Those familiar with cold-formed steel framing know just how far the industry has come over the years and its contributions to urbanization across the U.S. Its high strength-to-weight ratio—the highest of any common framing material—as well as its inherent noncombustible properties, has allowed contractors to build lighter, stronger and more resilient buildings. And, it continues to reach new heights, being used in case studies for buildings as tall as 40 stories and higher. Further, steel is a highly sustainable construction material, not just because of its strength and endurance, but because it can be recycled over and over without ever losing its quality. No other framing material can say the same.
Still, a significant part of the attraction to cold-formed steel is its reliability. Contractors can always count on it to be in the right shape and the right length. It doesn’t twist, bow or shrink. And yet, the material itself, as well as products formed of it, continue to advance. Walls and Ceilings provided an overview of several trends that are re-shaping how contractors use and interact with cold-formed steel framing, including:
- The Entrance of Acoustic Performance Requirements
- The BIM Solutions
- Increased Product Transparency
- Innovative Manufacturing
- Apps That Streamline Purchasing Decisions