What is Cold-Formed Steel?

If you have an upcoming construction project, you may want to consider using cold-formed steel. This steel is manufactured from quality structural steel sheets created into different shapes like the C section. This is usually achieved when the steel is roll formed via a sequence of dies. You do not need any heat to form these shapes like you would if you were using hot rolled steel.

There is a range of steel thicknesses available that meets different non-structural and structural applications. Some of its best features are that it is pretty easy to install, non-combustible, extremely strong, and also lightweight. Thanks to advanced technological developments, cold-formed steel was primarily used in commercial construction, but it can now be used in multi-housing and mid-rise buildings.

Cold-formed steel framing is popularly turning into the most preferred material for building hotels, assisted living facilities, and student dormitories throughout the country, mainly because judicious developers want to maximize their investment.

Why Should I Use Cold-Formed Steel?

There are plenty of reasons why you should consider using cold-formed steel in your project. It is an excellent choice of framing system to use on your six to ten-story building. While it is one of the most cost-effective options available, it also offers an easy installation option, and you will not have to compromise on quality.

It is among the most resilient, durable, and sustainable building materials on the market that will significantly benefit your upcoming project. Discussed below are a few reasons why you should use it.

Easy to Install

Cold-formed steel is pretty easy to work with and install. It can also be shipped quickly, and its handling and assembly are just as easy. The roof, floor, and wall sections of cold-formed steel can be assembled off-site in a controlled environment. This is ideal since it can reduce the costly delays often caused by bad weather, and it also ensures that you have excellent quality control.

Resilient and non-combustible

One of the best features of cold-formed steel is that it's non-combustible. It is also pretty resistant to ballistic penetration, blast threats, and maximum environmental and seismic loads. Fundamentally, these features make it among the most resilient building materials in the market.

Sustainable

If you would like to reduce your environmental footprint, this will be an excellent choice to start with in your construction project. Cold-formed steel is pretty sustainable, it can last for an extended period, and at the end of its lifespan, you can recycle all of it.

As mentioned, it also consists of a minimum of 25% recycled steel. Out of the significant rating programs and green building standards, it is one of the construction materials that meet the highest sustainability requirements.

Durable

Cold-formed steel is among the most durable construction materials you can find. Besides being durable, it also has a resistance to vermin, mold, and corrosion. This enhances its longevity, and there are very few building materials in the industry that can compare.

Cost effective

If you want to save on costs in your upcoming construction project, you should consider using cold-formed steel. It has a proven track record of being cost-effective through the whole construction process. This is because it offers improved designs efficiency, accuracy, and predictability of steel components, shorter project cycles, and lower insurance rates.

Increased acoustic ratings

Cold-formed steel framing has a higher acoustic rating than precast concrete, gypcrete, and wood. This is because its steel framing can be combined easily with sound flanking techniques to help with noise reduction. This is an essential factor in any building and the individuals inhabiting that building.

Weighs Less

Another important reason you should use cold-formed steel in construction is that it weighs less than wood and concrete. Lighter materials do not only reduce your shipping cost, but you will have an easier time maintaining the lighter beams once you have installed them, and you can also store them in bulk easily.

While it weighs less than concrete, it can carry the same structural load that concrete can carry. Therefore, this means that your building can use a smaller foundation and lightweight flooring without compromising your structure's integrity.

Design flexibility

Cold-formed steel framing's design is quite simple. Each joist is created to meet a desired tolerance and strength level as needed for every specific structure. When these specifications are incorporated during the design stage. It gives architects the freedom to create without straying away from the parameters of the project at hand.

Steel is pretty versatile and can be molded into just about any desired shape, and this does not only apply to cold-formed steel structures. A steel structure can range from a simple warehouse design to residential homes to skyscrapers. Some of the most popular structures and buildings around the world were created from steel. This includes the Chicago Willis Tower and Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

It is also worth adding that an existing cold-formed steel frame can extend an existing building's sustainability by creating industrial mezzanines and additions. Simply put, it is a building material that offers unparalleled flexibility.

Shorter construction period

When using cold-formed steel, your construction period will be shorter compared to when you are using other materials. This is because it is often fabricated to the exact specifications required off-site. While this is being done, you can work on the foundation and other preliminary site prep. This way, when the fabrication is done, the steel will be shipped to the site, and you can start the installation process.

This means that the construction will be done quickly, and it will save plenty of time. Saving time in the early stages of construction usually helps reduce the time needed to finish the project. This allows the project manager to focus on other aspects of the construction project. It is also worth noting that a human error will not cause any delays in the construction because everything is fabricated off-site, so there will be no reinstalling, recutting, or re-measuring of materials.

It is worth mentioning that the foundation will also cost you much less when you use cold-formed steel since it will have less weight to hold than if you were to use the contemporary steel or wood structure.

There are plenty of reasons why building with cold-formed steel in your construction projects is the better way to build. But perhaps one of the most outstanding reasons is that its steel framing is green. This means that you will be able to reduce your environmental footprint and the best part is that everything is recyclable when the material serves its lifespan of up to 100 years.

Beyond sustainability , it is also one of the most durable materials, yet it is very cost-efficient. You will most likely see a shorter construction period, Faster, more efficient build means a better and faster return on your investment. With the current rise in demand for commercial and residential property, cold-formed steel will only increase in popularity. Call today to find out more and how we can help you with your project.

Why Use Steel Frame Construction?

Much steel frame construction is used for basic large framed buildings, such as large garages, storage sheds, warehouses, and even agricultural buildings. However, steel frames are also used on many large building projects, like mid-rise and high-rise buildings. The reason steel frame construction is used in these projects is that it has a lot to offer. Durability, Affordability, and Sustainability are the three major reasons for building with steel. Steel frames can be manufactured off-site to completion and then brought to the job site when needed. This helps bring down the job site cost dramatically.

Durability and Strength

Like Las Vegas, steel frame construction has a tremendous amount of strength and durability. In comparison to wood-bearing or concrete projects, steel is much lighter and can weigh as much as 50% less.

Any Size Project

Residential or commercial projects can use a steel frame for the project. Steel can be shaped and shifted into almost any size needed. The steel frames come in all different sizes and can also be custom-built for a specific weight load.

A Natural Fire Retardant

Steel is a material that is a natural firefighter. When a building catches fire, steel frames help prevent the spread of fire. Frames have a fire retardant applied to them to help fight the fire even further.

No Bugs

Unlike wooden frames, steel will never have an issue with invading insects or burrowing mammals.

Weather and Moisture Resistant

Depending on the fiber content of the steel, it can hold great moisture-resistant properties. Elements can be added to the steel through powder sprays. Hot Zinc along with a number of other rust-resistant powder treatments help as well.

What are the stakeholder benefits of Cold-Formed Steel?

While the above-listed are the overall benefits of using cold-formed steel in your project, stakeholders must consider many other benefits. Below are the different benefits that the different stakeholders will gain when investing in cold-formed steel for their construction projects.

Engineers

• Instead of l-wood, the unmatched clean span will offer you the chance to have bigger rooms and an open design.

• The panels of cold-formed steel are not combustible and have a one-hour fire rating.

Contractors

• Construction is pretty efficient since there is less need for drilling, cutting, or punching steel on site. It is also easy to move and place cold-formed columns and beams without using heavy machinery.

• You need a minimal list of tools when working with cold-formed steel.

• The training time for working with cold-formed steel is pretty short, which is an excellent advantage to offset unforeseen delays with the foundation. Since the framing is pretty easy to learn, the transition of the learning curve to trained labor is pretty quick. Provided the framer has the experience and required skills, they can quickly transfer them.

• The complexity of the heavy service follow-up trade is not necessary since you will be taking advantage of the wiring opening and extensive pre-cut services.

• Cold-formed steel has been in existence for an extended period and has been experiencing continuous innovation. The constant factor has always been that you will not have to compromise on quality.

Owners

• Using cold-formed steel increases your project's marketability. This is because its panel framing system gets rid of the number of soffits needed to be used. As a result, this allows properties to have high ceilings, which helps create more modern and spacious rooms that are readily marketable to your target tenants and renters.

• It is more cost-effective when you compare it to a typical steel or wood structure. For instance, you do not need firestops, separate steps for continuous insulation, gypsum wallboard, house wrap, and sheathing when you use cold-formed steel. Since there will only be a few steps to follow during the construction of a cold-formed steel wall, you will use few materials and reduce the various trade requirements.

• The construction duration will be speeded, meaning that you will have an early return on investment.