SFS Gateway 2 Evidence Pack: What BSR Wants
Gateway 2 is finally working — approval times have dropped from 48 weeks to 13. But SFS submissions still get returned. Here’s what BSR wants in the four evidence categories, and how to pass first time.
News
The 5 Checks Main Contractors Run on SFS Subbies
12,000+ UK construction firms entered insolvency between 2023 and 2025. Tier 1 contractors now run five checks before appointing an SFS subbie. Here’s what they look at, and why trading history matters.
SFS Infill vs Blockwork: 2026 Cost & Performance
SFS infill or blockwork? A head-to-head on five axes — cost per m², programme weeks per floor, Part L 2025 thermal performance, fire compliance, and load on the primary frame. Honest about who wins where.
The BTR SFS Playbook: Speed, Standardisation, Safety
UK Build-to-Rent has passed 130,000 homes and SFS has quietly become its default construction method. Here’s why steel framing aligns with BTR’s three pressures — speed to stabilisation, standardisation and cladding-risk.
The Specifier’s Checklist
Most published SFS guidance is written for clients and contractors, not specifiers. This 7-point checklist tells architects exactly what to ask of an SFS subcontractor at RIBA Stage 3 — and the red flags.
SFS Deflection Heads Explained: Detailing for Compliance
The single SFS detail that causes more on-site problems than any other — what a deflection head does, the three system types in UK use, fire-rated detailing, and the five mistakes that destroy compliance.
SFS Fire Resistance Ratings: 60, 90 & 120 Minute Systems Explained
Fire-rated SFS specification in the post-Grenfell era — what EI 60, EI 90 and EI 120 ratings actually mean, typical tested through-wall build-ups, and the five common mistakes that invalidate Gateway 2 compliance.
Steel Frame Extension Cost UK: Detailed Breakdown for Homeowners
A 2026 UK cost breakdown for homeowners weighing up a steel frame extension — single-storey, two-storey and rooftop pricing, what’s actually included per m², and where steel beats brick on total project cost.
SFS U-Values & Thermal Performance: Meeting Part L 2025
Specifying thermally-compliant SFS facades for Part L 2025 and Future Homes Standard — achievable U-values, why thermal bridging at steel studs ruins headline calculations, and what continuous outboard insulation fixes.
SFS Cost Per m² UK: 2026 Pricing Guide for Developers
A 2026 UK pricing guide for developers and QSs procuring SFS — supply, install and through-wall £/m² ranges, what drives the spread, and how to read tender returns so the comparison is genuinely like-for-like.
What Is a Metal Stud Partition?
A specification and procurement guide for architects, designers, and main contractors — covering metal stud partition system types, stud gauges, height limits, acoustic and fire performance, and the decisions that determine whether a partition delivers on its specification.
Metal Stud Partitions vs. Timber
For small domestic extensions, timber remains a viable option. However, for multi-story developments and rooftop extensions, the benefits of metal stud partitioning are undeniable. It offers a faster, safer, and more precise foundation for the high-quality finishes your clients expect.