Framing Systems in Residential Construction

Large-panel construction has become the most widespread method of residential construction in Russia. High factory productivity, low labor intensity and high speed of construction considerably impair such important features as living comfort and architectural expressiveness of the building. A strong alternative to large-panel construction today is presented by framing structures. Adapting industrial framing systems to residential construction ensures high consumer qualities of buildings, flexibility of architectural and volume-planning decisions and possibility of modernization and redevelopment of facilities during maintenance at minimum cost. Compared to cast-in-place, large-panel and masonry buildings, framed buildings possess the lowest estimated cost, provide greater volume and area of the premises and reduce the consumption of materials. The article gives the comparative analysis of expenditures on steel and reinforced concrete frame assembly as well as the description and characteristic features of the current framing systems present on the market. (C)2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.