BISF House - An original prefabricated UK housing solution

BISF houses are steel framed houses built by the British Iron and Steel Federation from 1946 as an immediate solution to the post-war housing crisis. BISF was an association of steel producers, formed in 1934 in order to provide central planning for the industry. It was prominent in coordinating output through World War II. Post-war, BISF became key in the new Ministry of Works Emergency Factory Made housing programme.

It sponsored a solution for a permanent steel framed housing to a MoW conforming design by architect Sir Frederick Gibberd, who also designed the Howard house. Approximately 30,000 homes were built across the country, predominantly in pairs but there were terraces.

The BISF house is a prefabricated steel design, originally built with a shallow pitched asbestos roof, paneling to the upper level and render to the ground level. Between the metal frames are timber struts and insulation with an inner plasterboard or hardboard, which originally had a design life of between ten and twenty years. More standard materials could be incorporated or simulated, for example, a brick cladding to the lower storey, or steel sheet profiled to match timber weatherboarding to the upper.

The inner cladding and the partitions are constructed of timber framing faced with plasterboard or hardboard. The upper floors are of tongue & grooved timber and the ceilings are finished with plasterboard or fibreboard. The outer walls and ceilings are insulated with glass quilting.[4]

BISF houses are often confused with other prefabricated houses built in the same post-war era. BISF Houses are often wrongly assumed to be temporary structures.

However, these properties should be expected to have a similar lifespan to that of a traditional brick built house. This is another reason that mortgage companies place more stringent conditions when offering on these properties.

Specific BISF property issues

• BISF house roofing contains asbestos, which is extremely hazardous to health if disrupted.
• BISF house structure can suffer deterioration at the base of the steel structure, window surrounds and rooms with humidity such as bathrooms and kitchens.
• BISF house insulation can result in condensation. Carrying out rectification work would need to be done with the neighbouring property, which can be difficult.

CoverBuilder is a non-standard home insurance provider in the UK.