Building with Structural Cold Formed Steel (CFS)
Everything. Yes, with Integrated Steel you are able to design and build everything above the foundation, including roof trusses, floor joists, load bearing and non-load bearing walls.
Yes. Our system can improve everything from conceptual design to shop drawings, though we recommend Integrated Steel be brought in early to work directly with the architect as Engineer of Record for best cost, schedule, material and weight reduction.
Step 1: Send Integrated Steel a set of drawings/plans for any project in CAD or .dwg format, or Integrated Steel consulting engineers can work directly with the architect.
Step 2: Integrated Steel converts the project into CFS with its engineering software and provides a cost proposal.
Step 3: If accepted, that file is then sent to engineering for a final detailing and stamp.
Integrated Steel partners with a number of engineering firms, as well as having the capability to engineer in-house.
Offsite panelization in a controlled environment offers additional flexibility for the schedule - as well as greater quality control.
No. If it can be designed with CAD software, it can be built using Integrated Steel. Since steel framing allows for larger spans in the design of the home, fewer interior load bearing walls are needed, making renovation very easy while allowing more flexibility in design.
Yes, all projects are designed to US building codes and current IBC standards.
Yes. All projects are designed to meet local wind, snow and seismic codes, even up to seismic 5. The engineering software accepts those inputs and converts the design to optimize the use of steel.
Yes – Our methodology uses both generic and proprietary assemblies.
Fire Assembly
Sound Assembly
Load Bearing and Ceiling Assembly
Economically, we suggest a maximum of about 10 floors, but from a design perspective the methodology can go much higher, though doing so may incorporate more steel. Contact your Integrated Steel representative to discuss your specific project.
Anything. The same materials for cladding (interior and exterior) are used for timber, concrete and all other framing materials. In fact, a steel frame project will look exactly like any other project.
Durability
All Integrated Steel projects use galvanized steel coated material at varying degrees appropriate to the local environmental conditions. The non-combustible properties and strength of steel offer greater protection for homes, buildings or any project, and can eliminate high wind and lightning damage to your home. Galvanized steel will not crack, shrink, splinter, creep, split, warp, swell or rot, and it is impervious to termites and wood destroying insects.
A steel frame actually allows more protection for the occupants of a home or building since it provides a direct electrical path to the ground. It also reduces the likelihood of explosions or secondary fire.
The use of positive connections and the inherent strength of steel provide the greatest protection against earthquake and hurricanes. The high ductility of light gauge steel make it the best construction material for earthquake resistant design.
By using CFS, Builders Risk insurance premiums can be reduced by over 50%.
Environmental Impact
Steel framing is the environmentally-friendly framing choice. When you compare that it takes 40-50 mature trees and only six scrapped cars to frame 2,000 square feet, you can quickly appreciate the value of steel today and the impact it could have on generations to come.
The overall recycling rate of the steel industry is 66%, the highest of any industry in the world. Plus, steel framing scrap is a valuable commodity that will not end up in a landfill.
No. Mold requires three things to grow: mold spores (which exist everywhere there is air), moisture, and organic material, which provides the food for mold. Steel does not contain any organic material, and therefore cannot support mold growth. However, if someone or something has left a residue of organic material on the steel framing, there is a chance that given the right conditions, mold could grow on the organic material, but it isn’t likely.
No. The use of a zinc coating on the steel protects it from corrosion for the life of the structure.
Other FAQ's
The design-led process reduces costs including engineering and skilled labor, and increases productivity efficiencies giving an overall greater return on investment. Learn about it in our eBook Leading By Design.
The future of construction lies in sustainable materials that are delivered using fast, modern methods. FRAMECAD cold-formed steel (CFS) can result in faster build times, lower costs, versatile design solutions and a durable, practical solution to premium buildings.
Using the FRAMECAD design and engineering software and equipment there are significant speed advantages that often result in the delivery of the overall project being cheaper. These costs vary from region to region so talk to an expert to understand the advantages with Integrated Steel.
Yes - buildings up to 10 stories can be built faster and more efficiently than using traditional structural steel or concrete.
Cold-formed steel (CFS) and light gauge steel (LGS) are exactly the same thing. They are different terms to describe the construction solution.
