SFS is one of the standard options for internal wall construction along with blockwork and plasterboard. These materials are well known and can be viewed as the default – but is that the case still? And is there a better option?
The construction industry is modernising fast in the face of unprecedented pressures. Cost, the push for new buildings and the need to do it all more sustainably than before has got people looking for innovations and new ways of doing business.
When it comes to building efficiently in a sustainable way, Specwall is the superior option compared to SFS and comes with a whole range of advantages.
Cut construction time
Specwall is a factory-engineered product that provides a level of precision that SFS lacks. Everything is cut to its exact size off-site before delivery. Then it is a simple matter of a single-visit construction process to assemble it. No additional trades, no scaffolding, no follow ups. It could not be easier.
Time and motion studies have shown that Specwall can be installed in approximately a third of the time when compared to a traditional system like SFS or blockwork – making it a much more efficient option and one that can cut a construction timeline down substantially.
Reduced labour requirement
Specwall achieves all of the above time savings with a reduced labour requirement. The installation process could not be simpler and that gives it a major advantage over SFS systems.
The nature of Specwall makes it easy to learn and easy to install. Fewer workers can put up more wall, and all it takes is one simple training session. Learn more about Specwall’s training process here.
Damage resistant and water permeable
Specwall panels are damage resistant and water permeable, making them available for installation at an earlier stage of construction. Unlike the plasterboard that is used in SFS systems, Specwall panels don’t have to be discarded and replaced if they are bumped or water gets on them. This also cuts your overall wastage, adding to the sustainability of your build.
Additionally, this damage resistance means that Specwall can have a positive knock on effect for the whole construction programme. Our panels can actually be used to shield other elements that need dry conditions for installation and therefore let those be completed earlier.
For example, using Specwall for risers means that you can begin your M&E install and chase the panels up the building rather than waiting for the whole shell to be water tight.
Sustainability
Sustainability in construction comes in many forms. Specwall has a lot of bases covered thanks to its flexibility, hardiness and reusability. It is a high performing fire wall which exceeds legislation, with our A1-rated panel having proven fire resistance for more than three and a half hours.
Our A2 panel also achieved its EPD certificate and performs extremely strongly in the following ways:
- Panel can be removed and reused in a different location at the end of the building lifetime (30 years assumed as standard).
- 50% of panels reused without any changes by cutting down the middle, re-forming grooves and reinstalling.
- 38% of panels recycled and used as aggregate.
- 10% returned to Specwall for use as samples.
- Only 2% sent to landfill.
A sustainable product is an efficient one and choosing Specwall will have positive repercussions for your development at all stages, from construction onwards through the life of the building and beyond.
Embracing efficiency means choosing products like Specwall’s sustainable wall partitions which are factory-engineered to make your build easier and more sustainable in the long term.
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