SFS
SFS Group Fastening Technology Ltd.
153 KIRKSTALL ROAD
LEEDS
WEST YORKSHIRE LS4 2AT
Tel: 0330 0555 888
Fax:
Suppliers of: Hinges, Fasteners, Fixings, Concealed Hinges, Cladding Fixings, Thermally Broken Fasteners.
SFS is the world’s leading manufacturer of carbon and stainless steel fastener components for the building envelope, as well as innovative rainscreen sub-frame systems, high performance door hinges and award winning fall protection systems. SFS are a Swiss headquartered company with annual sales in excess of £1.4bn.
Based in Leeds for over 100 years with offices in Welwyn Garden City, for more information on SFS products please visit our website to find out more at: www.uk.sfs.com or give us a call on: +44 (0)330 0555 888
SFS are the only EU manufacturer of stainless steel construction fasteners in various steel grades. We provide carbon, A2, A4 and A5 fasteners. We support architects in specifying the right product for the application and sustainability and aesthetic attributes required. Our products use austenitic stainless steel to ensure that the buildings they are used on won’t fail due to corrosion.
Our Product rage consists of:
Building Envelope
Pitched Roofing and Facade
- Single & twin skin construction - A new generation of stainless steel self-drilling fasteners. Our answer to the emerging challenges in industrial light construction is a new range of stainless steel drilling fixings. These components offer enormous benefits.
- Standing Seam and Secret Fix - Easy installation of halters for standing seam roofs. SDK fasteners, specially developed for halters, leave nothing to be desired in terms of ease-of-use and long term security.
- Composite Panels - Fast and comfortable fixing of composite panels. SFS offers the answer with the SXC family. These fixings fulfil a host of requirements.
- Structural Connection - Simple, reliable fixing in high tensile steel. Increasing demands in terms of security and product durability increasingly call for the use of high quality steel fasteners in industrial construction.
- Rivets - Efficient fastening solutions for thin metal sheet applications with our range of Multi range blind rivets and Folding blind rivets BULB-TITE®
- Tools & Accessories - Time is money; especially on site. That’s why productivity-improving installation tools have always been a feature of the SFS service package.
Flat Roof
- isotak® system - For attachment of membrane and insulation reducing thermal bridging in flat roof and cold storage construction applications.
- isoweld® system - Innovative induction welding system which welds adhesive coated plates to single ply membrane.
- isofast® system - a fully metallic system consisting of special fasteners and stress plates for fastening membranes and insulation to a range of substrates.
Structural Connections
- TDBL nonut® - for secure steel-to-steel connections in diverse fields of application - a fastener without a NUT!
- MULTI-MONTI® - an innovative and secure anchorage bolt for concrete and walling.
Fenestration
Hinges
- Hinges for PVC - Our PVC hinge product range is specially matched to the needs of the end user. We offer both standard PVC hinges and also PVC hinges for special applications. Our PVC hinge portfolio includes the Dynamic 2D, Dynamic 3D and Estetic 2D.
- Hinges for composite - The new Dynamic 2D-C and Dynamic 2D-F hinges have the same benefits of the original Dynamic range for PVC-U doors, namely great aesthetics, adjustability, security and durable performance.
- Hinges for timber - Quality, performance, load support strength and modern design are the hallmarks of our door and window hinges for the timber market.
- Hinges for aluminium - Inspired by the latest trends, SFS has introduced a complete programme of hinges for steel and aluminium doors. The Just 3D for steel frames and the Dynamic 3D for aluminium head up this range.
Fabrication
- MC - Mechanical Corner Fixing System. The competitiveness of a timber window can be improved drastically with single part production. The special features of the new MC fixing system for the mechanical corner fixing contribute decisively to the economic efficiency of this new manufacturing technology.
- Accessories and fitting tools - SFS offers hinge covers, slip-over heads, milling guides, drilling patterns, gauges and all sorts of other useful installation aids to help make the most of SFS hinges.
Window Installation Systems
- JB-D® - The JB-D® installation system allows for scheduled, accurate window and doorset installation in accordance with RAL guidelines and accommodates all dead and imposed loads. Used for aluminium, timber and PVCu windows, the system is ideal for high rise residential and commercial buildings.
- Frame Fixings - Our SPTR range of fasteners provide fixing and adjustment solutions for our window installation systems for all substructures and our FB range of frame fixings can be used without plugs on window frames. These fixings allow easy installation of window frames in various walling materials.
From John O’Groats to Lands End, we’ve supplied products for new and refurbished projects throughout the UK.
SFS aims to increase awareness of all aspects of construction from building envelope to hinge technology, take a look at our range of CPD seminars:
- Rainscreen Cladding Systems
- Airtightness & Thermal Efficiency for Roofing & Cladding Systems
- Evolution to Innovation - Fixing of Warm Roofs
- Hinge Technology - Design, Function and Compliance
Useful Resources:
- Video: Access ACO Product Videos on YouTube
- CPD’s: Take a look at our range of CPD seminars
- The SFS Academy: our custom-built academy, showroom and hands-on training facility brings together industry professionals to learn and share Knowledge click here to find out more
Further detailed technical information can be found in our catalogues, brochures and technical data in our Download centre or in our BPIndex library.
SFS Wing Drill Screws SC5 & SC6
Quick and ergonomic fastening of wooden boards to supporting steel structures
The new, optimised SC5 and SC6 wing drill screws now do their job even better by fastening wood-based boards to steel substructures in one step. Thanks to the new underhead geometry the screws can be inserted into the wood-based boards, uniform and flush, without damaging the surface coating. Setting tools and professional ratchet handles offer installers on-site support in their work on projects.
Features & Benefits
• Fast - Efficient connection of wood with steel substructure in one step
• Safe - Design parameters based on National Technical Approval (Z-14.4-872)
• Ergonomic - Comfortable to use thanks to coordinated setting system
• Complete - Coordinated fastening system with the set system, technical service including application support and building control approval
EMBODIED CARBON - SECURING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT’S FUTURE WITH CARBON TRACKING
SECURING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT’S FUTURE WITH CARBON TRACKING
As the construction industry continues moving towards a more sustainable future, tracking the amount of carbon embedded in building products will be crucial to companies becoming more environmentally friendly. Andrew Stolworthy, Director of Product and Market Development of SFS explains what the industry needs to do to on this journey.
Sustainability has never been more important and key to this challenge is in making the right choice of products to use. This is particularly acute when it comes to the amount of embodied carbon in building products.
What is embodied carbon?
Embodied carbon refers to all the carbon produced during the product’s life. This isn’t always easy to determine – much of the carbon you can't see is locked in infrastructure, buildings and products. The embodied carbon of these items come from more than just the materials used to build them.
For example, when calculating embodied carbon, we must measure the carbon output of the entire manufacturing process. Carbon emissions from the production of raw materials are part of the equation, as are those from shipping and transportation. Even assembling the parts into a finished product contributes to that product's carbon footprint in some cases.
Embedded emissions in the built environment
A significant portion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is made up of embodied carbon, and is therefore one of the fundamental challenges for the construction industry in its move towards sustainability.
These GHG emissions from the built environment can be divided into two categories: operational carbon – attributed to operational energy consumption during the building’s lifetime – and embodied carbon. Approximately 40% of energy related GHG emissions are driven by generating buildings, while 11% is generated from manufacturing materials, according to the Carbon Leadership Forum.
Identifying embodied carbon
As we begin to see more architects, specifiers and contractors concerned with the carbon emissions of each product, the question becomes: how can the carbon footprints of products be effectively defined to include accurate information on embodied carbon?
One method is environmental product declarations (EPDs), which have become a growing source of environmental data. These are increasingly being used in assessing buildings' environmental performance and in comparing products for procurement decisions later on in the construction process.
However, a lack of data quality and the lack of transparency of EPDs means identifying and purchasing low-embodied carbon products can be challenging.
Currently, the UK has no formal regulation regarding embodied carbon emissions. The campaign group ACAN (Architects Climate Action Network) is demanding the introduction of regulatory legislation in line with countries such as France, Finland and the Netherlands.
Likewise, Part Z – a lobby group comprising architects, structural engineers and sustainability experts – is seeking a new section to be added to the Building Regulations requiring compulsory whole-life carbon assessments.
Ensuring EPDs are verified and compliant
However, with such game-changing action and initiative, alterations to standards and regulations will inevitably take to come into force. Until then, it is vital architects and specifiers understand the carbon footprint of the products they choose.
Manufacturers must attain verified environmental product declarations (EPDs) and confirm that their products comply with European standard EN 15804. This standard describes the technical performance of the product through its life cycle.
Having a verified EPD means that architects and specifiers can better trust the origin of a product so the amount of embodied carbon within it can be easily quantifiable.
This provides independent proof of the product’s sustainability, supporting compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations. For the manufacturer, there is the clear benefit of the product being recognised as fit-for-purpose from a sustainability perspective, helping them meet customer demands and specifications.
Leading the market towards sustainability
It is for all these reasons that SFS has signed up to the BRE’s EPD scheme.
Amongst a host of key benefits, SFS has begun implementing the BRE’s online measuring tool, LINA, which gives access to best-in-class EPD methodology. This ensures a scientific basis behind the calculations of embodied carbon, bringing transparency back into the supply chain as well as driving product innovation making more sustainable choices. We are currently in the process of getting our NVELOPE® subframe systems verified and will then roll out to other SFS products.
EPDs are but one of several measures SFS has adopted to help customers make more informed choices about sustainability. To support the principle of capping embodied carbon emissions on all major construction projects through the introduction of Approved Documentation, SFS are now active members of the UN Global Compact.
Alongside this, SFS is at the forefront of digital construction with tools including the NVELOPE® Project Builder service for rainscreen subframes systems, an online tool available to building architects and specifiers that calculates all necessary considerations in a project’s initial planning stage. It allows for automated calculations of general building areas and provides all component guides and list prices, NBS specifications and 3D modelling of thermal point loss areas.
This is in addition to SFS’ Thermal Lite tool, which calculates U-values, identifies sources of thermal bridging, and offers tailored guidance on reducing thermal performance gaps due to cold bridging.
These tools are all available through SFS’ ConnectSuite, an online portal that hosts smart tools and apps to streamline specification and design processes.
Measuring embodied carbon is just the first step
Regardless of legislative change, the benefits of knowing how much embodied carbon there is in building products should be obvious.
Whether by helping those architects and specifiers to make more informed choices today, or by challenging ourselves to think differently about how we source, manufacture and transport products, we’re excited by the possibilities.
Tracking embodied carbon is just the start – we are already on the pathway to other digital technologies such as BIM digital twin capabilities and we are actively engaging with industry bodies such as Construction Excellence and joined initiatives such as the Construction Innovation Hub Platform Project, working to identify, refine and develop solutions that can be deployed to make positive change in terms of sustainable construction.
At SFS, we believe in securing futures, and this scheme helps us in that goal. After all, building plans of today are tomorrow’s homes, offices, shops, hotels, and hospitals. To secure those buildings and their futures, the work begins now.
For more about SFS, please visit https://uk.sfs.com.
