M.P.S.P. method (Modular Prefabricated Steel Panels) is a building-prefabrication system, developed by Mr. John Marneris, which consists of steel members, and is applied without limitations, to all buildings.
Main advantages of the method are:
1. The high speed of construction, at least twice that of the conventional one, due to the fact that the construction of steel elements can practically start the day after the signing of the relevant contract. This is achieved by omitting the time consuming conventional procedures before the start of production (such as on-site initial measurements after the foundation is finished, preparation of TECLA drawings, etc.). The reason for that is on the one hand to the very advanced level of the structural design, providing every single construction information, and on the other hand to the flexible connection system of the method, which is simple and allows dealing with various issues that appear during construction. It is noted that the system optionally includes a secondary frame for shaping the openings (windows-doors) and supporting the panels of the dry wall system.
2. The low construction cost, approximately 70% of the conventional one. This is due the fact that every panel is designed with the absolutely necessary sections, avoiding that way the usual cross section grouping of the conventional methods. Also due to the fact that the columns of each panel consists from thin composite hollow cross-sections, which are connected on site to provide the final columns of the building.
Each floor of building is divided into a set of vertical and horizontal panels, which are connected to each other horizontally and vertically with an ingenious connection system (Fig. 1).
First, the vertical panels of each floor are constructed and then the horizontal panels are placed on special “cantilever plates”, provided on the beams of the vertical panels. A thin slab of reinforced concrete is poured onto the horizontal panels, on a trapezoidal metal sheet. This procedure is repeated for the next floor (Fig. 2). In smaller structures the concrete plate can be replaced by a double layer plywood, well connected to the horizontal panels.
Fig. 3 shows a typical vertical panel consisting of a single-span frame. The main structural elements are shown in yellow, whereas the secondary (for the formation of the openings and the support of the dry wall panels) are shown in blue. The columns consist of small and thin hollow sections filled with small aggregate concrete (composite sections). The beams consist of IPE sections, with shear connector on their top. At the bottom part of the beams “cantilever plates” are placed for the temporary support of the horizontal panels.
Fig. 4 shows the same vertical panel, after the placement of the secondary framing system for the formation of the openings and the support of the dry wall panels. Note again that the construction of this system is optional, but it does help speed up the build time.
Fig. 5 shows another vertical panel, in which a stiffening system of two diagonal members is included.
Fig. 6 shows a typical horizontal panel, in which the main beams are shown in yellow and the secondary cross-sections in blue. The latter are needed for the temporary support of the horizontal panels on “cantilever plates” of the vertical panels beams. The main beams are of IPE sections with shear connector on their top for connection to the concrete plate (composite beams). On top of the beams a trapezoidal metal sheet is placed on which a thin concrete plate is poured on site.
Photos 1 and 2 show phases from the application of the method in the construction of the “Dreams” building, in “ASTERIA” Glyfada touristic complex.
