Reduced carbon steel solution

Voestalpine Metsec has manufactured and supplied Steel Framing Systems (SFS) in its reduced carbon steel option, Metsec Decarb, for the construction of a new school.

Main contractor Galliford Try is undertaking a £17 million project to replace the existing Hill West Primary School in Sutton Coldfield, with a new, modern two-storey structure, which will be net zero carbon in operation through energy-efficient design and onsite renewable energy generation.

The environmental benefits of reduced carbon have also been used in the design and construction of the new school, with Galliford Try opting to showcase voestalpine Metsec Decarb, a reduced carbon steel solution for the SFS infill.

The 1,200m² of light gauge cold-rolled steel SFS will be installed by local steel framing specialists and approved Metsec framing installer, C G Reynolds.

Commenting on the project, Charlie Jones, Regional Sales Manager for Metsec SFS, says: “Metsec Decarb is a genuine low carbon steel option, offering true reductions in embodied carbon without greenwashing.

“Hill West is the first school project to use Metsec Decarb and we believe that it will be the first of many as government departments, such as the Department for Education, have now set embodied carbon limits into their construction specification frameworks.

“It also contributes towards Galliford Try’s commitment to low-carbon construction and reducing their carbon footprint in both business operations and project delivery, which demands the adoption of innovative solutions.

“The use of Metsec Decarb on the Hill West project serves as a strong demonstration of this commitment, aligning with Galliford Try’s Net Zero Route Map, the Construction Leadership Council’s Five Client Commitments and initiatives such as the ‘One in a Million’ programme, which focuses on lowering embodied carbon through measures like reduced carbon steel procurement.

“We at Metsec are delighted to support Galliford Try in achieving their carbon-saving strategies for this project, providing an alternative that contributes meaningfully to their sustainability goals.”

Falling within band E (<1,200 kgCO₂e/t) of the steel scale contained within the Construction Leadership Council’s Five Client Commitments, Metsec Decarb offers a significantly reduced carbon steel solution. Metsec is committed to achieving carbon neutrality throughout its operations by 2035.

As with all Metsec Decarb applications, voestalpine Metsec supplied project-specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for the Hill West project, which included accurate calculations of savings in the steel’s embodied carbon. The EPD for Hill West shows a 55% reduction in embodied CO₂ compared with standard steel.

The phased construction is currently underway, with SFS deliveries being made to site according to the construction schedule.

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