October_1970 — Page 31

Three-component building system

A PREFABRICATED building system invented in Germany by Eberhardt G. Rensch is becoming increasingly popu- lar throughout the world because of its simplicity and easy erection proce- dure.

There are only three aluminium components to the Trelement system

a column, a beam and a connector. These are bolted together, finger tight at the initial stage then made secure when the structure is complete.

Licence rights for the system have been given to Alco of Germany for Germany, Europe and Africa, British Aluminium Co. Ltd. for UK and Eire, and Mitsui, Japan for Japan, with an option for Australia.

The planning grid is based on the equilateral triangle instead of the rec- tangle and can be built to any stand- ards required by architects. Flexibility of planning makes it particularly suit- able for schools, motels, private homes and similar buildings, principally single storey.

As a component assembly the system has many advantages. Triangu lation applied to the light components ensures accuracy in the framework, which is strong and solid, in addition to speedy erection without heavy plant. Although the framework is ac- curate, great accuracy is not demanded for other components such as panels, partitions, ceilings and roofs, since these are lapping joints with good wea- thertightness.

No lifting tackle is needed on site, most of the components requiring only three or four men. Rooms and complete buildings fit together in com- pact forms which can be extended, converted or altered within the dis- cipline of the triangular grid.

Hexagonal column

The Trelement column is a hexa- gonal hollow extruded aluminium sec- tion with six fins. It is supplied in standard lengths with pre-drilled holes to give floor and ceiling heights of 2400mm to 4200mm in increments of 300 mm. Beams are extruded channel

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Columns, beams and connectors are shown in this view of a single-storey Trelement building under construction

sections which are bolted back to back to the fins of the columns, using high tensile cadmium-plated steel bolts and stainless steel washers. The connector is a short length of column to which beams are bolted where there is no need for a column.

The beams form the sides of the triangles of the grid and are supported by the column or connectors at nodal points. Thus the structure is a frame

with beams spanning in three direc- tions in one plane. Generally, clear spans of up to 9200mm are possible without intermediate columns.

The module of the grid is 2300mm with a perpendicular dimension be- tween parallel axes of approximately 2000 mm. Rooms which result from planning with this grid they may be symmetrical or asymmetrical made up of a configuration of equi-

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Far East BUILDER, October 1970

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