e are a few things you may notice: first, the number of pieces is precise – there is no wastage. You get what you need, no more, no less.
Second, there are instructions.
Third, there are labelled bags for each part of the process.
Now imagine if you could construct buildings like this. Well, you can, using steel-framed buildings produced by FrameTech Systems in Estevan.
The company is owned and operated by Brad Wilhelm. It started operations in September 2014, and is located right in the centre of the Energy City.
“We get an architectural drawing and convert the whole building to steel,” Wilhelm said. Their software will design individual rafters, studs and joist. They just have to click “run” and send it to the machines to be produced. As an example, he pulled up drawings of a three story house destined for Edmonton. The custom built home would have an elevator and grassed terrace on the roof.
Residential, multi-residential as well as light-commercial projects are a few of the applications that steel framing can be used for.
FrameTech’s precision roll-forming machines will take flat steel and form it into studs. Each stud is pre-cut and pre-dimpled for easy assembly. Service holes will be punched where necessary.
The result is something that Wilhelm says, if not like Lego, “Is more like a Meccano set.”
“Every stud is labelled for where it belongs in the wall system,” Wilhelm said. This labelling corresponds with the construction assembly drawings.
As for wastage, he noted there’s less than one per cent waste. A stick-built wooden framed building can have up to 20 per cent waste.
Also, Wilhelm has noticed a decline in the quality of wood available over the last ten years. “We came from wood-building backgrounds. You pay a worker all day to sort lumber, which is not very cost-effective.
“Steel is 30 per cent stronger and lighter than wood. It’s 100 per cent recyclable, non-combustible, it will not split, rot, crack. Steel is naturally mould and pest resistant,” he said.
The steel used is galvanized and has a G90 coating. To prove the point of its resilience, FrameTech assembled a small shack and put it on the corner of their property, leaving it exposed to the elements to show it won’t rust.
Rapid assembly takes place at their Estevan location where they will assemble walls, rafters and floor joists. Every stud is predrilled to make assembly fast and simple. “You just line up the holes and screw the studs together,” he said.
There are holes for running electrical or water lines. Grommets are used to prevent any wear against the edge of the holes. Regular wire can be used, as BX shielded wire is not required. The open web of the floor joist truss design allows for drain pipes to easily pass through.
“Ninety per cent of the buildings we send out are pre-assembled. Then we can go to the site and erect it,” he said.
FrameTech’s own staff or authorized builders do the framing. Wilhelm said it’s 30 per cent faster than stick-built framing with wood. He added he’s seen it done even faster than that. “We can manufacture a 1,600 square foot bungalow in a day in the shop.”
The whole system is engineered. A sub-contracted engineer looks over plans for structures over a certain size. Certain clients, like power utilities and the oilfield prefer having an engineer-stamped project. Additionally, the software will tell you down to the screw if it will pass or fail. Utilizing the FrameTech System can reduce labour costs on an entire project up to 15 per cent, Wilhelm said.
This system of framing also makes it easier for following subtrades, he added. Plumbers, electricians, drywallers, cabinet and finishing carpenter’s times are reduced because of the system’s accuracy and detailed engineering.
FrameTech is a sister-company to Wilhelm’s other venture, Estevan Eaves & Exteriors. The metal-working tools and workers’ skillsets have a lot of overlap.
FrameTech Systems not only services Estevan and area, but they provide their steel framing to Western Canada and the northern United States.
There are other metal framing systems, but they generally are simply another method of stick-built construction, substituting standard sized wood studs for steel stud, resulting in dumpsters full of off-cuts. FrameTech Systems unique technology is one of a kind so far in Canada, according to Wilhelm.
In the oilfield, this system has applications in treater shacks, MCC buildings and jobsite trailers as just some examples.
“Using this construction method, fire rated buildings are easily achieved along with design flexibility,” he said.
As an added bonus, FrameTech’s steel framing system can help protect the environment, preserve our land and benefit our ecosystem, he added.
