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BUILDER & DEVELOPER June 1999 NEW RESIDENTIAL FLOORING SYSTEM PROVIDES FIRM FOOTING FOR STEEL FRAMING Cold-form steel (CFS) framing can offer many benefits for residential builders - it is a durable material that is not vulnerable to fire and termites. CFS framing is particularly suitable for residential floors. It replaces the more expensive, old-growth lumber used to meet loading requirements in most floors and is capable of supporting spans beyond those of dimensional and engineered lumber products. Unlike wood, steel has the extra advantage that it has no moisture content. Wood shrinks as it dries, causing nails and screws to "pop" and the sheathing and joists to separate. This is a major cause of floor squeaks and can be costly to fix. Despite these benefits, the use of steel framing in residential markets has grown slowly. A major barrier to the use of CFS floor joists, for example, was the limitations it placed on installing large waste drains and ductwork in floor systems. Requirements limited maximum hole sizes in CFS joists to about 2.5 inches in diameter, which could accommodate short plumbing runs and electrical wiring, but restricted larger and longer septic drains and ductwork. Many builders were also wary of the extra time needed for constructing CFS floor framing. Changes in the structure of the joists were necessary to overcome the resistance to CFS flooring systems. Since 1992, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has sponsored numerous successful studies to identify, evaluate, and implement innovative structural materials in the residential market. Under these studies, a comprehensive set of prescriptive construction guidelines was developed for residential CFS framing. Since then, HUD and the Research Center has worked with Dietrich Metal Framing to develop the TradeReady Floor System. This system uses CFS floor joists with preformed web openings. The large, preformed holes enable the system to maintain the benefits of CFS framing while addressing many of its obstacles. The larger openings make the joists lighter and stronger and provide room for ductwork and drains. Construction processes are simplified because cross blocking, special tools and skills, and the drilling and cutting associated with traditional wood products are all unnecessary, and insulation can be dropped in easily from above. In addition, the TradeReady Floor System fits perfectly into situations where conventional wood, masonry, or light gauge steel framing materials are used. As home builders begin to relinquish their traditional framing materials, steel framing will be examined more seriously as an alternative. By eliminating some of the concerns associated with CFS framing, the TradeReady system may help to focus the integration of steel into conventional residential framing systems. |
| Dietrich Metal Framing, Inc.
Corporate Headquarters 500 Grant Street/Suite 2226 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: (412)281.2805 E-mail: askforhelp@dietrichindustries.com |