Light Gauge Galvanized Steel Framing: Homesteel
Light Gauge Galvanized Steel Framing: Homesteel
Light Gauge Galvanized Steel Framing: Homesteel
AN
CANADIAN
SHEET STEEL INTRODUCTION
BUILDING INSTITUTE
TO RESIDENTIAL
CSSBI
G E T T I N G I N TO
FR
TE
D
AM I N
A S E OF M
CSSBI 54-94
ISBN 1-895535-20-4
Homesteel
AN INTRODUCTION TO
RESIDENTIAL STEEL FRAMING
CONTENTS
Introduction ......................................................................1
Why Use Steel Framing?....................................................2
PREFACE Builder Benefits
Homeowner Benefits
This publication is intended as a guide for
Environmental Benefits
home builders, developers, engineers and users
Manufacturing and Design................................................3
of light gauge steel framing (LSF) in residential
Product Standards .............................................................4
applications. LSF products are cold formed
Materials.............................................................................4
structural members for applications such as
Steel framing Components...............................................4
studs, purlins, rafters, joists and for use in such
Floors
constructions as steel roof trusses and
Walls
panelized wall assemblies.
Roofs
Other Applications
The CSSBI would like to acknowledge the
Framing Methods ..............................................................6
support and assistance provided by the
Stick Built Construction
American Iron and Steel Institute in the
Panelized Systems
creation of this document. The growth of
Pre–engineered Systems
residential steel framing is spreading
Joining & Fastening...........................................................7
throughout North America and the AISI is a very
Corrosion Protection ........................................................8
active supporter of this effort. The CSSBI and
Thermal Performance .......................................................8
the AISI cooperate on many issues of joint
Fire & Acoustic Performance............................................9
concern to everyone's benefit.
Professional Involvement..................................................9
Additional Information ...................................................10
The material presented in this publication has
Residential Steel Framing Case Studies .........................11
been prepared for the general information of
the reader. While the material is believed to be
technically correct and in accordance with
recognized good practice at the time of
publication, it should not be used without first CANADIAN
securing competent advice with respect to its SHEET STEEL
suitability for any given application. Neither the
CSSBI BUILDING INSTITUTE
Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute nor its Copyright © December 1994
by
Members warrant or assume liability for the Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute
suitability of the material for any general or
All rights reserved. This publication, nor any part thereof,
particular use. may not be reproduced in any form without the written
permission of the publisher.
CANADIAN
ISBN 1–895535–20–4
SHEET STEEL
C S S B I BUILDING INSTITUTE
AN INTRODUCTION TO RESIDENTIAL STEEL FRAMING
HOMESTEEL
The first
Homesteel project
was built in
Ancaster,
Ontario. This
home featured
steel wall studs
and floor joists in
an otherwise
traditional home.
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Builder Benefits:
many labour saving components. This product is an
environmentally sound alternative to wood. It’s the
non–combustible.
industry into the next century.”
John Bruzzese, President
• Every steel stud is a good stud. There is no longer the Armour Steel Framing Systems
suitable pieces. Steel framing is of consistent quality. "In working with steel framing the major differences
preparation work for other trades. "I know this (steel framing) goes against the great
• Steel framing accommodates all types of commonly used Canadian tradition of wood frame houses, but we
finishing materials.
are convinced it's the house of the future."
replace steel for wood stick–for–stick. "Our commitment to LSF was brought about by the
• Steel is competitively priced and consistent in quality. Steel vagaries of lumber quality, supply and pricing. The
prices are more stable than wood and steel supplies have
ability of the manufacturers to produce LSF
greatly reduced.
Wessex Construction Management
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HOMESTEEL
• Workers can be easily trained to work with steel framing • Steel framed walls are straight and remain that way. There
elements. Assembly details are easy for workers to quickly is no shrinkage to cause nail–pops and squeaking floors.
pick up.
• Steel framing has been used for decades in commercial and Environmental Benefits:
condominium construction. It is a tried and well proven • All steel products are 100% recyclable. The overall
technology now available to home builders as an alternative recycling rate of steel products in North America is 66%;
to wood framing. the highest rate of any material.
• Job–site scrap has resale value. • Steel products can be recycled repeatedly without
degradation or loss of properties.
Homeowner Benefits: • The steel industry is the single largest recycler in North
• Steel's inherent strength and non–combustible qualities America because recycled steel is an integral ingredient in
enable a steel framed house to resist such devastating steel production.
events as fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Homes can be
designed to meet the highest seismic and wind load
specifications in any part of the country.
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desired profile, usually a "C" shape. The thickness of the Standard CAN/CGSB–7.1 "Cold Formed Steel Framing
sheet can be varied to meet the structural requirements and Components". This specifies minimum dimensions as well as
the length is cut precisely to order. The manufacturing establishing material and structural requirements for
process automatically punches regularly spaced holes into the non–loadbearing, wind loadbearing and axial loadbearing
centre of the section to accommodate the installation of members. For residential applications, the NBCC also
bridging and electrical or other services. specifies other specific requirements that must be met.
The basis of cold formed steel design stems from the shape of
the cross–section. A flat sheet of thin steel is not very strong,
MATERIALS
but when this sheet is formed into a "C" section, the bends act The coated sheet steel used in the manufacture of steel studs
as stiffeners and increases the strength of the sheet many and joists must meet very specific material standards. Most
times over. Since most of the strength and stiffness of the commonly, ASTM A653 standard specification for structural
section depends on the shape, not the thickness, quality cold rolled sheet (replacing ASTM A446) is used to
strength–to–weight ratios are very favourable. ensure the sheet steel is suitable for structural applications.
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Construction elements of a framed house are divided into joist spans. It is possible to increase the joist thickness to
three main assemblies: floors, walls and roofs. While these span the long length of a room to open up the area between
assemblies are often consistent with wood framed the joist to run the HVAC ducts. This can add to the head
construction, some steel assemblies may also involve new and room in basements without significant cost.
innovative framing systems.
Walls
The steel component known as the structural "C" is the There are two basic types of steel studs: structural studs for
predominant shape. The greater strength of steel can offer interior and exterior loadbearing walls, and drywall studs for
wider spacing between members and longer spans, a feature non– loadbearing interior partitions. The structural "C" studs
that makes for increased design flexibility as well as decreasing used in the wall construction range in size from 2–1/2 to 8
material and labour costs. Steel members can easily be spaced inches and in thicknesses from 0.033 to 0.071 inches. The
at 24 inches on centre. drywall studs are available in sizes from 1–5/8 to 6 inches and
have thicknesses from 0.018 to 0.034 inches.
Floors
Generally, builders opt for joist depths ranging from 6 to 12
inches with a steel thickness from 0.034 to 0.101 inches.
Instead of using lapped joists on multiple span conditions, a
single length of joist can be used to span continuously.
However, a lap in the joist can be helpful in accommodating
the deviations in the concrete or masonry foundation walls
and for transportation.
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FRAMING METHODS
There are three basic residential steel framing assembly
methods:
• Stick built construction
Roof framing can include steel • Panelized systems
trusses or rafters. • Pre–engineered systems
Basements can also be framed out of steel. The Ancaster Homesteel Project utilized
stick-built construction methods.
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Panelized Systems materials. Engineered systems may space the primary load
carrying members more the 24 inches on centre, sometimes
Panelization consists of a system for prefabricating walls,
up to 8 feet. These systems use either secondary horizontal
floors and/or roof components into sections. This method of
members to distribute wind loads to the columns or lighter
construction is most efficient where there is a repetition of weight steel in–fill studs between the columns. Furring
panel types and dimensions. Panels can be made in the shop channels used to support sheathing materials also provide a
or in the field. Steel studs and joists are ordered cut to length break in the heat flow path to the exterior, which increases
for most panel work, placed into a jig and fastened by either thermal efficiency.
screws or welding. The exterior sheathing, or in some cases
the complete exterior finish, is applied to the panel prior to Many of the pre–engineered systems provide framing
erection. members which are pre–cut to length with pre–drilled holes
for bolts or screws. Most of the fabrication labour is done by
Shop panelization can offer several significant advantages to the supplier, allowing a home to be framed in as little as one
the builder. The panel shop provides a controlled day.
environment where work can proceed regardless of the
weather conditions. Application of sheathing and finish JOINING AND FASTENING
systems is easier and faster with the panels in a horizontal Steel framing procedures are much the same as conventional
position. The panels are then transported from the panel framing, using similar tools, but with different attachments.
shop to the job site. The main tools used in steel framing are tin snips, a screw gun,
nibblers and a circular or chop saw. Construction workers
A major benefit of panelization is the speed of erection. A job who know how to use a power drill with a screwdriver
can usually be framed in about one quarter of the time attachment will have no trouble with steel framing assembly.
required to stick–build. When you consider that the exterior Circular or chop saws are used for cutting steel by substituting
finish system may also be part of the panel, the overall time abrasive wheels for wood cutting blades. It is as simple as that.
savings may be even greater.
Self drilling screws are the most common fastener used in
steel framing. These fasteners can be much more durable
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• You can use the same types of insulation products for both many loadbearing and non–loadbearing wall assemblies,
wood and steel framing (e.g. glass fibre, mineral wool, made from both wood and steel framing with different
cellulose fibre, foams, etc.). It is important to realize that a combinations of drywall and insulation. The results of this
wood 2x4 is rectangular in shape, and when spaced 16" on work shows the advantages of steel in both fire and acoustic
centres, the insulating batts need to be roughly 14 1/4" performance. These results will be published in the Appendix
wide to fill the cavity. However, because steel framing uses to the 1995 National Building Code of Canada.
"C" sections, 16" wide batts are used to fill the wall cavity.
This results in a greater percentage of the wall being
insulated.
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
The design and construction of single family homes in Canada
• It is expected that the National Energy Code for Housing
is covered by Part 9 of the National Building Code of Canada.
(NECH) will be completed and referenced in the 1995
For most houses it is possible to obtain a building permit
National Building Code of Canada. The NECH will stipulate
without the involvement of a professional engineer or
targets for thermal performance of housing. Steel framing
architect. This is possible because the building code provides
methods will be included in this new code.
span tables and other rules for the construction of wood
The insulation manufacturers should be consulted to answer framed houses. However, if a builder wants to use steel
specific questions about using their products in a residential framing for the same house, the building code requires that
steel framed building. the structure be engineered.
FIRE & ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE There are some important aspects of this process that should
be considered to ensure a successful transition for wood to
The questions about fire resistance and acoustical ratings are steel.
normally not an important design criteria for single unit • There are many structural engineers who are very
residential buildings. However, for multiple unit structures, experienced. When selecting an engineer, review their
the code requires fire resistance ratings and minimum STC previous work in residential buildings. The engineering, if
ratings for party walls. A research project was recently overly conservative, can put an extra burden on the cost
completed on the fire performance and acoustical ratings of of the house. However, an engineer with experience can
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often recommend changes that will create a more cost ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
effective design.
• The amount of detail shown on the shop drawings will Additional information about lightweight steel framing
depend in part on the experience of the framing contractor systems is available from the CSSBI, the AISI and the LSF
hired for the job. The engineer should interact with the manufacturers. Contact the CSSBI for a list of current
framing crew to make sure that the house is built according publications and the phone numbers of the LSF
to the design. If the engineer has worked with the framer manufacturers in your area.
before and knows that the framer has experience, there is
less need for extensive details on the shop drawings. The
Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute
opposite of this can also be true.
• It will help the project if the engineer and the framer get 652 Bishop St. N., Unit 2A
together before construction to review the plans. They Cambridge, Ontario, Canada N3H 4V6
should agree that the details created are practical and that Telephone (519) 650–1285
the framer understands what must be done. This prior
Fax (519) 650–8081
review is an important communication process.
• At the present stage in the growth of this market for
residential steel framing, it is typical for a prospective The American Iron and Steel Institute also has
builder to take plans created for wood framing and convert information available on residential steel framing.
to steel stick–for–stick. While this is very easily You can call the Steel Home Hotline at
accomplished, it does not recognize the inherent benefits 1–800–79–STEEL, or write to AISI at:
of steel. There are many innovative ways to use steel at
almost no cost penalty. An engineer can help in this regard. American Iron and Steel Institute
• One of the real cost advantages for steel can be achieved
through panelization. For multiple projects that can be
1101 17th Street, N.W.
designed with some standard wall or roof sections, it can be Suite 1300
worthwhile to set up a fixture to panelize these assemblies. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 20036–4700
This will increase productivity and reduce construction
time dramatically. This is another area where an engineer can
help create a design to incorporate these cost saving features.
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RESIDENTIAL STEEL FRAMING CASE STUDIES
HOMESTEEL
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RESIDENTIAL STEEL FRAMING CASE STUDIES
Nerling Residence
Edmonton, Alberta
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RESIDENTIAL STEEL FRAMING CASE STUDIES
HOMESTEEL
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RESIDENTIAL STEEL FRAMING CASE STUDIES
Bruzzese Residence
Hamilton, Ontario
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RESIDENTIAL STEEL FRAMING CASE STUDIES
Home by Inspiration
Burlington, Ontario
HO MES T EE L
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RESIDENTIAL STEEL FRAMING CASE STUDIES
Wessex Construction
Management HO ME ST E EL
Duncan, B.C.
The first of five lots designated for load
bearing steel framed houses is
completed and sold in the Glenora
district of Duncan, British Columbia.
Owner and construction manager, Peter
Laughlin is delighted with the first steel
house framing results.
H OMESTEEL
Minto Homes
Ottawa, Ontario
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