Any shortage of timber following the destruction of plantations and mills by recent fires in South Africa could mean a trend towards replacing wood with light steel building frames.

That's according to an expert - the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction's (SAISC) executive director, Dr. Hennie de Clercq.

“South Africa can ill afford any destruction of its assets, especially an asset like timber, the supplies of which are already under pressure. While the steel building industry is obviously concerned about losses in the timber industry, it comes a relief to hear that a solution is already in place,” says De Clercq.

The light steel frame building industry has emerged as a relatively new industry in South Africa.

Manufacturers can produce roof trusses for houses and other steel buildings, and can also supply light steel frames for the walls of low rise buildings, including homes.

A growing number of homeowners and developers are making use of this metal building method, and the SAISC expects steel framing to become a common sight in the next 12 months.

“Light steel trusses are made of thin-gauge galvanized steel. Almost any shape of roof can be made with them. They have the advantage of being very light, which assists the building process,” says SAFSA's John Barnard.

He adds that there are other advantages to light steel building frame construction.

Light steel framing speeds up the building process, for one. Provided all building materials are ordered in time, buildings can be completed in 50-70 percent of the time taken for brick and mortar buildings.

Another major benefit is that a light steel building frame is so environmentally sustainable.

Because so little steel is used, the steel is recyclable, and waste can be kept to a minimum - important in the developing world.