1. High strength-to-weight ratio

Steel framing’s strength­-to-­weight ratio significantly exceeds that of wood or concrete. Being strong and relatively lightweight, Cold-Formed Steel Framing systems reduce a building’s total load which, in turn, allows the owner to save costs beginning at the foundation.

2. Panelization

Panelizing Cold-Formed Steel Framing wall panels off-site reduces on-­site labor costs and construction waste. It cuts the total project cycle time and improves quality control, since cold-Formed Steel Framing components can be created to exact measurements.

3. Shorter project cycles

The predictability and accuracy of steel components speed up the process and allow follow­-on trades to get to work sooner. The shorter construction timeframe reduces interim financing costs for projects. It also narrows the window of construction-related liability and allows for earlier building occupancy, as was the case with a Cold-Formed Steel Framing project for student housing at California Polytechnic State University. The project was completed six months earlier than what was predicted for a concrete structural form, saving the university’s budget.

4. Better results during winter time

Ready-mixed supply of CIP concrete during winter construction can add cost to a project and concrete requires artificial heat in order to cure during cold temperatures. Neither of these costs are associated with steel framing.

5. Earlier project completion and budget savings

Steel’s shorter construction cycle means equipment can move on and off the job site faster. This lowers crane costs and reduces scaffold rental times, for example.

6. Lower insurance rates

Builders risk insurance premiums are typically lower for steel than for wood. Builders risk insurance for a four-story, 400-unit hotel built over 24 months in Ohio cost $360,000 because cold-­formed steel framing was used. It would have cost $1.6 million had it been built with wood — a savings of about $1.3 million.

7. Lower fire-related legal costs

Owners of wood­-framed, mid-­rise buildings need to consider the possibility of legal actions due to a construction or building fire which results in damage to, or destruction of, adjacent properties. This is of particular concern for mid-rise buildings which are often built on “infill” sites as a method to curb urban sprawl. 

8. No mandated site security

Several Canadian jurisdictions are requiring builders to post 24-­hour security guards at their wood-­frame construction sites. One builder reported paying up to $10,000 per month for these security details. Another builder said the security needed for a $8 million wood-framed project cost $20,000. Steel-framed projects do not have such hidden or extraordinary site construction costs.

9. No costs associated with site safety compliance

Since wood-­framed buildings are highly susceptible to fire during the construction phase, many municipalities in British Columbia, Canada, require developers to submit detailed fire-safety plans when applying for a building permit.  Some municipalities mandate that sprinklers and standpipes be in place on floors where work is underway. They also require additional safety supervision, such as fire watches during hot work. These costly site safety practices are not required for noncombustible cold-formed steel buildings, providing peace of mind for owners and builders.

10. Product 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. When materials like wood or brick are exposed to moisture, they swell. When dried, wood will warp, crack, chip, split and spall. Concrete and concrete block will shrink and form shrinkage cracks. Dimensional stability concerns are magnified when these types of materials are used in taller mid-rise buildings. Additionally, steel is resistant to termites and rodents.

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