GS Construction Develops Steel Modular Technology for Mid-to-High-Rise Buildings

Steel modular housing installed by GS Construction at Yongin Technology Research Center (Photo by GS Construction)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] GS Engineering & Construction announced on the 1st that it has developed Steel Modular technology for mid-to-high-rise buildings, filed a patent application, and installed a physical model at the GS E&C Yongin Technology Research Center.

This technology is a construction method that improves the fireproof system and structural joint system, which were chronic construction issues in existing steel modular systems. Fireproof design and structural joints are considered key to quality stability, but they required complex on-site construction, making it difficult to secure constructability and economic feasibility. Accordingly, GS E&C developed a method that reduces manufacturing time and additional on-site work compared to existing steel modular systems.

The fireproof system developed by GS E&C secures fire resistance by applying fireproof spray coating to the modular units. Previously, after installing the modular units, workers had to wrap multiple layers of gypsum board on-site for fireproofing, resulting in inconsistent construction quality depending on worker skill and extended construction periods, leading to high costs.

The newly developed technology has obtained a 3-hour fire resistance certification from the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, making it applicable to high-rise buildings. According to current regulations, buildings with 13 floors or more must apply a fireproof system certified by the institute with at least 3 hours of fire resistance to major structural components such as columns and beams.

Along with this, GS E&C also developed a "one-touch quick connector" for structural joints connecting modular units. Previously, high-strength bolts were used, requiring workers to tighten bolts on-site and perform additional finishing inspections after bolt fastening, which reduced constructability. The newly developed method requires no additional tightening on-site while providing the same performance as conventional high-strength bolts.

GS E&C installed and unveiled a steel modular house incorporating this technology at the Yongin Technology Research Center. The two-story steel modular house features not only the patented technology but also heating glass coated with a transparent conductive film on the glass surface to save energy. Magnetic lighting was applied to the exposed modular joints inside to improve design elements, along with various specialized designs.

GS E&C plans to expand its steel modular business by developing technologies applicable not only to mid-to-high-rise buildings such as hotels, officetels, dormitories, residential buildings, schools, and site offices but also, in the long term, to existing apartment construction projects.