SCI Assessed - Valued Independent Validation
The start of 2016 brings about the 10 year anniversary since the start of the SCI Assessed certification scheme. The scheme was launched back in 2006 to provide trusted independent assessment for design processes, product data and software.
SCI Assessed was established to be deliberately flexible without the regimental approach that can be a characteristic of other certification schemes. The appropriate scope of assessment for each product or service is devised based on the intended use of the product. It is SCI's long history of technical expertise and independence in the steel construction sector that allows SCI to adopt this refreshing approach to its assessment scheme.
Over the last 10 years the popularity of SCI Assessed has increased and has been used for a wide range of products and services. Initially, it was envisaged that SCI Assessed would be primarily used for innovative products and services where codified design methods were not available and product performance was less robustly established. However, with the introduction of new design standards, SCI Assessed has been equally popular with traditional products. Typical examples include the resistance of members determined in accordance with the Eurocodes, or the calculation of design resistances for innovative fixings not covered by product standards.
Whether the scheme is applied to products and services that are traditional or innovative, the feedback that SCI receive from customers is always that obtaining SCI Assessed has been beneficial for their business. The SCI Assessed logo shows customers that data is independently verified which provides security and confidence when making a specification.
On successful completion of the SCI Assessed process customers will receive:
• An SCI Assessed Report.
• An SCI Assessed Certificate.
• Use of the SCI Assessed Logo.
• Listing on the SCI Assessed website.
For further information please contact Andrew Way at SCI.
SCI Courses |
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Simple Beam & Column Design to EC3 9 February 16, Birmingham |
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Simple Beam & Column Design to EC3 10 February 16, Sheffield |
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Design of Portal Elements 23 February 2016, Webinar |
Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you should waste it!In 2014, Cambridge University published a paper suggesting that UK multi-storey, steel frames were over-designed by as much as 50%. Unsurprisingly, this paper provoked quite a response in the steel design fraternity! Rationalisation was cited as the main reason for the observed over-design, both in the design and fabrication of steel frames. Steel is plentiful and relatively cheap, particularly compared to UK labour costs, and as we all know, in construction, ‘cost is king’. Over-design is wasteful however and surely it is time for smart engineers to design more efficient structures using modern design techniques that are safe, cost effective and low carbon. The environmental case for using less steel is compelling. Surely this is the future of structural steel design, certainly in a resource and carbon-constrained world? To investigate these findings SCI, in partnership with Cambridge University, Price & Myers and William Hare, has started a two-year Government-funded research project. The project will seek to explore the balance between the weight of steel structures (and the associated carbon impact), against their cost. We are looking to engage with steel designers who are prepared to share their experience and practice for designing multi-storey, steel-framed buildings, to understand why they are over-designed and to help develop a new design approach where weight, cost and carbon can be optimised. We understand why rationalisation happens and we are not looking to critique others’ designs; we simply want to understand better how steel structure design can be improved and optimised. If you would like to engage with us in the Innovate UK project please contact Michael Sansom |
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New MCRMA Guidance; Installation of Purlins and Side RailsNew guidance has been published by MCRMA promoting good practice across the industry, with the aim to improve health and safety, efficiency and building envelope performance. SCI were happy to assist by giving permission for MCRMA to use chapter 4 of publication P346 as the basis for their updated guidance. The 17-page guidance document provides an overview of the issues that need to be addressed in order to meet the performance criteria identified by the building designer. To guidance can be viewed and downloaded here |
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Hi-Span LtdHi-Span has achieved SCI Assessed for their latest Eurocode calculation procedures for purlin and rail design resistance. The SCI have carried out an assessment of the calculation process for the Hi-Span Eurocode section property calculators, and their purlin and rail design suite. Where appropriate, the calculations are in accordance with EN 1993-1-3. The full scope of the assessment is described in SCI report RT1683 (December 2015) and confirms that the design and calculation process has achieved SCI Assessed status. |
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Carnehill Contracting LtdCarnehill has achieved SCI/NHBC Stage 1 System Certification for their light steel framing system. The SCI have carried out an assessment of the Carnehill System Manual in accordance with NHBC Standards Chapter 6.10. The system has been assessed for residential buildings up to 11 storeys high. Section properties and design resistances are calculated in accordance with BS EN 1993-1-3. |
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SCI PeopleIntroducing Bassam Burgan, Director, SCI After completing his PhD at Imperial College, Bassam spent a year as a post doctoral researcher working on methods to reduce topsides structural weight on offshore oil and gas platforms. He then joined Sir Frederick Snow International as Regional Manager of the Middle East Office where he was responsible for business development and for the management of a number of design projects and supervision of construction. He joined SCI’s Offshore Division in 1991 and became Senior Manager of that Division in 1997. He was promoted to Deputy Director of SCI in 1999 and became a Director in 2009. He oversees work in offshore engineering, composite construction, fire engineering and engineering software, as well as contributing to the overall strategy and direction of SCI. Bassam has provided consultancy services to a number of multi national blue chip companies and led several of SCI’s largest projects. These have included studies to improve the understanding of explosion and fire hazards caused by industrial accidents and the development of design rules for composite structures used in nuclear facilities. |
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SCI Publications |
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Stability of steel beams and columns (P360) This guide provides immediate practical guidance for both the common and the non-standard restraint conditions commonly found in construction. |
Design of steel beams in torsion (P385) Resistance to torsion, usually in conjunction with bending, is a design situation where designers welcome guidance. This publication explains the basic behaviour of beams in torsion and provides formulae and graphs for evaluating the effects of torsion. |
Wind actions to BS EN 1991-1-4 (P394) This publication has been prepared to guide structural engineers through the process of establishing design wind actions for orthodox steel framed buildings in the UK, in accordance with the Eurocodes, UK National Annexes and other authoritative information. |
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SCI New Members
SCI would like to welcome the following new members:
SCI Members in the News
ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products certified under UK responsible sourcing standard BES 6001
Luxembourg, 21 January 2016 – ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products has been certified under the BRE Environmental & Sustainability Standard BES 6001, a responsible sourcing certification for the UK construction market, demonstrating the division’s commitment to sustainable sourcing. It covers the entire portfolio of ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products, including angles, channels, merchant bars, rails, sections, sheet piles, rebar, construction bar and wire.
Developed by the UK-registered research organisation BRE (Building Research Establishment), the standard BES 6001 requires manufacturers for the construction industry to prove that their products are made with responsibly sourced materials. A process of third-party independent assessment, covering organisational governance, supply chain management and various environmental and social aspects, is used to verify that manufacturers meet the required criteria. Manufacturers must also demonstrate the sustainable operations of their raw material suppliers.
SCI Members in the News
Caunton supplying steelwork for world’s largest grocery store
Caunton are supplying the steelwork for what Tim Steiner, the chief executive of Ocado, has called one of the “world’s biggest grocery stores”. Caunton are both designing and supplying over 2300te of steelwork to main contractor McLaren Construction at Erith, Kent for a Temperature Controlled Warehouse with ancillary buildings and offices. It is being developed by Bericote Properties and funded by property investor Tritax Big Box REIT.
The building itself is a massive propped portal frame over 200 metres in span and over 250 metres long, with additional smaller units which include a main office, staff shop, a vehicle maintenance unit and a two storey plant room. The online grocery retailer, Ocado, will open this, their fourth distribution centre in the UK, in 2017, as it continues to benefit from strong demand in internet shopping. When operational, this Erith Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) will have the capacity to handle in excess of 200,000 orders per week.
SCI Members in the News
EOS Facades scoop Best Use of Steel Award!
At the forefront of the light steel frame sector – EOS Facades was announced the winner of the ‘Best Use of Steel’ category at the inaugural Offsite Construction Awards held on Tuesday 01 December at the Inmarsat Centre, London.
EOS Facades took on Bryden Wood, Fusion Build, HTA Design and John Roberts Architects to scoop the award for their contribution to ‘The Barn’ at the University of Nottingham.
Steve Thompson, Managing Director of EOS Facades said of the award win: "It’s fantastic to win the best use of steel category – especially taking into consideration the calibre of the competition. These awards provide a fantastic platform to showcase the benefits of offsite construction!”
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