Sumitomo Metal Industries and Japanese builders’ hardware maker, Tatsumi announced on Thursday they cooperatively developed smart beam floor construction method which supports an intermediate floor by welded light H-beam. They acquired evaluation of Building Center of Japan for the method in July and constructed the first building using the method in Obihiro City, Hokkaido.
Smart beam floor construction method uses laminated lumber joist and welded light H-beam joist for timber framework. Welded light H-beam joist shows few aging changes while it is adoptable to floor framing for a long span representing high strength. The designers don’t need to certificate safety of joint parts thanks to acquirement of the evaluation of Building Center. Sumitomo Metals and Tatsumi plan to appeal the method to builders around Tokyo and aim the sales at 1,000 houses per year and 3,000 houses 3 years later. The method uses welded light H-beam at 200-300 kilogram per house.