28 weeks.”
Besides reducing construction time compared to brick and block
building methods, timber frame construction virtually eliminates
snagging and maintenance costs due to ‘dry’ building methods. In
addition, this approach increases thermal efficiency and sound
installation as well as lowering dead loads and subsequently
foundation costs.
Email: jeff@edsonevers.com