Metra Panel Supports Prefabrication

Current challenges in bringing architectural design to the prefab space often lead to discussion on the restrictions that this process will place on architect's designs.

There are many building components like structural and decorative steelwork, balustrades, joinery units, doors, windows, precast concrete and facade cladding, that have been prefabricated off site and installed or assembled in place. There is no good reason why the approach to these building elements cannot be extended to include walls, bathrooms, laundries, parts of or even entire buildings. Technology is now making this possible.

Construction technologies today are helping to transform the way New Zealander's build by:

Creating high quality, innovative buildings
Increasing efficiency, precision, productivity and affordability
Decreasing timeframes and costs
Reducing construction waste
Embracing new technologies
Advancing the New Zealand manufacturing sector

Greater participation from architects and designers would help ensure that the sales pitch for modular, off-site or prefab buildings is not only directed at breaching negative public perception of the process, but also promoting its potential advantages.

This is where Metra Panel Systems Ltd has become part of the move towards more accurate, sustainable, safer and smarter building technologies — where prefabrication can play a significant part of the future built environment in New Zealand.

The adjustment to prefabrication and off-site manufacture may not be prohibitively hard, as Metra Panel see it as simply another stage in the design evolution.

The Metra Panel system lends itself to the prefab technology currently seen more in the residential housing market, but some of the best examples are schools, accommodation, retirement villages and age care facilities. Given the standardised nature of these buildings, prefab or off-site construction can offer innovation, design quality, construction quality, sustainability and value.

Successful prefab or off-site construction is made easier when all parties are at the table in the early stages of the design process. Early stakeholder engagement allows Metra Panel (with its in-house design team) to talk to clients, architects, designers and builders about simplified, solution-based options that prefabrication with its panel system can bring to a design.

Exciting times ahead!

Metra Ceilings

Metra Construction Panels

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Compatible with traditional timber framed buildings, MetraCeilings reduce falling-from-height issues in residential construction.

Lifemark Product Partner

NZ Made

NZ-Owned Business

MetraCeiling has been appraised for use as ceilings in timber-framed buildings subject to specific engineering design.
Trusses are the subject of specific engineering design following the information in the Technical Literature.
The safe working platform system comprises of separate panels supported by pre-certified scaffolding posts (props) along the edge and centre of each panel.
Free edges of the panel are attached to existing walls to give rigidity to the platform.
Ceiling panels are installed on the temporary props and fixed on top of the wall framing prior to the installation of roof trusses.
Roof space ventilation should be provided when using MetraCeiling.

Metra Panel Installers are responsible for the quality of the installation of MetraCeiling panels, the building contractor is responsible for the quality of installation of the roof, and the building owner is responsible for the maintenance of MetraCeiling.

MetraCeiling panels
Ceiling straps (CP1), 50x 1.2mm thick galvanised steel
Ceiling clips (CPC40), 60x40x50x 2mm thick galvanised steel right angle bracket
Ceiling U-channels, 600mm x 1.2mm thick galvanised steel
Ceiling square plates, 200x200x 2mm galvanised steel
Connection and fixing screws, adhesive, sealer/primer paint

In the opinion of BRANZ, the MetraCeiling if designed, used, installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions of the BRANZ Appraisal 951 (2017), will meet the following provisions of the NZBC:

Clause B1 Structure: Performance B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.4. The MetraCeiling meets the requirements for loads arising from self-weight, imposed gravity loads, earthquake, and wind (i.e B1.3.3 (a), (b), (f), and (h)).
Clause B2 Durability: Performance B2.3.1 (a) not less than 50 years. The MetraCeiling will meet this requirement.
Clause F2 Hazardous Building Materials: Performance F2.3.1. MetraCeiling will meet this requirement.

BRANZ Appraised

Metra Panel System

Metra Construction Panels

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The Metra Panel System is a house building system based on Metra Panel wall, floor and ceiling panels.

Homestar / Green Star

Lifemark Product Partner

NZ Made

NZ-Owned Business

Metra Panel can be used as a stand-alone product, or complimentary to other systems leveraging a hybrid approach. The system can be used in the following applications:

Residential (according to BRANZ Appraisal 364, single unit (detached) housing which meets the scope of Clause 1.1.2. of NZS 3604).
Transportables (including minor dwellings, baches, traditional farm style cottages, granny flats, classrooms and subdivided properties). In a factory built environment can deliver a 153sqm transportable house in 4-6 weeks.
Commercial (including internal office fit outs and partitioning, modular components such as bathrooms for high rise structures and purpose built factories, storage units and two storey apartment complexes and student accommodation facilities).
Retirement (including individual units, duplexes, multi-storey complexes, communal facilities and hospitals).
Education (including classrooms, gymnasium, scholl facilities adn student accommodation).

In the opinion of BRANZ, the Metra Panel System comprising Metra Panel wall and ceiling panels, and connections if designed, used, installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions of the BRANZ Appraisal 364 (2015), will meet the following provisions of the NZBC: This is an appraisal of an Alternative Solution in terms of the NZBC

Clause B1 Structure: B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.4 The Metra Panel Construction System meets the requirements for loads arising from self-weight, imposed gravity loads, earthquake, snow and wind (i.e B1.3.3 (a), (b), (f), (g) and (h)). See paragraphs 8.1-8.8
Clause B2 Durability: B2.3.1 (a) not less than 50 years. The Metra Panel Construction System will meet this requirement. See paragraphs 9.1 - 9.3
Clause F2 Hazardous Building Materials: F2.3.1. The Metra Panel Construction System will meet this requirement and will not present a hazard to peoples health. See paragraph 15.1 - 15.3

BRANZ Appraised

Metra Panel Wall System: Inter-Tenancy

Metra Construction Panels

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Metra Panel's Inter-Tenancy Wall System is constructed to provide structural support and both fire and sound insulation between habitable spaces from one dwelling to another.

Homestar / Green Star

Lifemark Product Partner

When integrated with the entire METRA walls, floor, and ceiling system, Metra Panel Inter-tenancy Wall system is a BRANZ Appraised system suitable for terraced/multi-unit developments up to 2-floor levels.

The 172mm Metra Inter-tenancy Wall Design and Construction boasts an FRR 60/60/60 fire resistance rating and STC61 sound insulation, which can achieve a 1S Fire Rating classification for the NZBC and 1 for the NCC upon application of additional specified coatings.

Clause B1 Structure: B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.4 The Metra Panel Construction System meets the requirements for loads arising from self-weight, imposed gravity loads, earthquake, snow and wind (i.e B1.3.3 (a), (b), (f), (g) and (h)).
Clause B2 Durability: B2.3.1 (a) not less than 50 years. The Metra Panel Construction System will meet this requirement.
Clause F2 Hazardous Building Materials: F2.3.1. The Metra Panel Construction System will meet this requirement and will not present a hazard to peoples health.
Fire Resistance Ratings refer to assessments of the degree to which the Metra Panel system is able to meet the categories of Structural Adequacy/Integrity/Insulation in accordance with AS 1530.4-1990.
STC refers to Sound Transmission Class and is a measure of sound insulation. It is measured as per the requirements in section G6/VM1 and G6/AS1 of the New Zealand Building Code.
Test results for both STC measure and FRR are available from Metra Panel on request

BRANZ Appraised

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