Frequently Asked Questions

In construction, CFS is an industry-standard acronym for cold-formed steel. You might also see CFS buildings referred to as LGS, or light gauge steel, buildings. All in all, CFS does not indicate anything different than the other common terms. Like cold-rolled steel and light gauge steel, it is just another way to speak about cold-formed steel. 

Cold-formed steel is crafted from structural quality sheet steel. The sheet steel is formed into different shapes (e.g. C shapes, U-shapes, Z-shapes, etc.) by roll forming it through a series of dies. This process does not require heat, unlike hot-rolled steel, which is shaped above its recrystallization temperature. Often, cold-formed steel is shaped at or below room temperature. Cold-formed steel can be formed from a wide range of material thickness, which makes it easy to meet the unique requirements of each project. This process results in an extremely strong, durable, lightweight, and visually appealing steel that is ideal for mid-rise buildings. 

Cold-formed steel provides many advantages during the design and building phases, including cost reduction, ease of use, and smoother construction. It lends itself to more flexible designs, since every joist is custom made or ordered for the specific needs of the structure. Cold-formed steel weighs less than concrete and wood but carries the same structural load, has higher acoustic ratings than other materials, and requires less maintenance and repair over time. Additionally, cold-formed steel framing is prefabricated so building construction is faster and easier

Using the FRAMECAD design and engineering software and equipment there are significant speed advantages which often result in the delivery of the overall project being cheaper.  

When comparing the pricing of wood and cold-formed steel, you will find that cold-formed steel costs is competitive to wood. But it is important to consider more than the upfront price. Though wood is one of the cheapest building materials you can use, it is highly susceptible to water damage and termite infestations, and it is not energy efficient. This means you will spend a lot on repairs and preventative measures over time, and you will have higher energy costs. Cold-formed steel has a much longer lifespan, requires no maintenance and repair, and is one of the most sustainable building materials. You will clearly see the ROI over time. Additionally, use of cold-formed steel leads to lower insurance costs. Cold-formed steel is a non-combustible material that carries less risk than wood and other traditional materials. Research shows that insurance costs for non-combustible buildings can be 5-10 times less than costs for combustible buildings.

Steel’s strength and non-combustible properties offer greater protection for your home and family. Choosing steel-framing can eliminate high wind, fire, and lightning damage to your home. 

Read what Fire Chief Steve Lohr has to say about cold formed steel buildings. 

Steel framing is your environmentally friendly residential framing choice. In comparison it takes 40-50 mature trees versus six recycled cars to frame a 200 square meter home. You can quickly appreciate the value of steel today and the impact on generations to come. 

Learn more about the sustainable qualities of CFS construction. 

Steel framed walls are unaffected by temperature or humidity changes, more of the heating and air-conditioning cost remain inside the house, saving money spent on utility bills. 

Learn more. 

Given the superiority of structural galvanised steel, buildings constructed with CFS are well-suited to outlast those built with timber or concrete. And CFS structural elements such as wall frames and flooring can be configured to minimise heat loss in interior spaces.

No. Mold requires three things to grow:

1. The mold spores, which exist everywhere there is air
2. Moisture
3. Organic material, which provides the food for the mold. 

Steel does not contain any organic material, and therefore cannot support mold growth. Learn more about why CFS is the future of Construction 

Absolutely. Cold-formed steel framing is commonly used in multi-family buildings, like apartment complexes, condominiums, and hotels. And noise is the biggest concern of residents in these kinds of buildings. Our systems significantly reduce the amount of noise produced in these shared residential spaces. 

No. Steel framing is recommended by the Healthy House Institute for chemically sensitive and environmentally conscious homeowners who seek good indoor air quality. Steel frames do not need to be treated for termites and are free of resin adhesives and chemicals normally present in other construction materials. Learn about the Green credentials of CFS. 

There are a range of products for cladding the exterior of the building. These included brick, weatherboard, and sheet products – all with excellent thermal properties. On the interior it is possible to use a range of products including gypsum boards. View a range of assemblies here. 

Design Codes available are United States, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, China, Euro, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa.

Service holes are important because it is pre-engineered and prefabricated leading to a quicker installs. This equates to cost savings and a more efficient construction process. Our service hole sizes will vary based on the depth of the joist, but there is an easy rule of thumb. The depth of the service hole is 6” less than the overall depth of the joist, and the holes are spaced 30” apart.  This eliminates the need to cut on-site.    

Cold-formed steel framing is considered lightweight. By definition, steel is a low-density material, meaning there is a low concentration of steel present. However, this does not impact its effectiveness, strength, or durability. The fact that cold-formed steel is lightweight is actually one of its greatest benefits. 

Cold-formed steel components can be moved and installed easily. In some cases, because these components are so light, a single person can complete an entire installation. Because of its weight, cold-formed steel is easy to mold into any shape and achieve most design goals. And, aside from the fact that lightweight materials like cold-formed steel are easier to work with, they are also more cost-effective. 

Cold-formed steel framing is most ideal for mid-rise buildings, but in this category, it can be applied to a wide variety of building types. Among them, cold-formed steel framing works extremely well for multi-family condos and apartments, hotels, and institutional mid-rise and post-disaster buildings. It is also perfect for luxury custom homes, industrial mezzanines, and commercial buildings.  

Galvanized cold formed steel will not crack, shrink, splinter, creep, split, warp, swell or rot. Steel is impervious to termites and wood destroying insects.