Lightweight steel roof trusses are making an impact on the local market, says Vela Steel Building Systems (Vela SBS) MD Brent Harris.

Vela SBS has established a lightweight steel roof truss factory in Jet Park, outside of Johannesburg.

“There are so many advantages to lightweight steel roof trusses and to light steel-framed buildings, in general, that the local building market is beginning to take serious notice,” Harris says.

The Vela SBS U-Chord truss is a cold-rolled, lightweight galvanised steel truss system that provides for high speed on-site erection through its simple fastening system.

“The simple single-bolt fastening system of our trusses enables easy on-site assembly and significantly reduced burdensome transportation costs, coupled with precision engineering, which means that there is no cutting or drilling on site – just a quick fastening of the single bolt connections,” says Harris.

He adds that the U-Chord truss can be flat-packed and assembled on site or preassembled at the factory.

The box-like profile of the trusses gives the U-Chord trusses similar properties to conventional timber trusses but with many more advan- tages.

Velas SBS claims that the galvanised steel is not prone to shrinkage, warping, rot, infestation or moisture absorption and, because the trusses are light, they are easily handled and reduce the need for on-site cranes.

The Vela U-Chord trusses enable a great deal of design flexibility. The truss is designed and engineered according to architects’ specifications and each truss is manufactured to suit the individual house or building.

“The lightweight steel trusses can be used on all types of buildings, whether they are conventional brick or block, industrial steel or timber, and Vela SBS’s professional team provides a structurally sound design for any roof from hip to gable, flat or pitched,” Harris says.

Lightweight steel roof trusses have been in South Africa for the past few years and, with timber prices on the increase, they are starting to make a major impact on the market.

In addition to the roof trusses, Vela SBS manufactures entire lightweight steel frames for housing, schools, light industrial structures and internal wall partitioning for commercial and retail develop- ments. Harris says that the response to the launch of this building technique has been overwhelming.

“While this system has been very popular for many years in countries like Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and the US, it is only now taking on in this country. Since we opened our factory, we have been inundated with calls.”

Harris says his company has benchmarked the best production practice from around the world and that the market here can expect the highest possible quality from the outset.

“Vela SBS has NHBRC approval and complies with the draft national code SANS 517 for lightweight steelframed building, developed by the Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association,” he explains.

“South Africans are waking up to the fact that lightweight steel framed building offers signifi- cant improvement in design capa- bility and site programme predictability. “The insulation reduces energy costs by keeping the building warm in winter and cool in summer. “It is also extremely quick to erect, resulting in a reduction of up to 30% in time for building as compared to more traditional methods,” Harris concludes.