Cold-formed steel (CFS) studs continue to gain popularity in the residential and commercial framing markets. CFS studs are lightweight, impervious to termites, can be cut to precise specifications and never twist or warp. Plus, CFS has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all structural framing materials โ up to 7 times greater than that of dimensional lumber.
โAs metal studs become more and more popular throughout various construction applications, learning more about light gauge studs, and where to use them can make your next project a success,โ says Roger Kint, writer forย Drywall Insider.
To ease the learning curve, Klint provides a guide to realize theย many benefits of steel framingย and understand the basics to be ready for your next project.
What Are Cold-Formed Steel Studs?
CFS framing is made from strips of structural quality sheet steel that are fed through roll forming machines to meet the requirements of specific applications.
CFS, also called light-gauge steel or metal stud framing,ย is typically referred to as light-framedย construction. The vertical and horizontal structural elements are primarily formed by a system of repetitive framing members. The framing members are typically spaced at 16 or 24 inches on center, the spacing variations depending upon the loads and coverings.
A variety of CFS thicknesses are available to meet a wide range of structural and non-structural applications (range from 0.0147 inches to about 1/8 inch).ย Standard CFS productsย are defined in AISI S201,ย North American Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing โ Product Data, 2012 Edition.
CFS is increasingly being used as the primary structural system for buildings 10-plus stories. It is also gaining use in the framing ofย single-family homes. A variety of CFS framing products are available from various manufacturers.
Steel Framed-Home Built to Last Over 100 Years
The Doulton Drive home was designed to have a life expectancy of more than 100 years
Aย modern homeย being built outside of Toronto, featuring CFS framing, provides an example of how todayโs innovative contractors are using improved practices to construct homes that will last a century and beyond.
Located in Mississauga, Ontario, the residence on Doulton Drive will have โa completely noncombustible rigid steel frame and solid concrete floors,โ says the website for homebuilder,ย Chatsworth Fine Homes, Oakville, Ontario.
โThe architect designed this home to have a life expectancy of more than 100 years,โ says Fil Capuano, president of Chatsworth Fine Homes. โResilient products like the steel framing system were carefully chosen to meet that life span.โ
The home features a hybrid system that combines structural steel and CFS wall framing. The interior partitions will make use of CFS framing and wallboard.
โItโs in-fill framing using all wind-bearing metal studs,โ says Chris Sliskovic, president ofย Life Drywall Systems, Ltd., an Oakville, Ontario residential and commercial contractor that has the framing, drywall and finishing contract for the project.
โThose walls and reveals, no matter the finish, will always be straight,โ Sliskovic says. โSteel doesnโt warp. It doesnโt twist. The homeowner wonโt ever get nail pops. And for sound, itโs just a no-brainer โ the walls will be finished next to perfection.โ
How are Steel Studs Made?
CFS is made from structural quality sheet steel formed into C-sections and other shapes usually by roll-forming the steel through a series of dies. No heat is required to form the shapes (unlike hot-rolled steel), hence the name cold-formed steel.
SFIA member Telling Industries provides an inside look at steel stud production.
The Benefits of Steel Framing Over Wood
โMany skilled carpenters will agree that metal studs are often much easier to work with than wood studs,โ says Klint. โA wood stud wall is cumbersome and heavy.โ
Littleย Cutting, Reduced Waste
CFS framing is similar to wood. But, it is manufactured to precise lengths, so very little cutting and sizing occurs at the job site.
โSteel studs, tracks, and channels can be ordered in specific quantities with exact measurements from steel roll formers, creating less waste.โ says Clint. โOnce they arrive at a job site, most steel studs for wall framing fit together, so theyโre easily stackable.โ
Aย South Valley Prefabย craftsman inspects the quality of a prefabricated exterior wall panel.
Durability
Steel is dimensionally stable and does not expand or contract with changes in moisture content. Steel will not warp, split, crack or creep when exposed to the elements.
โUnlike wood, light gauge steel is damp proof and wonโt rot,โ says Clint. โSteel doesnโt easily hold mold or harbor insects โ it wonโt warp from water damage or burn upโ
Sustainable
Every piece of CFS framing contains recycled content and meets the highest sustainability requirements of all major green building standards and rating programs.
CFS Meets All Sustainability Requirements
Cold-formed steel (CFS) meets the highest sustainability requirements set in all major green building standards and rating programs, including the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDยฎ) from theย ย U.S. Green Building Council, the National Green Building Standard (ICC-700) for residential buildings, ASHRAE Standard 189.1 for commercial construction and the International Green Construction Code (IgCC).
Theย American Iron and Steel Instituteย reports:
- Steel framing contains a minimum of 25% recycled steel and is continually and completely โremade without any loss of qualityโ
- Most other construction products can only be down-cycled into lower-quality products
- Steel framing minimizes construction site waste
Who Manufactures Steel Studs?
ย If you are new to steel framing, or are looking for information on new products or providers, BuildSteel has created a directory to simplify the process.
Theย BuildSteel Product and Provider Directoryย is your one-stop shop to find all things CFSย related. The directory allows users to search by category, service type, location or certification type.
Free Project Assistance
Need support for a new or existing project in the U.S. and Canada? Use BuildSteelโs free project assistance for CFS framing:
- Convertย from wood framing, masonry or concrete to steel
- National networkย of contractors, suppliers and manufacturers
- Industry expertsย with decades of knowledge on CFS
- Central sourceย for consultation on code-compliant design
Simply fill out ourย project assistance form. We will provide you with an expert based on the needs of your project.
Additional Resources
- 10 Reasons to Frame Your Next Project with Steel
- Free On-Demand Webinar: Cold-Formed Steel in Mid-Rise Construction
- How Cold-Formed Steel and Structural Steel Are Alike โ and Different
Cited from BUILDSTEEL.ORG