Luxury Six Bedroom Self Build Home Showcases New iFrameTM Timber Frame Construction Method
Traditional timber frame construction is a linear process, starting with design and ending with the finished structure, which means that if one part of this process goes wrong, the end result is not as expected. For example, if a timber frame structure is delivered to site and there is even the smallest discrepancy between the sizing of the frame and the building measurements on site, then the frame must be re-made. Also, timber frame panels generally fill up a vehicle quickly due to the open frame nature of the panels. This often results in multiple deliveries in order to complete the building.
To address these issues, an easier and more cost-effective means of timber frame construction as an alternative to brick and block has been developed by Code 4 Timber Frame Ltd in partnership with Masonite Beams AB. Code 4 Timber Frame had previously used engineered timber I-Joists as wall studs and believed this could hold the key to a new building method. 'iFrame' is the small panel solution.
‘iFrame™’ takes Masonite manufactured engineered timber studs and uses them as storey height panels. These specialist panels, along with the integrating service panels made specifically for the system, are delivered to site as components. They are assembled with their web members in the same plane as the run of the wall elevation, thereby forming the desired wall in situ.
The patent pending action of the secondary vertical/horizontal service panels which overlap the insulated spaces between each storey height panel provides an adjustable yet very robust timber wall assembly. This panellised wall elevation assembly allows for greater design flexibility because openings for windows and doors can be established or re-positioned during the build process.
Unlike traditional timber frame, no expensive crane is required due to the light weight of the panels, and the wall components are simply offloaded from a delivery vehicle using a fork-lift, making them extremely easy to handle. Keeping delivery costs down and reducing the carbon footprint of the builder, components for the whole timber wall assembly can generally be loaded onto one vehicle, even for large build projects.
Multiple leaf wall assembly includes layers of identical depth insulation in sets of standard widths and depths. The reversal of one leaf profile in relation to its adjacent leaf is a key feature to this achievement and to the reduction in tolerances in the fitting of insulation.
A secondary internal panel assembly includes upper and lower horizontal service/bridging panels with vertical service/bridging panels in between. This provides adjustable wall elevations which have improved racking performance, isolation of services in relation to the vapour control layer and superior fixing grounds and service routes. U Values for iFrameTM range from 0.23W/m2K down to 0.13W/m2K. The double leaf construction is capable of achieving U Values to Code for Sustainable Homes levels 5 and 6.
For a big, self build six bedroom house in Surrey, Code 4 Timber Frame used iFrameTM recently to complete the structural fabric and internal partitions of the building in three weeks with insulation being installed along the way. This construction process is as speedy as that of traditional timber frame. Commenting on the process, Mr Pat Marshall, owner of the house said:
“I discovered iFrameTM at the National Home Building and Renovating show. It has meant a fast construction with low U values – it's great!”
Fred Philips, Building Consultant with Massingdale & Philips, who co-designed the house with Pat Marshall added:
“This is an advanced and sustainable building solution which saves the builder time and expense and helps to avoid many of the problems associated with conventional construction. It is a flexible construction method, allowing easy increases in wall thickness to suit U value requirements.”
Using Masonite engineered timber products as part of iFrameTM means that a well accepted, recognised material has been used which has good environmental credentials and is stronger and more stable than traditional timber. Had the latter been used, Code 4 Timber Frame would have needed to use a jig, whereas Masonite engineered timber I-Joists only required the use of a simple cross cut saw on-site.
