Hybeam H2 by CHH Futurebuild graduates from highschool
When John Kendall was commissioned to build single storey additions to the Seventh Day Adventist School in
Victoria's Nunawading, the use of Hybeam H2 proved to be quite an education. The building works comprised of several new
classrooms. The building, on a sloping site, started about 500mm high at the front but was some two metres above ground
level at the rear. John explains "We were originally proposing to use a conventional stump/bearer and hardwood joist layout
but after discussions with Thomas Dowling of futurebuild we chose to use Hybeam H2 joists."
John Kendall explains further, "Choosing Hybeam H2 over conventional hardwood joists means you get much bigger spans which
reduces the number of stumps and bearers. The floor was designed for a 3kPa uniformly distributed load with a 2.7kN point
load." Traditional housing loads are 1.5kPa and 1.8kN. "By using Hybeam H2 as joists we were able to do away with two rows
of bearers and the associated stumps. Hybeam H2 is very strong."
John commissioned engineer Peter Molina of Meyer Consulting Group in Elwood to redesign the floor using Hybeam H2 instead
of conventional materials. John explains "We suggested to the engineer that we go to a Hybeam system to reduce the number
of stumps and bearers as I had seen Hybeam on other jobs but not used them. So it was a bit of an education for us. In this
case the timber floor was two metres out of the ground and we replaced the nominated F17 floor system with Hybeam."
Hybeam H2 also wins by a length. When engineer and builder wanted to join two lengths of Hybeam H2 in the centre of the
building, Thomas Dowling of futurebuild suggested John's timber merchant might have a better option. Bowen Timber of Mt Evelyn
was able to order lengths of 13.5 metres from the futurebuild mill in South Australia and could deliver to the site in next to
no time. Hybeam H2 is available off the shelf in lengths to 13.2 metres but can be manufactured in longer lengths if required.
After using Hybeam H2 in the floor system, John Kendall then decided to use it as rafters. He was obviously sold. "We used
Hybeam H2 in the roof too and it made the job so much easier. The weight is a real issue when working on scaffolds four or
five metres in the air. One person can lift the longest Hybeam H2." Enough said. The roof features a centre skylight along
its entire length to allow for plenty of natural lighting in the classrooms with the rafters pitched either side.
So at the end of the job, what really swayed this builder? "Buildability. They're lightweight. You cannot get solid timber
in 13.5 metre lengths but even if you could the solid timber is just too heavy."
And economy? "Cost-wise it's effective - within about 5% of what solid timber is. There's a saving of timber, as there is no
over-lapping at joists over mid-supports and the reduced blocking of the joists. Hybeam systems require blocking of a pair of
joists at 3.6m centres over the bearers, rather than the conventional continuous blocking at 1800mm centres. The reduced
blocking requirement alone saved about 70 lineal metres of material plus the labour costs associated with the cutting and
installing of the blocking. We were able to do away with two rows of bearers and numerous stumps, plus the labour saving in
the handling and installation of the Hybeam H2.
We'll do the next job the same way." Speaking of next jobs, John Kendall will soon commence work on another school and is
already planning to use Hybeam H2. Further education on Hybeam H2 we suspect.
For further information contact:
CHH Futurebuild
phone: +61 3 9258 7600
fax: +61 3 9258 7629
web: www.chhfuturebuild.com
|
