enduroframe

09/05/2023 by enduroframe

Case Study: Bonnie Doon project by Border Steel Framing

Case Study:
Bonnie Doon project by Border Steel Framing

When building in a visually pleasing setting, the design should complement the location. The client excelled here, incorporating cathedral ceilings running in two directions, with large window and door openings to capitalise on the views.

Accurate detailing was the key here to ensure a perfect and fast fit on site. The team at Border Steel Framing in Cobram, Victoria, took this in their stride using the efficient ENDUROCADD® software to make the model then fabricating the frames and delivering on time. Erection was straight forward, assisted by the accompanying comprehensive site installation documentation.

Pricing needed to be competitive with other framing systems and materials, which is a given as the ENDUROFRAME® Building System uses a lot of tested engineering values which are more accurate than systems relying on calculation, reducing the amount of steel that goes into the job.

The project is now finished providing peace of mind that the steel frame is highly durable with the added bonus that termites cannot eat the frame and the frames will not burn.

For further enquiries on this project or to find out how Border Steel Framing can help you with yours, please contact Wendy on (03) 5871 2122, Option 3 for the steel department, or visit the website at https://oasishomes.com.au/border-steel-framing/

Border Steel Framing
Phone: (03) 5871 2122, Option 3
Email: [email protected]

20/02/2023 by enduroframe

Evident Constructions: New ENDUROFRAME® Building System licensee on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland

Evident Constructions are proud manufacturers of the ENDUROFRAME® building system, supplying quality, competitively priced lightweight steel frames on the Sunshine Coast.

With over 25 years in the construction industry, the family owned and operated company has cemented themselves as experts in the installation of steel frames in both residential and commercial projects.

To further control the whole process and ensure the highest quality frames and reliable delivery times, Evident have now taken the next logical step to manufacture their own frames from their new facility.

Throughout the years, Evident constructions have gained a reputation for quality installs, going above and beyond in their attention to detail, professional yet approachable attitude, and a genuine willingness to work hard to exceed expectations.

Directors Jamie and Jennifer are very hands on with each project, and will listen and understand your requirements, provide practical advice, deliver regular communication, and personally oversee the build from first contact through to the completed installation.

Their crew is comprised of experienced fabricators and talented carpenters that are ready to make and erect your project on time and on budget. No job too big or small, Evident constructions supply and install servicing Sunshine Coast, Gympie, and North Brisbane.

Don’t hesitate to make contact to understand how Evident Constructions can help you with your next project.

Evident Constructions
Phone: 0411 921 760
Email: [email protected]

13/10/2022 by enduroframe Leave a Comment

Next Generation of ENDUROCADD® Steel Frame Software Released

Efficient Light Gauge Steel Frame Design Software

A core component of the ENDUROFRAME® Building System is the ENDUROCADD® steel frame software package to design light gauge steel frames. The ENDUROCADD® software package works seamlessly with ENDURO® rollformers to make roof trusses, wall frames, and floor joists. It complies with the applicable Australian standards for the design of light gauge steel frames. Also, it even self-certifies frames in accordance with the ABCB Protocol for Structural Software.

The ENDUROCADD® software designs light gauge steel frames for use in residential, light commercial, modular, and even industrial buildings. It provides structural calculations on roof trusses, floor trusses, connections and wall bracing. The ENDUROCADD® software prepares drawings for the fabrication and installation of frames, and even provides detailed costings.

From November 2021, the ENDUROCADD® software incorporates a powerful CAD engine developed by the Intellicad Technology Consortium. This provides full 3D visualisation of the light gauge steel model, and produces detailed site drawings to show how to install the ENDUROFRAME® system. This new CAD engine will be progressively expanded to provide even more functionality over the next few months.

Find out more about the ENDUROCADD® software package at https://enduroframe.com/endurocadd_software/.

An ENDUROCADD software license provides you with a one year annual subscription which includes access to the software application, extensive online design manuals, a comprehenisve library of construction details, and our online training system, Endurocademy.

Click here to purchase an ENDUROCADD® software license.

17/08/2022 by enduroframe

Curved Walls using the ENDUROFRAME System

ENDUROFRAME®️ System Curved Walls

Innovation Steel Frames and Trusses is a Wodonga-based company that has successfully provided high-quality wall frames for a recent job in Northern Victoria. The company has utilized its state-of-the-art ENDUROFRAME® system that is built to deliver immense flexibility while also meeting the ever-evolving needs of the construction industry.
One of the system’s most significant advantages is the increased number of punches in the ENDURO®️ rollformers which enables innovation in the design of walls. The system can produce short sections in the top and bottom plates and noggings to form curved walls, meeting complex customer requirements with ease.
Innovative Steel Frames and Trusses is a company that prides itself on providing a range of steel frame solutions for diverse construction projects. For more information on the company and their range of services, please visit their website at https://innosteelframe.com.au.

10/08/2021 by enduroframe

How sophisticated testing leads to cost-effective steel trusses

How sophisticated testing and engineering leads to cost-effective light gauge steel trusses

A common misconception is that all light gauge steel roof trusses spanning the same distance and with the same loads use the same amount of steel. This is not true. Smart research and development in trusses and sophisticated software can provide reductions in steel usage of up to 50% compared to less efficient light gauge steel trusses.

The ENDUROCADD® design software has been developed over 20 years as a design tool for the ENDUROTRUSS® system, a key component of the ENDUROFRAME® building system. Over this period the system has responded to changes in building construction, design standards and regulatory requirements.

The foundation of this success is a commitment to extensive testing of truss connections and entire roof truss assemblies at our state-of-the-art NATA-accredited laboratory in western Sydney. All truss connections are tested in compliance with AS4600: Cold formed steel structures. Once the results have been verified the data is fed into our ENDUROCADD® software to provide efficient steel truss designs.

Putting our testing to the test

We are so confident in our testing that a decade ago we put forward the ENDUROCADD® software to be used as a test case for the drafting of the ABCB Protocol for Structural Software. This was a huge deal for our customers because under this Protocol, trained software users of compliant software applications are permitted to design and sign-off buildings that fall within the Protocol scope. Compliance with the ABCB Protocol for Structural Software means expensive and time-consuming engineering approvals can be avoided

The ABCB Protocol for Structural Software requires independent verification from a third party to ensure that software calculations comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and Australian design standards. Swinburne University provides independently checks that the ENDUROCADD® software complies with the Protocol.

Working with the benefits of extensive testing

When you use the ENDUROCADD® software, you are presented with intuitive truss design functions that test every load case defined in the loading standards. The ENDUROCADD® software runs design and analysis for all members and connections which, in a typical truss, will be 112 load cases. This ensures that all required load conditions are considered and provides confidence that trusses are structurally sound.

When your job is complete, you can view detailed connection drawings that show required screw types and their installation locations. Even better, when truss components are produced the number of screws required at each chord-to-web and chord-to-chord connection is inkjet marked on the parts. This avoids any confusion during assembly.

There are many connection options which include multiples of screws and different types of gusset plates to vary the connection capacity. As there are about 2000 different connections, a summary sheet of the connections required for a specific job are generated for easy truss assembly.

We believe the number of truss connections is the most of any light gauge steel framing system. This reduces the chance that connections are the determining factor in the truss strength and performance. In turn, this increases the cost effectiveness of the truss system. It is always cheaper to increase the capacity of a connection with a few screws than it is to increase the gauge of steel used in the entire roof truss.

Boxing Saving Costs

Boxing is another way the ENDUROCADD® software helps you reinforce truss chords and webs just where additional strength is required without increasing the overall truss gauge. Boxing is inserted on the reverse side of the truss to the webs and is precisely positioned where required to resist loads. In the diagram above, the darker section demonstrates the sections of truss chords that are boxed. In many cases chord boxing does not need to extend along the entire length of the chord. The boxing part is manufactured together with the truss and, unlike in-plane trusses, the boxing can extend across multiple sections of chords and webs. Pre-punched holes assist with the location of boxing on truss chords.

We’ve created a set of posters showing the assembly details for roof trusses. Sticking these up in your factory is a great way to keep everyone on the same page. See ENDUROTRUSS® fabrication posters.

Find out more about how the ENDUROFRAME® system reduces truss costs here.

For drawings and photographs that clarify truss construction, please read the ENDUROTRUSS® installation manual. See ENDUROTRUSS® Roofing System Installation manual.

10/08/2021 by enduroframe Leave a Comment

Looking To Reduce Your Steel Truss Costs? Here’s How.

Five ways to check whether your steel truss system is costing you too much

Light gauge steel trusses can be created using a wide variety of proprietary systems and a common assumption is that all the trusses created using these systems cost the same. This is rarely the case. In fact, trusses designed with less-efficient systems can cost up to twice the amount of trusses designed with more efficient systems.

The cost of a truss is determined by the following variables:

steel cost (including the amount of steel and the unit cost of the steel)
cost of the connections used in the truss
labour costs to design, manufacture, assemble and install the trusses.

However, since truss systems use different truss profiles and connections (which may be screws, bolts, rivets, or sometimes even proprietary methods), it can be difficult to determine whether the trusses designed using your system are costing too much. Here are five things to check for to see if your truss system is costing you too much.

Number 1: Do the steel trusses have a high web density?

Web density is the number of webs that need to be put into a truss to make it structurally sound. Weaker truss systems require more webs to strengthen the truss, and more webs means more steel, more connections and more labour to assemble the trusses. The web density can be affected by the strength of the sections used in the truss webs and chords, whether the chords are used in their strong or weak axis and the strength of the connections used in the truss. Depending on the truss span, a truss that has twice the web density as another truss in a 22.5 degree roof will require approximately 30% more steel.

Number 2: Do the steel trusses use a thick gauge of steel?

Standard gauges of steel used in trusses are 0.55 mm, 0.75 mm, 1.0 mm or even thicker. There are many factors that can drive the gauge of steel used in trusses. A thicker gauge of steel may be required either because a section of the truss or even a single connection fails.

As intermediate gauges of steel are not readily available, an increase from 0.75mm to 1.0mm means 33% more steel is required when keeping the same web patterns.

The factors mentioned above that drive web density can also determine the gauge of steel required. Even using one gauge of steel in the chords and another in the webs can make a large difference.

Number 3: Do the steel trusses support multiple connection options?

Different light gauge steel truss systems use different types of connections. Connections can be screws, bolts or even specialist rivets, and may also include stiffening gusset plates. It is important to easily and cost-effectively scale connections with loads. The truss system should have cheap connection methods for connections with small loads, but also options for much stronger connections where the the load is higher.

You can find out more about how testing reduces truss costs here.

Having only one type of connection (e.g. two screws or a bolt per connection) can be problematic. If the load is very light, an over-designed connection can increase the cost of the truss. Conversely, not having higher capacity connection options can mean trusses fail due to single connections that are just not strong enough. This scenario may mean that thicker gauge chords and/or webs are required to get the truss to pass.

In this example, you can see multiple engineered connections being used on this truss.

Number 4: Can saddle trusses on girders be easily replaced with trusses following the roof shape?

Where roofs are not rectangular and valleys are required, there are two main ways to construct the roof:

a girder truss with a second layer of saddle trusses sitting on top of the girder truss (it may also include a layer or rafters to support the saddle)
roof trusses that follow the shape of the roof.

Using saddle trusses on girder trusses doubles-up the amount of material (in the main trusses and the saddle trusses and any additional rafters). This also increases installation time because installers need to lay out both the main trusses and the saddle trusses.

Trusses that follow the roof shape have a more complex shape, but they use much less material. Additionally, installation time is lower because only the main roof trusses need to be laid out. Unlike timber trusses, which may require extensive jig setups to achieve complex truss shapes, light gauge steel trusses are self-jigging through the alignment of chords and webs with pre-punched locating holes.

Example of roof with saddle trusses

ENDUROCADD Basics – Saddle trusses by enduroframe on Sketchfab

Example of roof with trusses that follow the roof line

Modified peak trusses by enduroframe on Sketchfab

Number 5: Is truss pre-cambering supported?

Roof trusses need to withstand a variety of loads. One of the largest loads that a roof truss needs to withstand are loads from the roofing (in particular, tile roofing) and other equipment that may be incorporated in the roof. These loads do not vary over time and are referred to as ‘dead’ loads. When dead loads are applied to trusses they cause the truss to deflect. This means the truss must be designed to be stiff enough to not only deflect within allowable limits for dead loads, but also other loads as well.

Truss A below shows what a standard A truss looks like deflecting under dead load.

Pre-cambering roof trusses is done by calculating the amount the truss deflects under dead loads and then shortening the truss webs so the bottom chord is cambered upwards – ‘pre-cambered’ – when it is manufactured. Truss B shows what a pre-cambered standard A truss looks like before any loads are applied. Truss C shows what a pre-cambered truss looks like after dead loads have been applied.

While it can be complicated to calculate, pre-cambering trusses is a relatively simple and cost-effective feature to incorporate into light gauge steel trusses which self-jig the truss shape.

Find out more about building the ENDUROTRUSS® system at https://enduroframe.com/building/. You can find out how to minimise the cost of roof trusses at this link.