Cold-formed steel (CFS) is becoming widely used in a lot of applications. It is used in buildings, automobiles, equipment, home and office furniture, storage racks, highway products, drainage facilities, and bridges. Its popularity can be related to the ease of mass production and prefabrication, uniform quality, lightweight, economy in transportation and handling, and quick and simple installation.
In Construction and buildings, Cold-formed steel possesses a significant market share that is continuously increasing because of its advantages over other construction materials:
Lightweight
– Cold-formed steel components weigh approximately 35% to 50% less than their wood counterparts which means that they are easy to handle during construction and transportation.
High-strength and stiffness
– As a result of the cold-forming process, CFS possesses one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any building material resulting in more design options, wider spans and better material usage.
Fast and easy installation
– Building components made of CFS can be fabricated with high accuracy in a plant and then assembled on job sites, which significantly increases erection efficiency and construction quality.
Dimensionally stable material
– CFS does not expand or contract with moisture content. Furthermore, it does not split or warp as time goes by.
No formwork needed
– The use of cold-formed steel decks eliminates the formwork for pouring concrete floor. In addition, composite action between the steel deck and concrete increases floor strength and stiffness.
Durable material
– CFS is durable because it is resistant to termites and rotting.
Economy in transportation and handling
– CFS members are easy to handle and transport. In addition, they can be nested and bundled, reducing the required shipping and storage space.
Non-combustible material
– Steel is a non-combustible material and will not contribute fuel to the spread of a fire. This results in better fire resistance and lower insurance premiums.
Recyclable nature
– Steel is North America’s No. 1 recycled construction material, with a minimum 25% recycled content. Steel products used in construction are infinitely recyclable, with no degradation in structural properties. It can be recycled and reused.
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