| News and Magazine Articles |
|
HOMEBASE NEWS SPRING 1999 NEW RESIDENTIAL FLOORING SYSTEM PROVIDES FOOTING FOR STEEL FRAMING The expansion of steel framing into the housing market has been slow at best. Now, a new residential steel floor system developed by Dietrich Metal Framing, Inc., working in cooperation with HUD, NAHB, and the NAHB Research Center, may offer steel framing the residential crossover it has needed to gain acceptance across the United States. In the last decade, cold-form steel (CFS) has received considerable attention as a potential substitute for more traditional framing materials. However, with few exceptions, builders have been reluctant to switch to steel. Despite the potential benefits of steel - invulnerability to termite or fire damage, uniformity between members, and dimensional stability - it is still typically more expensive than wood for load-bearing applications. A new approach to steel floor joists may represent a cost-competitive entry into the residential market for CFS products. A major barrier to the use of CFS floor joists is the limitations it places on installing large waste drains and ductwork in floor systems. Requirements historically limited maximum depth of hole sizes in CFS joists to about 2.5 inches, which could accommodate smaller plumbing runs and electrical wiring, but restricted larger and longer plumbing drains and ductwork. Many builders were also wary of the extra time needed for constructing CFS 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 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 preformed openings make the joists lighter and stronger and provide room for ductwork and drains (Fig. 2). The system is also capable of supporting relatively long spans. Construction processes are simplified because cross blocking, special tools and skills, and the drilling and cutting associated with traditional steel or wood products are all unnecessary. As builders continue to explore new and innovative approaches, steel framing will be considered more seriously for home construction. 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. For more information on this product research, contact the NAHB Research Center at (800) 638-8556, extension 581, or Dietrich Metal Framing at 412-281-2805. |
| Dietrich Metal Framing, Inc.
Corporate Headquarters 500 Grant Street/Suite 2226 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: (412)281.2805 E-mail: askforhelp@dietrichindustries.com |