The strength of steel... for your home

Perth: 17-23 Hoskins Rd, LandsdaleT: (08) 9309 1303E: sales@cmiwa.com.auBusselton: 22 Cook Street, BusseltonT: (08) 9754 3884E: busselton@cmiwa.com.auGeraldton: 2a Larkin Street, WonthellaT: (08) 9921 1399E: geraldton@cmiwa.com.au

Steel Frame...the strength of steel for your home

Steel Frame.

Steel Frame BuildingCommon Myths and Misconceptions

Steel frame building is a fully tried and tested product.It is fully engineered and has been used extensivelyin both residential and commercial applications formany years. Below are some of the popular mythsand misconceptions that exist around the use of steelframe construction.

Myth 1: Steel frames are noisier than other studframes

Studies conducted by CSIRO found that ‘mostoccupants of homes with steel frames either reportedno sound emitted from the frame or said that if itdid, it was not a problem’. Some even commentedon lower noise levels than timber framed houses. Ourstructurally engineered steel framing system will notrot, warp, twist, bow, shrink, split or settle. In fact,plaster or cornice cracking will be minimised, becausesteel doesn’t change state during its lifespan.

Myth 2: Steel is more prone to lightning strikes,making it dangerous to live in.

Steel is a positive conductor to the earth, with theenergy conducted straight into the ground and notreleased destructively within the frame as inconventional framing or cladding.

Myth 3: Steel frames will rust over time.

CMI uses BlueScope Truecore, which is protectedagainst corrosion by a hot-dipped metallic coating ofa zincaluminium-magnesium alloy. Truecore comeswith a conditional 50-year warranty. In externalapplications such as roofing where these products areexposed to the elements, they have excellent durability,while in less exposed applications, such as inside thebuilding envelope, weathering is very minimal andvery slow. Where there are cut edges, the galvanicaction or sacrificial protection of the coating, protectsthe exposed steel edge against corrosion.

Myth 4: Steel contracts and expands withtemperature changes.

Thermally induced movement is not an issue inproperly constructed and insulated homes. Everythingexpands and contracts with heat and cold; however,steel products have a far closer rate of expansion thanwood and plasterboard, virtually eliminating plastercracks. Additionally, steel is not susceptible to moisture,unlike wood, which swells and contracts on exposure.Steel is the preferred framing material in the extremeclimate of North-West Western Australia, for example,where temperatures can vary more than 40 degreesCelsius in a single 24-hour period, along with humidity.

Myth 5: Light gauge steel frame can’t be safewhen exposed to a live electric wire.

LGS frames are safe because they are earthed. All newhouses are required by legislation to be fitted withcircuit breaking safety devices, in order to reduce thechances of the occupants touching anything live. Inthe event a wire makes contact with a steel frame, itinstantly trips the residual current device. Conversely,a damaged or pierced wire in a timber frame canremain live and leak current, causing problematicfaults and creating a significant fire risk.

Myth 6: A steel frame can interfere with radioand television reception.

Electro-magnetic waves can diffract around steel justas easily as timber. Waves pass through the spacesbetween the studs, allowing the use of all householdappliances without any interference.

Myth 7: A steel frame interferes with Wi-Fi andmobile reception.

Steel frame construction is widely used and has hadno reports of interference with Wi-Fi and telephonesignals in buildings featuring steel framing systems.

Steel Frame Building Steel Frame BuildingSteel Frame...the strength of steel for your home

Design Manufacture

CMI has been manufacturing steel building products forover thirty years, and we’re known for our quality assuranceand design process. Not only will CMI manufacture andsupply the steel frames for your new home or development,all of our products come fully designed and engineered foroptimum strength, precision and a brisk, trouble-free build.

CMI’s steel frames are fully manufactured and assembledat our Landsdale plant, exclusively using BlueScope’sTrueCore steel, before being delivered directly to your site.Our fleet of trucks all feature Hiab for efficient lift-off andplacement onsite.

CMI has fully trained trades who know our product well andcan install it for you. Or if you prefer, our steel frames comeready marked and coded to ensure efficient installation anda reliably precise result, should your own trades completethe install. The combination of these factors means that yourproject will be finished on schedule, on budget and withoptimal results.

With over thirty years of extensive industry experience as amarket leader in Western Australia, CMI knows how tp applysteel effectively, and in doing so, improve almost any buildingscenario you may face.

Installation

Whether you are creating an innovative architecturaldesign, or a more traditional style of home is yourpreference, steel framing is the future of homebuilding; and it’s here now.

Steel frames are perfectly straight, they don’t sag,twist, warp, bow, split, burn or shrink. Thepre-fabrication process allows you to build in a moreefficient way, and significantly decrease time spenton site. If you’re vigilant about both improvingenergy efficiency ratings, and achieving BAL (BushfireAttack Level) compliance in a very cost-effectivemanner, CMI’s steel frame systems are the answer.• CMI offers a complete solution. Design > Detail

> Engineer > Manufacture > Install!

• Services including air conditioning, extraction fansfor kitchens and bathrooms, provisions for bath hobs, rain forest showers etc. can all be easily catered for and optimised during the design process

• Steel frames are termite proof and don’t requireany additional, harsh chemical treatments, unlikeother antiquated products on the market

• WA is behind the times; steel framed homes havebeen the standard in the eastern states for decades

• Steel production offers price stability and consistent quality

• Highly suitable for cyclonic regions

• Pre-punched fixing points and service holes

• Offers a huge amount of architectural flexibility

• Perfect for small and skinny blocks

• Suitable for zero lot and boundary walls

• Best choice for fire prone areas

• Fully recyclable products

• Durable and long-lasting

• BlueScope Truecore 50 Year Warranty

“ ...they don’t sag, twist,warp, bow, split, burn or

shrink.”

Using steel frames, CMI will help to create yourideal home