An industry survey conducted by the Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association (SASFA) revealed an increase in the use of the light steel frame building (LSFB) method in South Africa.

“Mainly, the survey showed that the mass of steel used in South Africa to profile light steel frame (LSF) sections increased by 6% during 2013, compared with the previous year, states SASFA director John Barnard.

SASFA’s yearly survey, which aims at quantifying the level of LSFB activity in the market, was carried out last year.

However, exports declined by 30%, owing to the establishment of manufacturing capacity in neighbouring countries, while the local market for LSFB grew by 21%. This figure is considerably higher than the 7% growth recorded for the building industry in the floor area of buildings completed in South Africa.

“As the volume of steel, used purely for light steel roof structures, remained fairly constant, all the growth came from steel used for complete LSF buildings, almost doubling the previous year’s figure for this sector,” Barnard says.

He adds that, based on building plans approved, the industry can look forward to 16% growth in building activity during the next 12 to 18 months, keeping in mind that there is a lag of nine months between plans approved and buildings completed.

Barnard explains that, as during previous surveys, SASFA approached the South African manufacturers of light steel framing to determine the volume of thin gauge high strength galvanised steel sheet they had processed during the last year, as a measure of the building activity in the industry.

The manufacturers reported throughput of 24 200 t of high strength galvanised steel sheet, which reflected 6% growth, compared with production in the previous year.

“Supply into the local market increased by an astounding 21%, while exports from South Africa into sub-Saharan Africa declined by 30%. This decline can be attributed to profiling capacity that is being installed in the neighbouring countries, as well as the increase in local demand,” Barnard notes.

Last year, LSF roof trusses used with masonry or in industrial buildings constituted 54% of locally sold LSF. Roof structures covering a total floor area of 1.31-million square metres were produced, on par with that during the previous year.

“Light steel roof trusses captured 13% market share during the period, based on Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) figures for buildings completed in 2012 and 2013, which excludes low cost housing,” Barnard says.

Further, he comments that based on industry feedback, complete buildings – wall panels with roof structures – covering a total area in excess of 500 000 m² were built in LSF in South Africa during 2012 and 2013, which is an 80% increase on the 2012 performance.

“This growth in demand is remarkable, as the official building statistics supplied by StatsSA indicate a growth of only 7% in total floor area of new buildings completed during 2012 and 2013,” he adds, noting that the growth underlines the rapidly growing acceptance of LSFB by architects, engineers, builders and clients.

Barnard says the total LSF market, which include local and export, trusses and complete buildings, is forecast to grow by 15% during this year.

“The SASFA manufacturing members report good demand for middle- and upper-income housing, schools and classrooms, and roofing structures for low-cost housing projects, including a large affordable housing project in the Cape, which is being built using LSF,” he says.

Further, he adds that LSF is increasingly being used for external and internal walling of multistorey office and commercial buildings, while a growing volume of additions to existing buildings is also reported. Several project enquiries from neighbouring countries have also been received.

“The encouraging fact that government recently announced that innovative building technologies, such as LSFB, will increasingly be preferred for new schools, clinics and student accommodation, will add additional growth potential,” says Barnard.

“In view of all the above, forecast 15% growth in the use of LSFB this year may in time prove to be conservative,” he concludes.