Light Gauge Steel Engineering & Building Physics

Precision cold-formed steel manufacturing, continuous external thermal envelope, zero thermal bridging and airtight building physics.

Integrated Passive House Envelope Architecture

8 Engineering Modules
Insulated Slab Foundation 06. XPS 01. CFS S350GD 02. Continuous EWI Wrap 06. 320 mm Roof Insulation 05. Triple Glazed (Uw 0.80) 04. Red Line n50 ≤ 0.60 07. MVHR 88% 03. Ψ ≤ 0.01 W/mK
1:1 CAD/CAM Detail Eurocode 3 • Passivhaus • DIN 4108

Interactive Architectural Sections & Junction Details

Explore the layer-by-layer anatomy of walls, floors, foundations, roofs and precision window installation interfaces.

✓ 6 Systems • High-Precision Details

Exterior Wall 1: Rendered Insulation (EIFS / ETICS)

Classic passive house wall with continuous 120 mm exterior rockwool EIFS fully eliminating all thermal bridging through steel studs, vapour-open from inside out.

U = 0.12 W/m²K • REI 90 • Rw = 56 dB
U-Value
0.12 W/m²K
Total Thickness
335 mm
Sound Insulation
56 dB
Fire Rating
REI 90 (Euroclass A1/A2)
Thermal Bridge (Ψ)
≤ 0.010 W/mK
CAD/CAM PRECISION • CROSS SECTION 1:1 VECTOR SPEC ONLINE INTERACTIVE
EXTERIOR (COLD) INTERIOR (20°C) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ARCHITECTURAL LAYER SPECIFICATION (OUTSIDE TO INSIDE): [1] Silicone Exterior Render & Reinforcing Mesh (10 mm) [2] Continuous Rockwool EWI 140 kg/m³ (120 mm - λ=0.035) [3] BoardeX / Fiber Cement Weather Sheathing (12.5 mm) [4] C140 Galvanized Steel Frame + Rockwool Infill (140 mm) [5] Akıllı Buhar ve Hava Sızdırmazlık Zarı (Kırmızı Hat - n50 ≤ 0.60) [6] Service Cavity Battens (40 mm) • [7] Double Gypsum Board (25 mm) P3 ENVELOPE PACKAGE P1 & P2 STRUCTURAL FRAME P4 INTERIOR FINISH U = 0.12 W/m²K • REI 90 • Rw = 56 dB

Physical Layer Breakdown & Material Specification

7 Layers
1 Silicone Exterior Render & Mesh
P3
10 mm λ: 0.75 W/mK μ: 35 A2-s1,d0
Hydrophobic, breathable finish
2 Continuous Exterior Rockwool Slab
P3
120 mm λ: 0.035 W/mK μ: 1.0 A1
Continuous external thermal blanket
3 External Structural Sheathing Board
P2
12.5 mm λ: 0.25 W/mK μ: 15 A1
Wind & seismic shear diaphragm
4 CFS Stud Frame (C140) + 140 mm Mineral Wool
P1/P2
140 mm λ: 0.034 W/mK μ: 1.0 A1
Primary load-bearing steel skeleton
5 Smart Vapour & Airtightness Membrane
P2
0.5 mm λ: 0.20 W/mK μ: Sd=0.25-25m E
Envelope airtight seal n50 <= 0.60
6 Service Cavity (Battens)
P4
40 mm λ: 0.040 W/mK μ: 1.0 A1
Piping & wiring without piercing membrane + stud thermal break
7 Double Fire/Acoustic Gypsum (Type F) / Fermacell
P4
25 mm λ: 0.25 W/mK μ: 10 A2-s1,d0
Impact durability and fire shielding
Scroll horizontally to view all layer parameters 7 Layers
No Material & Layer Specification Thickness Conductivity (λ) Vapour / Sd Fire Class Delivery Package Building Physics Function
1 Silicone Exterior Render & Mesh 10 mm 0.75 W/mK 35 A2-s1,d0 P3 Hydrophobic, breathable finish
2 Continuous Exterior Rockwool Slab 120 mm 0.035 W/mK 1.0 A1 P3 Continuous external thermal blanket
3 External Structural Sheathing Board 12.5 mm 0.25 W/mK 15 A1 P2 Wind & seismic shear diaphragm
4 CFS Stud Frame (C140) + 140 mm Mineral Wool 140 mm 0.034 W/mK 1.0 A1 P1/P2 Primary load-bearing steel skeleton
5 Smart Vapour & Airtightness Membrane 0.5 mm 0.20 W/mK Sd=0.25-25m E P2 Envelope airtight seal n50 <= 0.60
6 Service Cavity (Battens) 40 mm 0.040 W/mK 1.0 A1 P4 Piping & wiring without piercing membrane + stud thermal break
7 Double Fire/Acoustic Gypsum (Type F) / Fermacell 25 mm 0.25 W/mK 10 A2-s1,d0 P4 Impact durability and fire shielding
Delivery Package Demarcation Lines:
P1: P1: Structural Light Gauge Steel Frame & Anchors
P2: P2: Frame + Sheathing + Cavity Insulation + Vapour Control
P3: P3: Weather-Tight Shell (Continuous EWI + Windows + Roof Waterproofing)
P4: P4: Internal Service Zone + Screed + Double Lining / Finishes

All cross-sections are engineered to Passive House Institute (PHI) standards, Eurocode 3 cold-formed steel rules and DIN 4108 condensation criteria. Contact our engineering desk for project-specific calculations.

Discuss This Section With Our Engineers

Structural Framing & Thermal Envelope Comparison

Concrete, timber framing and SerVilla light gauge steel compared.

Eurocode 3 • S350GD+Z275
Performance Parameter Reinforced Concrete Timber Frame SerVilla CFS
Dimensional Stability Formwork tolerances ±10-20 mm Moisture warping, shrinkage ±0.5 mm CNC precision (Zero warp)
Exterior Wall U-Value 0.25 - 0.40 W/m²K 0.16 - 0.22 W/m²K 0.11 - 0.14 W/m²K (Passive House)
Thermal Bridge Coefficient (Ψ) High (Balconies, columns, lintels) Moderate (Ψ = 0.04 - 0.08 W/mK) Ψ ≤ 0.010 W/mK (Continuous Wrap)
Airtightness (n50) 1.50 - 3.00 h⁻¹ (Plaster cracks) 0.80 - 1.50 h⁻¹ ≤ 0.60 h⁻¹ (Blower Door Target)
Seismic Weight Very heavy (~1000 kg/m²) Light (~150 kg/m²) Ultra-light (~80-120 kg/m²), ductile steel
Biological Resistance Corrosion & moisture risks Termites, mold, fungi risks 100% Inorganic, Z275 zinc protection

8 Advanced Envelope & Building Physics Modules

Explore cross-section drawings, Eurocode standards, U-value formulas and testing protocols.

Structure S350GD • ±0.5 mm

Structural Steel Frame (CFS)

S350GD+Z275 roll-formed structural steel framing engineered to Eurocode 3 (EN 1993-1-3) & Eurocode 8 for 100+ year durability.

EN 1993-1-3 EN 10346 Passive House Effizienzhaus Kfw
Envelope U = 0.11 - 0.14 W/m²K

Wall Build-Ups & Cavity Layers

Multi-layer composite exterior walls achieving U = 0.11 - 0.14 W/m²K, 56 dB acoustic insulation and REI 90 fire protection.

EN ISO 6946 EN 13162 Passive House Effizienzhaus Kfw
Thermal Physics Ψ ≤ 0.010 W/mK

Thermal Bridge Elimination

Complete structural steel thermal decoupling preventing condensation and thermal bypass to ISO 10211 (fRsi >= 0.75).

EN ISO 10211 EN ISO 10077 Passive House Effizienzhaus Kfw
Airtightness n50 ≤ 0.60 h⁻¹

Airtightness & Vapor Control

Smart vapor-variable retarders, certified 50-year adhesive tapes and pre-planned penetration detailing to ISO 9972 (typical n50 = 0.35 h⁻¹).

EN ISO 9972 DIN 4108-7 Passive House Effizienzhaus Kfw
Fenestration Uw ≤ 0.80 • Ug = 0.50

Triple-Glazed Windows & Shading

Passive house certified frames with Uw <= 0.80 W/m²K, Ug = 0.50 argon glass, warm edge spacers and motorized Raffstores.

EN ISO 10077-1 EN 1279 Passive House Minergie
Interfaces U = 0.08 - 0.11 W/m²K

Roof Systems & Ground Perimeter

Insulated roof assemblies with 320 mm cross-laid rockwool, 11-hour thermal phase shift and slab perimeter XPS skirting.

EN 1991-1-3 EN 1991-1-4 Passive House Effizienzhaus Kfw
MEP Systems 88% MVHR • SCOP 4.5

MVHR Ventilation & Heat Pumps

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (>= 85% efficiency), F7 pollen filters, whisper-quiet operation and inverter heat pumps.

EN 13141-7 DIN 1946-6 Passive House Effizienzhaus Kfw
Certification PHPP v10 • EPC A+

PHPP Modeling & Blower Door Testing

Independent verification: PHPP energy balancing, Eurocode structural calculation books and EN 13187 infrared thermography.

PHPP v10 DIN V 18599 Passive House Effizienzhaus Kfw
Engineering Desk

Discuss Structural & Envelope Physics With Our Engineers

Our in-house structural engineers and building physicists model wind loads, seismic coefficients and thermal junctions for your project footprint. Connect directly for technical consultations, DWG/IFC reviews or U-value calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Essential answers regarding steel construction, energy targets and project delivery.

Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) delivers ±0.5 mm CAD/CAM factory precision with zero warping, shrinkage or settlement over time. Applying 100-160 mm of continuous exterior insulation wraps the steel entirely within the conditioned thermal shell, eliminating thermal bridges (Psi <= 0.010 W/mK). Paired with smart vapor retarders and triple-glazing, annual space heating remains below 15 kWh/m²a and airtightness achieves n50 <= 0.60 h⁻¹.

SerVilla framing is manufactured from S350GD structural steel hot-dip galvanized with Z275 (275 g/m² zinc) to EN 10346. Enclosed within a dry, vapor-controlled wall cavity (relative humidity under 60%), annual zinc loss remains under 0.1 µm. The structural design lifespan comfortably exceeds 100 years without maintenance.

Light steel superstructures weigh approximately 80-120 kg/m²—roughly 90% lighter than reinforced concrete. Because earthquake inertial force is directly proportional to mass (F = m · a), seismic base shear is reduced by over 80%. High ductility (Eurocode 8 q = 2.5 - 3.5) dissipates seismic energy through screw-fastened shear walls. Wind and snow loads are calculated to Eurocode 1.

Acoustics follow the mass-spring-mass principle. The multi-layer composite wall integrates external render, cementitious sheathing, 140 mm cavity rockwool, a decoupled 50 mm service cavity with mineral wool and dual-layer acoustic drywall. This layered density spectrum dampens street noise by 56 dB, outperforming single-skin masonry.

In buildings sealed to n50 <= 0.60 h⁻¹, balanced Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) is essential for indoor air quality and energy savings. Counterflow enthalpy exchangers recover 85-92% of heat from stale extract air, pre-warming incoming fresh air filtered through ISO ePM1 70% (F7) pollen filters 24 hours a day.

Ceilings are the most vulnerable plane due to thermal convection during fire and continuous gravitational loads. A double layer (2x 12.5 mm = 25 mm) provides certified REI 60-90 fire containment, prevents sagging, and ensures >56 dB airborne and impact sound absorption. Strict installation specification: Joint filler must be applied to all joints of the 1st layer before installing the 2nd layer, with boards staggered by at least 40-50 cm to completely eliminate joint crack risks and air leakages.

Request a Project Quote

Prepare your project brief and connect directly with the SerVilla engineering team via WhatsApp.

Direct connection with SerVilla engineering desk.
ℹ️ How it works: Clicking opens a pre-composed project brief in WhatsApp. You review and send it yourself. No payment or financial data is collected.
Chat on WhatsApp