Archidrafting Building Design

Steel Framing is termite and fire proof
General Opinion
- Don't be fooled by this statement
- Steel framed houses are still susceptible to TERMITE ATTACK and there is still the need for the regulated termite barriers & treatments in accordance with Building Code of Australia and the need for routine inspections to be carried out as termites destroy more than just the frame component in a building.
- You should be aware that the building frame of a home can act as a thermal bridge, particularly in cold weather, transferring heat and allowing it to bypass otherwise effective insulation.
- Generally the higher the conductivity of a material the more heat or cold it will conduct.
- Timber is a renewable resource and a fairly good thermal barrier. (ask someone who lives in a log home in Canada or a Swiss Alps chalet)
- Metal framing is a particular issue because of its high conductivity. (timber is a higher valued insulator) The presence of the frame reduces the overall insulation value, as the frame can constitute up to 15 percent of the wall, ceiling or floor surface.
- While this can be overcome with additional frame insulating it will probably add to your overall costs & the embodied energy required to produce the steel is greater than timber which is a managed renewable source