No. 37 December 2012STEEL CONSTRUCTIONTODAY & TOMORROW

http://www.jisf.or.jp/en/activity/sctt/index.html【 s u - m u 】“住む (su-mu)” in Japanese, or “live” in English
After choosing a house and its location, people live there; Living

Steel structures are increasingly being used as houses,
station buildings and other structures common to our daily life.

In this issue.....
Advanced Construction Project1 Conservation and Restoration of Tokyo Station Building

Special Feature: Prefabricated Steel-frame Housing
2 Development of Prefabricated Steel-frame Housing in Japan
4 Prefabricated Steel-frame Housing in Japan• Development of Prefabricated Steel-frame House Technologies• Overseas Operations of Japanese Prefabricated Homebuilders

Published Jointly by

The Japan Iron and Steel Federation
Japanese Society of Steel Construction

14 Steel-frame House Employing
Light-gauge Steel Shape

Steel Application Technology
16 Basic Details about Welding and
Welding Control

19 Steel Construction in Thailand

Advanced Construction Project

Conservation and Restoration ofTokyo Station Building
by Atsushi Hayashi, Manager, Structural Engineering Center, Construction Dept.,
East Japan Railway Company; and Katsuhiko Osako, Deputy Director, Design Div.,JR East Design Corporation

Located in Marunouchi at the center ofTokyo, the Tokyo Station Building is familiarly known as the “Red-brick Station
Building” in Japan. Designed by Kingo Tatsuno, the father of modern architecture in
Japan, the building opened in 1914. Whiledamage to its roof and exterior walls causedby air raids during the Second World War
led to the building being lowered from its
original three-story construction to two stories, the station has long served as Tokyo’s
main railway station and is representative ofJapanese buildings erected in the Taisho andShowa Eras (together spanning most of the20th century). (Photos 1 and 2)
With this background, the Tokyo Station
Building was designated as an Important
Cultural Property of Japan in 2003. In 2007,
a project was begun to conserve as much of
the existing station building as possible
while restoring it to its original appearance.
The project was successfully completed in
October 2012.
History and Structure ofTokyo Station Building● Appearance of Original Building

Facing the Imperial Palace, the Tokyo Station Building is a long structure with a total
length of 335 m. As it originally stood, thebuilding had three stories above ground and
one that was partially underground; it also
had a one-story annex building at its rear(station platform side). The total floor area
was 10,500 m2.

Photo 2 Damage by air raids

Frodingham Iron & Steel of
the U.K.
Manufacture and assemblyof the steel frames started in
September 1909, and installation of all the steel-frame
members was finished in
September 1911 (Photo 3).
On-site surveys of theTokyo Station Building conducted in 1988 found localized structural deteriorationand various structural concerns, but indicated that thebuilding had been kept ingood condition as a steelframe/masonry structure even
75 years after construction.

● Steel-frame Building Structure

The framing structure, shown in Fig. 1, wasadopted for construction of the station building. Ten-inch I-beams were adopted formost of the columns.
The steel frames used for each structural
section weighed a total of 3,135 tons. The
adopted building plan called for the use ofas many domestically produced steel products as possible. The steel products suppliedby overseas producers were used for the columns and joining members that would getmuch usage, and those produced at the government-run Yawata Steel Works in Japan
were used for all the other structural members. Domestic steel products accounted for
56% of all the steel products used, and theforeign steel products for 44%. The major
suppliers of foreign steel products were
Carnegie Steel Company of the U.S. andFig. 1 Wall Framing1)

3rd floor

2nd floor

1st floor

Undergroundfloor

Photo 1 Appearance of Tokyo Station Building in the days of initial construction (1914)
1 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow December 2012Restoration of the Historical Station
Building

The primary objective of the restoration work
was to provide sufficient seismic resistance.
The restoration design was made so that, evenin the event of the largest predictable class ofearthquake, cracking in the brick walls would
be allowed but the building itself would be
used without the need of any large-scale repair
work.
Extensive examination of seismic resistance showed the following results: with adoption of the base-isolation method, almost no
seismic reinforcement would be required. On
the other hand, if conventional seismic reinforcing methods were employed, about half of
the interior walls would need reinforcement.
Consequently, it was decided to adopt thebase-isolation method in view of the projected
improvements to structural safety, application
freedom and conservation accuracy. (Photo 4)

Photo 3 Installation of steel frames2)

Renewed Historical Building

Conservation and restoration of the historicalTokyo Station Building was successfully finished by adding a base-isolation structure, an
example of contemporary technology, to theoriginal steel-frame/masonry structure that
was an example of one of the most advanced
architectural technologies available in Japan at
the earliest stage of the Japanese adoption ofEuropean-style modern architecture. The
Tokyo Station Building (Marunouchi side)
saw its grand opening on October 1, 2012, reproducing its 1914 appearance at the initialstage of construction (Photo 5).
■

Photo 4 Advanced base-isolation systems (base-isolation laminated rubber andoil damper) were adopted for securing sufficient seismic resistance ofthe renewed Tokyo Station Building.

References

1) H. Kanai: Report on Construction ofTokyo Railway Station, Journal of Japan
Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. 1, No. 1,
19152) Tokyo Station Improvement Office, Japanese Government Railways: Commemoration Photo Album, 1914
3) Photos 1, 2 and 4: Owned by East Japan
Railway Company

Photo 5 Image of appearance upon completion (2012)

December 2012 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 2

Special Feature: Prefabricated Steel-frame House

Development of PrefabricatedSteel-frame Housing in Japanby Shuichi Matsumura
Professor, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Studies of the total floor space of new building construction starts in Japan show that although wooden structures have long accounted for the largest share, in the recent economic
bubble period, steel-frame structures havesuddenly captured the top spot. I believe thatamidst the worldwide construction market, it
is only in Japan that steel-frame structurescomprise the largest share of total nationalbuilding construction, outstripping both RC
and wooden structures. It can be said thatJapan is uniquely a “great country for steelframe structures.”
When considering structures that are representative of steel buildings in Japan, somepeople call to mind high-rise office buildingssuch as the Kasumigaseki Building, Japan’s
first full-scale high-rise building completed in1967. Still others suggest the ubiquitous, medium-rise buildings that are constructed by attaching ALC panels to framing composed ofsquare steel tube columns and H-shape beams.
However, these two types of steel structures
alone cannot command the largest share ofsteel building construction. There is anothertype of steel-structure building that also accounts for a considerable share of the floor
space in new building construction starts. This
type consists of low-rise prefabricated steelframe buildings such as steel-frame detachedhomes and apartment buildings.
Light-gauge Steel Shapes for
Structural Use

The history of prefabricated steel-frame
housing in Japan dates back to 1955 whenlight-gauge steel shapes were domestically
produced by means of cold forming. Following the Meiji Era (1968~1912), development of the Japanese steel industry was considered a national priority and was steadily
realized with support provided mainly
through public demand. However, with theend of the Second World War and the negotiated cease-fire of the Korean War, there
was strong sentiment for the steel industry
to cultivate new sources of steel demand,
i.e. for private demand to replace militarydemand.
Given this situation, broad attention was

3 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow December 2012

directed at the building construction market,
which was expected to show rapid growth.
In order to effectively establish a new steelmarket in building construction, it was necessary to develop the technology to produce
light-gauge shapes such as channels etc. by
cold-forming steel sheets with thicknessesof 2~6 mm.
As soon as the domestic production oflight-gauge shapes by means of cold forming became available, the Japanese steel industry quickly started developing applications for these shapes. The Light-gauge
Steel-frame Association was inaugurated by
the Kozai Club (an association for developing new steel markets, which then mergedwith the Japan Iron and Steel Federation).
The leading figures of the time and promising young researchers in the field of architecture as well as many scholars in awide range of fields, from structural andplanning engineering to architectural design,
participated in the Association’s work. Theirgoal was to design guidelines for houses,
school buildings and other low-rise buildings employing light-gauge shapes and todevelop structuring methods including joining details. Further, trial designs and construction formats were accumulated at a
rapid pace.
Prefabricated Houses Employing
Light-gauge Steel Shapes

From around 1960 when these efforts started to yield results, the housing market started to show signs of rapid growth, and many
companies that had been engaged in nonbuilding operations started moving into thispromising market. The companies that advanced from the steel, chemical and home
appliance industries focused on the production and supply of highly industrialized(prefabricated) houses, in contrast to
wood-framed houses that depended on traditional carpentry skills. Consequently,
these companies, or homebuilders, directed
their attention to the application potentialof the light-gauge shapes that had justcome to market. In those days, light-gauge
shapes were already being marketed by the

giants of the steel industry as ready-to-use
structural members for building construction.
While the home structural methods employing light-gauge shapes differed fromone prefabricated steel-frame homebuilder
to another, the framing method was nearly
the same for every builder-channels andsquare tubes were used as column members
while channels and light-gauge H-shapes
were used as lateral framing and truss members. Compared to the precast concrete wall
method, this method of steel framing gained
popularity because of the flexibility in arranging rooms that was permitted by conventional wood framing methods. As aresult, pref a b r i c a t e dsteel-frame
homebuilders directed their marketing efforts not only towards expanding sales
volume but also towards steadily expanding

Photo 1 A prefabricated steel-frame house in
the initial day and marketed in 1960.
Brilliant aluminum wall, new steel sash,
and plastic-made eaves and buttresswere impressive.

Photo 2 A prefabricated house in the first part ofthe 1960s, which is remained in a
homebuilder’s research institute.

floor plan flexibility, which has allowed
these homebuilders to gain their current
leadership position in the Japanese housing
market.
At the infancy of prefabricated steelframe housing around 1960, some houses
demonstrated a “novel feature” that was regarded somewhat strangely by people accustomed to conventional wooden housing.
Whereas it had been common for the joints
between wall panels to be clearly visible
from outside the home, the new approachof covering the exterior walls with aluminum and other materials took people by surprise. (See Photos 1~4) Further, because
mass production was almost unheard of at
prefabricated homebuilding plants at thistime and the kinds of structural members
produced were few, only a limited varietyof outer wall configurations were available
in the structural plans. For example, the catalogs of that time showed only one or two
floor plans.
In the latter part of the 1960s, prefabricated home design adopted methods used
for wooden houses. The selection of“ready-made plans” from a restricted catalog of designs was replaced by flexible
design systems that allowed homebuyer re-quests to be incorporated in “custom-made”
plans. New importance was placed on how
to realize the dreams of each homebuyer inthe construction of their own homes, rather
than on the preparation of future home designs drawn by architects, structural engineers and other professionals. As a result,prefabricated steel-frame housing was accepted in the Japanese housing market, andprefabricated homes were established in society as a new type of housing different
from conventional wooden homes.
The Prefabricated House asa Mass-produced ProductIn 1970, just 10 years after a number ofcompanies entered the prefabricated steelframe housing market, some emerged thatannually sold more than 10,000 houses. In
the 1980s, in spite of the severe operating
environment caused by the oil shock andother events, the number of homebuilders
that annually produced and sold more than
10,000 homes increased further, and systems were developed for building homes
with three or more stories employing heavyweight steel frames (Photo 5).
Based on the concept of using enhanced
shop-production ratios to achieve a level ofcost performance appropriate for prefabricated housing, a succession of new structural methods were developed: one was a
method to design large panels, and anotherwas the unit method whereby individualrooms are shop-assembled (Photo 6). As aresult, housing supplied by prefabricatedhomebuilders has taken on the character ofbeing mass-produced and mass-marketed.
◆ ◆ ◆Photo 3 Midget house, one of prefabricatedhouses in the initial days, which wasmarketed as a study room installed in
the garden. It is exhibited in a
homebuilder’s research institute.

Photo 4 One of prefabrica t e d s t e e l - f r a m ehomes, developed in 1961

opment of the prefabricated steel-frame
housing industry as a whole.
■

Lastly, I wish to comment on a task confronting all prefabricated steel-frame homebuilders. In an operating environment ofmoribund housing starts, the problem of how
to effectively use the “closed” structural systems unique to each homebuilder demands
our attention. Such systems in the current
environment are no longer rational or viable;
in fact, there are cases in which they constitute an operating burden for the individual
builder.
However, because these companies haveaccumulated considerable specific knowhow
over the last 50 years regarding the detailsof their respective closed structural systems, it is my conclusion that now is thetime for them to consider terminating the useof their closed proprietary systems and tocollaborate in bringing to market an open
system that will promote sustainable devel-

Photo 5 Example of 3-story house employing
heavyweight rigid steel frame system

Photo 6 From around 1970, extensive efforts
were directed toward developing thestructural method that enhances the
prefabrication ratio (photo: an exampleof unit system housing production line).

Acknowledgment

The author wishes to thank the following
companies for their generous cooperation inproviding the photos and figures used in thisarticle: Sekisui House, Ltd., Daiwa House
Industry Co., Ltd., PanaHome Corp., Asahi
Kasei Homes Corp. and Sekisui ChemicalCo., Ltd.

December 2012 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 4

Prefabricated Steel-frame House

Prefabricated Steel-frame Housing
in Japanby Japan Prefabricated Construction Suppliers & Manufacturers Association

Development of Prefabricated Steel-frame House Technologies
Progress of Prefabricated Steel-frame
Housing

In Japan, the production of light-gauge steel
shapes started in the late 1950s. These shapes
drew attention as new steel products for use
in building construction.
The Light-gauge Steel-frame Association
was established in 1955 under the auspice ofthe Kozai Club (an association of steelmakers and traders in Japan) with a focus on the
research and development on applications
for light-gauge steel shapes in the construc-tion of small-scale buildings. While lightgauge steel shapes were first used mainly for
purlins, furring strips and other secondary
structural members, the Association’s extensive R&D efforts steadily expanded their
use to include core structural members suchas beams, columns and trusses. The designand construction technologies yielded bythese R&D efforts served as a starting pointin the structural design of prefabricatedsteel-frame houses.
Because the framing of structures employ-ing light-gauge steel shapes resembles thewood framing methods conventionally usedin Japan, many companies initiated their own
development of prefabricated steel-framehouses. As a result, prefabricated steel-frame
homes account for about 80% of all prefabricated housing starts in Japan, even today.
The exterior and interior members of prefabricated steel-frame houses are manufactured at plants offering high-level quality
control systems. As a result, high-quality
members are supplied on a stable, constant

Rigid frame system (Asahi Kasei Homes)

Framing brace system (Sanyo Homes)

Box rigid-frame unit system (Sekisui Chemical)

Panel frame system (Sekisui House)

Framing brace system (CEL Corp.)

Framing-panel combined system (Daiwa House)

Framing system (Toyota Home)

Framing system (PanaHome)

Unit system (Misawa Homes)

Photo 1 Representative prefabricated steel-frame homes marketed in Japan
5 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow December 2012basis by manufacturing lines at these plantsthat in addition to roll forming, cutting, drilling and welding also provide highly corrosion-resistant coatings.
Welding, cutting and drilling operations
are no longer needed at home construction
sites because shop-manufactured memberswith high dimensional accuracy are delivered for assembly, which allows building of
high-quality homes.
Among the main structural methods for
prefabricated steel-frame houses are thepanel framing system, framing system, framing-panel combined system, the rigid frame
system using heavy-weight steel frames, andthe unit system. Homebuilders offering multiple structural systems are promoting the development of houses and housing projects
that meet specified building applications andregional needs. (See Photo 1)
These structural systems were originallydeveloped by various prefabricated homebuilders. Even within the same framing
system, the structural system differs by
homebuilder.
The main structural systems adopted forbuilding prefabricated steel-frame houses by
respective prefabricated homebuilders inJapan are introduced below:
Framing System● Panel-Frame System

A typical framing system in this category is
the panel-frame system developed in 1960
by Sekisui House, Ltd. The system mainly
employs C-shaped light-gauge steel. At atime when houses were most commonly
built of wood, the homes built using thesystem employing steel, aluminum and plastics as the main structural materials werehighly innovative.
In 1961, the company improved on its initial homes with the development of new
structures with high performance and a new
structural design (Photo 2). Many epochmaking improvements, that were well aheadof competing homebuilders, were incorpo-

Photo 2 Panel frame system originally marketed

Fig. 1 Outline of Panel-frame System
Roof finish

Waterproofing(modified asphalt roofing)

Truss

Roof backing (sheathing board)
Roof backing (purline)

Partition wall backing
Interior backing
Floor backing

Stair
Pass core

Beam
Floor backing (plywood)
Floor backing (joist)

Window sash

Floor backing (sleeper)
Wall framing

Exterior wall panel

Foundation

rated into the new design. Specifically, themetric module (1,000 mm) was adopted,
and, in order to increase vertical expanse,the ceiling height was increased to 2,400
mm, 300 mm higher than the minimum standard height prescribed in the Building Standard Law. Sandwich panels composed ofstyrene foam and aluminum were adopted
for the exterior walls to improve thermal insulation. While a simple gable roof was adopted, the girders were lengthened to extend
the eaves by about 1 m; this was to provide
devices to prevent the influx of rainwater
during the rainy season and to block off sunlight during the summer.
The windows incorporated newly marketed aluminum sashes to improve installation
precision. The interiors were finished by replacing the plastic members used widely in
the initial-stage homes with wooden members, which led to more appealing to thetastes of the Japanese people. (Fig. 1)
In 1962, two-story houses adopting the
new system in an overlapped form were developed, and in 1964, split-level 2-story
houses with improved design performance
were developed that employs an original
steel framing system (Photo 3). The new
system allowed for effective structural designs that met not only the need of homebuyers for flexibility in locating the 2ndstory and arranging rooms but also to meetlegal specifications. (Photo 4)

In the newly-developed system, the bearing walls contain steel braces (pivotal to securing seismic resistance) assembled in an
X-shape and are arranged independently on
the 1st and 2nd floors in order to securecompatibility between design freedom andstructural strength.

Photo 3 Original panel-frame system

Photo 4 Shop production line of panel-frame
systemDecember 2012 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 6

In 2003, a base-isolated house was developed that has attracted attention for offering
the highest level of seismic resistance. Further, research efforts were promoted to develop response-control technology with excellent cost performance, and in 2007 its
own seismic motion energy-absorbing
system was introduced in housing design.
This system absorbs seismic vibrations byreplacing some of the bearing walls used asseismic-resistant structures with seismic
motion energy-absorbing frames containing
special dampers (Photos 5 and 6). Development of this new seismic energy-absorbing
system allows the panel-frame housing
system to offer a full lineup of quakeproof
performances: seismic resistance, responsecontrol and base isolation.
● Framing-Panel Combined System

Another typical system in this category is
the framing-panel combined system developed by Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
Prefabricated steel-frame housing that employs this combined system reduces on-site
execution processes and the construction
term by completing the wall panels (exterior
member, thermal insulation material and interior substrate) and attaching them to thesteel frame at the shop and then assemblingthem at the construction site. This basic concept has shown no change since the system
was developed. (Figs. 2~4)
Because of the need to join each of thepanels with a closed structure by use of an
exterior member and an interior substrate,channel-shaped connectors (columns) are
required between the panels. And, when
joining the panels to a reinforced-concrete
foundation and an upper girder, it is necessary to embed nuts in the panels and to prepare the joining material in advance. The
housing frame can be structured with typical, module-allotted panels even in the plans
with external and internal angles, by conforming the width of connectors with the
thickness of panel frames as well as by situating a datum line at the center of external
wall panels.
This approach constitutes the basis of thepanel-framing combined system. The size ofthe module was set at 940 mm, which is
close to 945 mm, half the size of Japan’s traditional tatami mat. Further, the 940-mm
module size was derived from the view thatthe 1,820 mm size, twice that of the exterior
walls then available, be usable without any
loss. (When the 60 mm gap between connectors is added to 1,820 mm, the total size be7 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow December 2012

Photo 5 Framing system into which damper isassembled

Photo 6 Seismic energy-absorbing system

Fig. 2 Framing-Panel Combined Method
Tie strap
Roof truss

GirderEaves
girderContinuous footing

Roof brace

Partition panel

Fig. 3 Panel Assembly of Framing-panel
Combined System

Connector

Floor
strut Joist
Outer wall panel

Foundation

Outer
wall
panel

Angle
brace

Floor beamConnector

Foundation

PurlinJoist

Horizontal
brace

Outer
wall
entrance
panel

Outer
wall
panel

Floor
beam

Outer
wall
panel
Connector

comes 1,880 mm, and half of 1,880 mm is
940 mm.)However, in order to improve the dimensional efficiency of the interior structuralmembers of the floor and ceiling panels, notthe dimensional efficiency of the exteriorwall structural members, the 940 mm
module size was modified to about 910 mm,
which is the average size of currently available structural members. Further, the datum
line, which originally was located at thecenter of the structural core, was put on theRigid Frame System● Rigid Frame System Structure

Fig. 4 Plan of Framing-panel Combined System

Semi-partition panel

Partitionwall panel

N=Datum line
P=Module dimension (940 mm)
T=Depth of frame (structure)t =Thickness of interior wall panel
g=Thickness of exterior member

Interior wall finish line
Outer wall finish line

Fig. 5 Plan of Framing-panel Combined System (Improved System)

Interior backing
crosspieceInterior member

Internal angle
accessory panel

Semi-partition panel

Exterior wall
plate member

Partitionwall panel

Interior wall finish line
Outer wall finish line

inner side of the structural members to
reduce the use of unique panels especiallyfor ceiling edges etc. As a result, the planand the plan detail were changed to thoseshown in Fig. 5 (improved type).
The initial plans for 2-story prefabricatedhousing with many room numbers has been
improved to allow for large spaces andopenings and to provide a partial stiffening
system for the structural members (lateralframing and high-strength bearing panels).
In 3-story housing construction, while
the panel-framing combined system has certain difficulties in meeting every
homebuyer’s request, the system does havethe advantage of allowing housing construction on narrow sites in urban areas.

N=Datum line
P=Module dimension (910 mm)
T=Depth of frame (structure)t =Thickness of interior wall panel
g=Thickness of exterior member

Fig. 6 Rigid Frame System Structure

ALC rigid floor
Cast steel
joining fitting
Tapping screw

Characteristic of rigid frame systems are therigid frame structures of Asahi Kasei Homes
Corporation. In this system, H-shape beams
are touch-joined directly to square steel tube
columns in an end-brace form, and rigid
joining is realized by the use of special
high-strength bolts. It is this housing systemthat allowed the prefabrication of rigidframe structures capitalizing on mass-produced parts and simple framing, while theprefabrication of rigid-frame housing structure continued to be difficult when using
conventional methods.
In 1985, the new rigid-frame housing
system was completed by means of the original method using beam-column joints andcolumn bases. For the latter, the exposedtype column base method was adopted bywhich the column bases are fixed by pouring
grout mortar from a special washer; for column-to-column joining, weld-free bolt joining (column coupler method) was adopted.
This system features an on-site weld-freehousing system. (Fig. 6)
Compared to brace structures, the rigid
frame system offers greater freedom in plan
design, and in 1986, a 3-story house employing this system was marketed, which led to a
rapid expansion of the 3-story housing
market (Photo 7). Further, because fireproofing can easily be secured for 3-story
rigid frame structures compared to bracestructures, the rigid-frame 3-story housing
system gained market acceptance as amethod of medium-rise apartment houseframing, thereby leading to the expansion of
the medium-rise apartment housing market.
The range of applicable member sizes was
expanded in order to develop a rigid frame
Column coupler
Corner clipper
Torshear-typehigh-strength bolt
Column coupler

Column coupling method
ロ-150×150
H-250×125

End plate

Column-beam connection
AS bolt

1st-floor
column baseDecember 2012 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 8

system employing 250-mm square steel tube
columns. Three to five story structures that
employ this system are not used solely forapartment housing but also for composite
structures zoned for combined shop andapartment use.
Currently, the rigid-framing system uses
150-mm steel tube columns and supplies diverse kinds of houses to the 3~4-story housing market, thereby meeting today’s extensive need from medium-rise urban housing(Photos 8~10).

Photo 7 3-story house employing rigid frame system

Unit System● Steel Unit System
Photo 8 Urban-type 3-story house employing
rigid frame system

Photo 9 Exhibition model house employing rigid
frame system

Photo 10 4-story house of composite use type
employing rigid frame system
9 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow December 2012

Among unit systems is the steel unit systemdeveloped by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. In
this system, a housing structure is divided
into multiple structural units, which are
shop-manufactured to a nearly finished state.
These units are then transported to the construction site and assembled to complete thehouse. At a time when great numbers ofhouses were needed, the steel unit systemwith its high shop productivity was able toproduce high-performance and high-quality
housing.
The first steel unit system house was marketed in 1971. This system featured a highdegree of shop prefabrication of unit box
rigid frame structures. Assembly of each unit
structure was easy, which made it possible tomeet the need for detached houses with complex plans and specifications. (Photos
11~13)

Photo 11 House employing unit system

Photo 12 Installation of unit structure

Photo 13 Production line for unit system
housing● Sub-units: These units have half the widthFig. 7 Unit System Structureof a standard unit. This greatly improves
freedom of design with regard to floor areaand building site.
● Roofing method: This method is used tobuild triangle-shaped roofs. Diverse roof
shapes can be completed in one day by dividing the roof structural members intoroof units and panels.
● High beam method: This method allows
the central column section, consisting offour 1st-story units, to be removed by onsite reinforcement of the 2nd-story floor
beam section. This approach allows for theprovision of large spaces (equal to a maxiFig. 8 Module of Initial-stage Unit System
mum of 33 tatami mats) that are free ofwalls and columns, a feature that is unavailable in conventional housing (Photo
14).
Space forincorporating
cabinetThe first houses of this type adopted astandard dimension of 800 mm (currently
900 mm) – a simple system in which structural units measuring 2,400 mm in width, 5,600
mm in length (external dimension: 5,000mm) and 2,700 mm in height were regularly
arranged in terms of both plan and elevation.
The difference in loading conditions at the
1st and 2nd stories was met by changing thesection size and wall thickness of the adopted
column and beam members. A notable feature of these homes were gabled exterior wall
sections that projected from the unit’s gabledside, which facilitated the smooth joining ofeach unit and their use as storage spaces.
(Figs. 7 and 8)
In order to meet ever more divergent demands for plan, price and design, the kind ofunits available has multiplied and the assembly method for these units has evolved. The
following three types are cited as particularly
characteristic:

Fig. 9 Production Process for Outer Walls Employing Multi-function ALC Panels
Welded mesh
Foaming
machineAir

CementPump

Form mesh frame

Silica sand
Admixture
Water

Hardening
accelerator
agent
Water

Reinforcing material
Mixer
Mold
Corrosionprotection
treatment

Mold removal
Loading
on bogie

Dimensional
checking

Photo 14 High beam method● Unit System

Another unit-type housing system is the one
developed by Misawa Homes Co., Ltd. The
development of the system started with thecompany’s entry in the “House 55 Proposal
Competition” sponsored by the then Ministry of Construction and Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1976. The
Misawa’s housing system is a rigid steelframe structure with “multifunctional” newbearing walls (ALC walls) featuring excellent performance in structural strength, fire
resistance, and thermal and sound insulation(Photo 15, Fig. 9).

StrengthdryingCoating

AutoclavecuringAdvance curing

Photo 15 House employing steel rigid frame
unit system (combination bearing
wall/rigid steel-frame housing structure)
December 2012 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 10

In 1989, Misawa Homes enhanced theunit-type housing system to develop a capsule (box) unit rigid steel-frame system, inwhich each capsule unit is finished as a complete single-shell box structure. Each capsule unit adopts 125-mm square steel tubes
for the columns and 175 mm light-gauge
steel channels for the beams: these members
are weld-joined to form a single rigid framebox structure per span and layer; and thesebox structures are then joined vertically andhorizontally, using bolts and anchor bolts tocomplete the whole housing structure (Fig.
10).
Each capsule frame bears vertical loadand horizontal forces from earthquakes andwinds, allowing easier housing planning inwhich bearing elements can be arranged in abalanced way and dispensing bearing walls
to allow much more freedom to provide
large floor-to-ceiling openings.
The main objectives in the developmentof the capsule method were to further enhance industrialization of housing and to increase the speed of house construction. The
new capsule unit system has allowed advance at-factory installation of not only exterior walls and exterior members but alsointerior partition walls and fittings, thereby
dramatically enhancing the “industrialization” rate. A higher level of industrialization
has also allowed for quality stabilization andless on-site construction work for shorter
construction periods (Photo 16).
At the housing construction site, the development of new joining methods and othererection systems now allows for the joining
of upper and lower capsule units, as well asneighboring capsule units, using only one
high-strength bolt per column. As a result, a
process has been established by which everything from erection to waterproofing of
the joined capsule units can be completed in
one day (Photo 17).

Fig. 10 Assembly Outline in Unit System

Photo 16 Structural image of double-layer wallin unit system①Completion of foundation placement②1st-story unit installation

Photo 17 Installation of unit structure③2nd-story unit installation④Completion of unit installation⑤Installation of roof frame and panel⑥Completion of house

11 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow December 2012

The Future Direction of PrefabricatedSteel-frame Housing

Prefabricated steel-frame homebuilders, inorder to realize a low-carbon society, arepromoting technological development thatwill further improve energy-saving performance and expand the use of energy-creation and energy-storage systems.
In addition, homebuilders are directing
their efforts toward the development of astock-utilization society. Specifically, they
are promoting technological development
for more effective utilization and regeneration of the prefabricated steel-frame houses
already supplied and they are pushing for the
positive application of legal systems to enlarge and remodel these houses.

Overseas Operations of Japanese Prefabricated Homebuilders
In recent years, Japanese prefabricated steelframe homebuilders have actively promoted
overseas operations. They are extending
house-building and town-building projects inthe world market, fully capitalizing on the highquality and performance features acquired
through the development of prefabricatedsteel-frame houses in Japan. Typical overseas
operations being promoted in China (Sekisui
House), Thailand (Sekisui Chemical), andChina and Taiwan (Misawa Homes) are introduced below:
Construction of a Housing Plant
in China

Sekisui House promotes housing projects inAustralia, Singapore, the United States andChina.
In April 2012, the company completed in
China the construction of a prefabricatedsteel-frame housing plant and started its operations (Photos 18, 19). This was the firstentry of a full-scale prefabricated steel-frame
homebuilding plant owned by a Japanese
firm into the Chinese market. The plant was
built to meet the need for next-generation,energy-efficient, high-performance houses in
China. It produces structural members, exterior walls and interior equipment used for detached prefabricated steel-frame houses built
in China by the company (Photo 20). The
annual production capacity is 72,000 m2.
Capitalizing on knowhow acquired fromthe construction of two million houses inJapan and as the top-ranking producer of
eco-friendly homes, the company intends torely on the newly completed production
plant as its base of operations in supplying
high-quality houses employing a prefabricated steel-frame system to the major cities ofChina.

Photo 18 Steel-frame home production plant in
China

Photo 19 Steel-frame home production line in China

Photo 20 Detached house constructed in China

December 2012 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 12

Production and Marketing in Thailand

Eyeing a completion date in December 2012,
Sekisui Chemical is constructing a plant inThailand for the mass production of detachedhouses (Photo 21). The company intends tostart full-scale housing operations there in
2013.
A major feature of the company’s overseas operations is the implementation of its
approach to the housing business as established in Japan jointly with joint ventureswith local companies: namely, local procurement and production, and carrying out of awide range of operations from plant construction to marketing, housing construction
and after-sales service.
In order to promote housing operations inThailand, two joint-venture companies(marketing and production) were establishedjointly with Thailand’s largest conglomerate.
The two-year verification of the production
system, marketing method and cost performance was carried out by these two ventures.
The production plant was constructed inSaraburi Industrial Park (Photo 22, Fig. 11),
about 80 km north of Bangkok. Plans call forannual production and sales of 1,000 houses
in 2014.

Photo 21 Example of houses constructed in the plots of land for sale by developer

Fig. 11 Location of Thai Production Plant

Saraburi Industrial Park
Local production plant
About 50 km apart from main sale area

Photo 22 Housing production plant in Thailand

prefabricated steel-frame houses, Japanese
homebuilders are expected to further accelerate their overseas operations.
■BangkokAcknowledgment

Successful Operationsin China and Taiwan

Misawa Homes has promoted overseas housing operations for nearly 30 years.
In 1986, the company built 134 single-family homes in Beijing and in the following year
14 homes in Tianjin. The company has also
built homes in Taiwan, including a model

13 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow December 2012

Photo 23 House for sale in lots exhibited in Taiwan

home in Taipei (Photo 23). Visitors to the site
exceeded 300 during the first month after
opening, an indication of high user interest.
◆◆◆

On the strength of advanced knowhow accumulated in the design and construction of

We wish to thank the following companies
for their generous cooperation in providing
the photos and figures used in this article:● Asahi Kasei Homes Corporation● Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
● Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
● Sekisui House, Ltd.
● Misawa Homes Co., Ltd.

Residential Steel Framing

Steel-framed House Employing
Light-gauge Steel Shapeby The Japan Iron and Steel Federation and Steel-Framed House Association

What Is a Steel-framed House?

Steel-framed houses are built with a new
construction method that utilizes a nonwelding system to connect cold-formed
steel shapes made of galvanized steel
sheets with a thickness of about 1.0 mm(Photo 1)．This new house framing technique is based on the traditional 2×4 studwall framing method used in the UnitedStates. In steel-framed house construction,
the lumber frames are replaced by steel
frames.
Once the wall and floor panels are prepared, they are assembled in a box-shaped
structure or a house. Both sides of thelight-gauge steel shapes used for the walls,
floors and roof are covered with plywood,
gypsum board and other materials. The diverse performance characteristics–structural stability, fire resistance, durability,
thermal insulation and sound insulationrequired of houses are realized by meansof entire composite-section frame structures. From the perspective of "productmaking," these houses are high–performance units that can be introduced withlower initial investment due to the following reasons.
● Thin plate thickness of the light-gauge steel
shapes permits screw joining–eliminating
the need for welding.
● The use of galvanized steel sheets removes
the need to protect cut-end surfaces andconnections against corrosion due to thesacrificial corrosion protection provided by
the zinc–eliminating the need for corrosion
protection painting.
● The use of design and production systems
by means of IT allows every steel shape tobe accurately cut per the requirements ofeach house and shipped from the fabrication plant–eliminating the need for on-site
fabrication.
● The major steelmakers in Japan have acquired the necessary approval for steelframed house construction, which they
then provide to the builders–simplifying
design.
(Table 1)

Photo 1 Light-gauge steel shapes

Development and Diffusion by
Steel Industry Organizations

In November 1994, steel-framed housing
was selected as a research topic by the
Urban Steel Research Group, the Ministry ofInternational Trade and Industry (currently
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). Developmental work on steel-framedhouses in Japan began with the participationof six major steelmakers (Nippon Steel,
NKK, Kawasaki Steel, Sumitomo Metals,
Kobe Steel and Nisshin Steel) and the Kozai
Club (currently the Japan Iron and SteelFederation) who acted as project coordinator. In January 1996, the six major steelmakers established the Committee on Steelframed Houses within the Kozai Club andcommenced joint research on wider topics
such as structural performance, fireproofing
property and fire resistance, durability, thermal insulation and sound insulation to prepare for full-scale development of steelframed houses in Japan. Their r e s e a r c hs u c c e s s f u l l y r e s u l t e d i n t h e development of “KC (Kozai Club)-Type Steelframed Houses. (Fig. 1, Photo 2)

Subsequently, in order to assure a uniform level of quality and to promote thewider use of KC-Type Steel-framed Houses,
three major steelmakers−Nippon Steel, JFE
Steel (corporate merger of NKK and Kawasaki Steel in April 2003) and Kobe Steel−established the Steel-Framed House Association, whose general membership consists ofbuilders, structural design offices and manufactures. The association conducts the following activities:● Training courses for structural designers
and construction supervisors (completionof training course is an essential requirement for association membership);● Promotional activities that include the distribution of sales promotion tools, such as
pamphlets, publication of house magazinesand hosting of website;● Delivery of formal documents required forconstruction confirmation applications,loan applications to the Housing Loan Corporation and housing performance assessments; and● Operation of approval systems for plants to
manufacture the light-gauge steel shapes,
metal fasteners, screws and nails used insteel-framed house construction
Although light-gauge steel shapes, metal
fasteners and screws are pivotal structuralmembers for securing the quality of steelframed houses, they have yet to be specified in
JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards). To
compensate for this, the Japan Iron and SteelFederation Standards have been established
as a substitute for JIS with regard to thesestructural members. By doing so, both a standardized level of quality for steel-framed

Table 1 Comparison between Conventional Steel-frame Structure andSteel-framed House
Conventional
steel-frame structure

Steel-framed house

Structural materials

Steel

Steel; Sheathing board

Thickness of steel

Thickness≥ 2.3 mm

Thickness≤ 1.6 mm

Joining

Mainly welding

Mainly screwing (no need for welding)Corrosion protection

Coating (after welding)

Galvanized sheet (no need for coating)

Steel member fabrication

Fabricator or user plant

Steel shape plant (no need for fabrication)

December 2012 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 14

Fig. 1 Structures of Steel-framed House

Roof panel
Blocking

Top chord member

Roof truss

Roof sheathing

Web member

Web member
Bottom chord member

Blocking
Gusset plate

Gusset plate
Hurricane tie

Top track

Wall panel

Verge rafter

Exterior sheathingStud
Bottom track
Track joist

Top track
Stud

Gable wall stud
2nd-floor floor joist

Exterior sheathing

Window sill

Window frame

Top track

Header

Bottom track

Exterior sheathing

Interior sheathing

Joist

Stud

HeadersupportFloor panel

Header

Bottom track

Continuous footing

Floor sheathing

Sleeper

Floor joist

Floor sheathing
Anchor bolt
Anchor holdown
Continuous footing

Joist track
Corner post (assembled)
Joisthouses and a system for approving the plantsthat will manufacture the parts have been secured.
Growing Construction of
Steel-framed Housing

After enforcement by the Ministry of Construction in November 2001 of TechnicalStandard Notification No. 1641 Concerning
Light-gauge Steel Shape Structures, theabove-mentioned steel-framed housing
method was formally prescribed as a general housing method in the Building Standard
Law of Japan. The number of steel-framed
housing starts has shown steady growth dueto this public notification and to its increasing adoption by major homebuilders as
well.
■

Photo 2 Framing of steel-framed house employing light-gauge steel shapes

15 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow December 2012

Steel Application Technology

Basic Details about Welding
and Welding Control—Welding of Steel-frame Structures—by Tadao Nakagomi
Professor, Department of Architecture
Shinshu University
For Japan with its frequent great earthquakes, seismic design is very
important. In a great earthquake, while it is assumed that collapse will
occur in wooden and concrete structures, it is commonly understoodthat seismic design has provided steel structures with sufficient seismic
resistance. However, there are cases in which inappropriately applied
welds can become the starting points of fractures that lead to steel
structure collapse.
The following presents the basic details about welding and welding
control in steel-frame building structures and regarding key dynamic
performance characteristics of welds.
Non-scallop Method

In the welding of steel-frame structures, two methods—scallop andnon-scallop—are used. In Japan, the scallop method is more extensively adopted. Fig. 1 shows an example of the non-scallop method,
and Fig. 2 an example of the scallop method. In welding operations
using the scallop method, because grooves can be prepared inward,
welding can be conducted at both the fabrication plant and the construction site. On the other hand, with the non-scallop method, becausegrooves are prepared outward, welding can be applied only in a flat
position and, accordingly, cannot be applied at the construction site.

In order to compare the differences in yield strength between scallop
and non-scallop methods, a test was made using the beam-to-column
joint specimen shown in Fig. 3. The test was conducted by setting
the loading amplitude as the steady increment positive-negative alternating loading. The test results for load-displacement relations areshown in Figs. 4 and 52),3). As shown in the figures, the yield strength of
on-site scallop welding shows extremely low values compared to thoseof non-scallop welding done in the shop. Accordingly, the non-scallop
method is adopted because sufficient deformation capacity is provided
for shop-welded beam-to-column joints.
On the other hand, in order to provide sufficient yield strength evenfor beam-to-column joints that are welded on-site, it is necessary to use
the drilled flange method (Fig. 7) to improve the deformation capacity of
beam-to-column joints by using a haunch to expand the beam width(Fig. 6). Figs. 8 and 9 show the difference in deformation capacity of
beam-to-column joints when the drilled flange method is applied andwhen it is not2).
Fig. 5 Test Results for Relation
Fig. 4 Test Results for
Relation between Loadbetween Load andand Displacement in
Displacement in Shop
On-site Scallop Method
Non-scallop Method

Fig. 1 Non-scallop Method
Web
Diaphragm

FlangeFig. 2 Scallop Method

Web

Diaphragm

Fig. 6 Example of Horizontal
Haunch Method

Fig. 7 Example of Drilled
Flange Method

Fig. 8 Deformation Capacityof Beam-to-Column
Joint by No Use of
Haunch and Drilled
Flange Method

Fig. 9 Deformation Capacityof Beam-to-Column
Joint by Use ofDrilled Flange
MethodFlangeFig. 3 Configuration of
Test Specimen for
Beam-to-Column
Joint

December 2012 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 16

Welding Conditions

The mechanical properties of the weld metal, whether good or bad, arestrongly related to the welding conditions. In particular, it is known thatheat input and interpass temperature have a considerable effect on thetensile strength, yield point and toughness of the weld metal. The heat
input is calculated using Equation 1.

H=

60×E×I ・・・(Equation 1)
V

1)

Where
H : Welding heat input (J/cm)
I : Welding current (A)E : Arc voltage (V)V : Welding speed (cm/min)
As shown in Fig. 10, as the heat input and interpass temperature increase,the yield strength drops regardless of the kind of welding wire adopted. The
appropriate heat input and interpass temperature differ depending on thetype of steel product used. To illustrate, in order to secure dynamic properties
for welds of steel products equivalent to SM490, the appropriate heat input
and interpass temperature are: an interpass temperature maintained at
350°C or lower, a heat input of 40 kJ/cm or less, and a wire extension of
20~30 mm. In cases where the wire extension is excessive, the welding
current and voltage become unstable, thereby causing inadequate shieldeffect and deterioration in toughness.
Fig. 10 Relation between Interpass Temperature andYield Point

End Tabs and Backing Metal● Kind and Performance of End Tabs

Steel end tabs are auxiliary devices attached to both ends of a groove
and are used to eliminate non-uniform welding from occurring at either
the starting point or the finish point in groove welding. It is feared thatstress builds up in the slit section formed between the steel end tabs
and the base metal, thereby forming starting points for fracturing. However, when the welding conditions mentioned earlier are satisfied, sufficient deformation will occur in beam-to-column joints to cause fracture.
Solid end tabs are ceramic and are easily attached to the basemetal by pressing them against the metal with galvanized wire, rather
than by welding. Because solid end tabs are removed after welding,stress concentration caused by the slits does not occur. However,depending on the skill of the welding operators, weld defects are still
liable to remain at the start and finish points in groove welding.
In order to compare the effect of weld defects on weld joint deformation, a test similar to that used in the “Non-scallop Method” describedabove was conducted using a test specimen employing an
H-400×200×13×21 beam member. Fig. 12 shows the deformation test
results for a beam end with a weld defect located 40 mm in the beamflange width direction and 10 mm in the thickness direction (Fig. 11);
Fig. 13 shows the results when no weld defect is present4)5). As shownin the figures, the deformation capacity of a weld joint drops remarkably
when a weld defect is present. Accordingly, it is necessary to use ultrasonic flaw detection tests to confirm that weld defects do not occur.
Fig. 11 Position of Providing Welding DefectDiaphragm

FlangeBacking metal

Fig. 12 Test Results for
Deformation Capacityof Beam-to-Column
Joint in Provision ofWeld Defect

17 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow December 2012

Fig. 13 Test Results for
Deformation Capacityof Beam-to-Column
Joint in No Provision ofWeld DefectFig. 14 Shop Assembly of Backing Metal and End Tab2)

Direct assembly welding onflange should not be applied.

Assembly welding of end tab
is made on backing metal.
Assembly welding of backing metal is madecentering on the position 1/4 of beam flange
width and in length of 40~60 mm.
Assembly welding of end tab
is made on backing metal.
Assembly welding of backing metal is madecentering on the position 1/4 of beam flange
width and in length of 40~60 mm.

● Tack Welding of the Backing Metal and End Tabs

In beam-to-column welding, backing metal is used to prevent the weld
metal from falling off. In assembly welding that uses backing metal, welding that is 4~6 mm wide and about 40~60 mm long are made on both thecolumn and beam flange sides and are placed at four locations centeredon positions 1/4 of the beam flange width. When attaching the backing
metal and end tabs, the end tabs are tightly attached to both the beamflange and the backing metal, but welding is conducted only on the backing metal and should not be applied to sections where the end tabs andbeam flanges are in mutual contact (Fig. 14). In the case of on-site welding, it is feared that when welding is conducted in the periphery of scallops
or when lower-flange backing metal is welded from its lower side (Fig. 15),
brittle fracturing will result, and thus, such welding should not beapplied1)6).
■

Fig. 15 On-site Assembly Welding of Lower Beam Flange
Assembly welding

Reference

1) Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ): Steel Construction Technical
Guidelines—Shop Manufacture, Feb. 2007
2) T. Nakgomi, T. Yamada, M. Murai, K. Matoba and K. Aida: Experimental
Research on Effects of Beam-end Details on Deformation Capacity of
Beam-Column Weld Joint in Non-scallop Method (546), 121-128, Aug.
30, 2001
3) K.Hattori, T. Nakagomi and Y. Ichikawa: Experimental Research on
Deformation Capacity of On-site Welded Beam-Column Weld Joint
Employing Drilled Flange Method, AIJ Journal of Structural Systems(585), 155-161, Nov. 30, 2004
4) T. Nakagomi, K. Hattori, Y. Ichikawa, K. Matoba and M. Iwata: Experimental Research on Deformation Capacity of Beam-Column Weld Joint
with Defect, AIJ Journal of Structural Systems (556), 145-150, Jun. 30,
20025) C. Ozawa, T. Nakagomi, Y. Ichikawa and T. Mutaguchi: Experimental
Research on Effects of Weld Defect and Beam Member Dynamic Properties on Deformation Capacity of Beam-Column Weld Joint, Research
Report of AIJ Hokuriku Office (47), 100-103, Jul. 17, 2004
6) Architectural Institute of Japan: Steel Framework Guidelines—On-site
Construction Work, Feb. 2007

Avoidance of welding

December 2012 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 18

Steel Construction in Thailand(kg)–Current Situation and Future Directions–by S. Leelataviwat, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, King
Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi; Member of the Committee on Steel
Structures, Engineering Institute of Thailand
Construction is one of the most important steelconsumption industries in Thailand, accounting
for up to 60% of the nation’s total steel consumption. Despite key advantages of steel structures,the construction in Thailand is mainly dominatedby concrete. The use of steel has been primarily
limited to bridges and to industrial and landmark
buildings. Compared to other countries in thesame region, per capita consumption of crude
steel for Thailand is remarkably low (Fig. 1).
Hence, there still exists a significant growthpotential for Thailand in terms of steel usage.
Records of steel structures in Thailand dated
back to the later part of 1800s. The influx ofwestern technology and expansion of Bangkok
brought along the first applications of steel structures. The early use was limited mainly to small
bridges and railway stations. By the 1910s, mostof the early steel bridges had been replaced by
concrete bridges. The main reasons for replacing steel structures with concrete structures werelack of maintenance and the general belief that
concrete structures would be more durable inhumid environment typically experienced in Thailand. With the first introduction of relativelycheap and locally-produced Portland cement in
1910s, the use of concrete structures increased
significantly. It was widely believed that labor
being cheaper in Thailand meant that efficientdesign ideas would be primarily governed bymaterial savings. This led finally to the widespread application of concrete structures in Thailand.
Presently, other factors that also contribute to
the reluctance in using steel structures include
the followings.
Limited material supplies: Because lack of
domestic upstream steel production facilities anda relatively small market, the type of steel available in Thailand is mainly limited to a certain
grade (Fy = 245 MPa). With limited material
options, the difference in the construction costs
between steel and concrete structures remains
sizable.

Stringent fire resistance requirements:
Thailand has a very stringent fire code
requiring unnecessarily high fire rating, inmost cases. The costs of fireproofing canamount to a significant portion of theFig. 1 Crude Steel Consumption Per Capita
entire structural costs in some projects.
(World Steel Association 2011)
Lack of knowledgeable and qualified
steel structures are therefore very important.
professionals: The majority of the architects,
Foreign knowledge and technology can not beengineers, and contractors have been trained
merely imported. Local construction conditions,and worked primarily with concrete structures. At
customs, and practices require that research
the moment, there is a shortage of qualified
professionals involved in the design and con- and development are needed to create solutions that are distinct and original. The industry
struction of steel structures.
must search and develop solutions that fit with
Advancing the Use of Steel Structures
local environment. Development of designin Thailand
codes and guidelines that incorporates stateThe low steel consumption in Thailand has of-the-art knowledge from research and local
generally been attributed to the lack of domes- design practices is important to increase design
tic upstream production facilities. However, it efficiency. Research and development
takes more than just steel production plants to processes are also vital in training the muchadvance the use of steel structures in Thailand. needed knowledgeable and qualified profesAt the moment, the deciding factor in selecting sionals. Human resources are always the beda structural system is still mostly the construc- rock for any successful industries. Additionally,tion cost. A recent study by the Iron and Steel the supports from the government can also
Institute of Thailand indicates that, when timehelp increase the number of players in the capisaving benefits and salvage values are consid- tal intensive steel producing business.
ered, there is only a marginal difference
Without harmonious efforts from all the
between costs of concrete and steel structures parties involved, the use of steel structures canin Thailand. However, the reality is that most only increase at a slow pace. Nevertheless,decisions are made based on initial construc- societal demands are now pushing the contion cost, over which concrete structures seem struction industry to provide sustainable infrato have an advantage. Innovative steel solu- structure with higher levels of performance andtions are therefore required in breaking this economy (including life cycle costs). Thisbarrier. In recent years, there has been a surge ensures that steel structures will eventuallyof innovative steel products ranging from play a prominent role in Thailand’s construction■
prefabricated or pre-engineered buildings, industry in the near future.
prefabricated roof trusses, cellular beams,
open-web steel joists, buckling restrained Referencesbraces, and seismic resistant structures. These 1) Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand (2007):“Cost Effectiveness of Steel Construction:
products will slowly gain recognition and accepEconomic Aspects.” Final Reporttance over time. The challenge lies in shifting
2) Worldsteel Committee on Economic (2011):
these solutions away from individual custom“Steel Statistical Yearbook 2011.” World Steelmade projects to mass applications.
Association
Research and development into the use of

STEEL CONSTRUCTION TODAY & TOMORROW
Published jointly by

The Japan Iron and Steel Federation
3-2-10, Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0025, Japan
Phone: 81-3-3669-4815 Fax: 81-3-3667-0245
URL http://www.jisf.or.jp/en/index.html
Japanese Society of Steel Construction
Yotsuya Mitsubishi Bldg. 9th Fl., 3-2-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004, Japan
Phone: 81-3-5919-1535 Fax: 81-3-5919-1536
URL http://www.jssc.or.jp/english/index.html

Edited byCommittee on Overseas Market Promotion, The Japan Iron and Steel Federation
Chairman (Editor): Takeshi Oki
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