November 2006
Framing and Purlin Divisions
METSEC STEEL ON SWAN-SHAPED BARNSLEY INTERCHANGE

Metsec, the UK’s largest manufacturer of structural light gauge galvanised steel construction components, has supplied zed purlins and infill walling to the new £24 million Barnsley Transport Interchange project.

The central roof and the main north / south concourse of the building resembles a swan in flight, with the neck forming a tube shaped passenger footbridge. The aerofoil shape slopes in three directions, with curves to the head, neck and wings, requiring single span zed purlins, which were all inclined at different angles to each other.

Metsec supplied 22 tonnes of mainly 142mm deep zed purlins to act as a fixing for the boarding, which created the curved shape of the exterior and supports the copper sheet external roof covering.

Metsec’s SFS site fixed, light gauge galvanised steel framing system was also specified as infill walling on the retail / office part of the project. 1,800m2 of 150mm deep SFS sections form the infill to the main hot rolled steel frame of the curved two storey building and parapet, providing an accurate, fast-track, all-dry construction method.

The SFS was delivered as barcoded bundles of cut to length sections to be screwed together on site. Full and accurate design details and drawings helped main contractor Laing O’Rourke’s engineering team and the approved Metsec installer Render Systems complete the complex installation within a twelve week period.

Peter Coatsworth, operations director of Render Systems, noted: “This was a challenging project because of needing to set out the sections for various radii but Metsec’s SFS system overcomes all the problems which can be associated with creating accurate, curved elevations. It’s also easy to install and it means you aren’t reliant on other trades such as brickwork.”

The Transport Interchange is the first project in the ‘Remaking Barnsley’ initiative. As well as providing a safe, modern, undercover bus and coach station, the interchange links to both rail and park and ride services and offers passengers a range of shopping and café facilities.

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