Building Performance Knowledge Community

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Hello:

Still working on a project to understand the perceptions of steel framing in the marketplace on behalf of the Steel Framing Industry Association

During recent telephone focus groups, we have learned from experts that they wish they knew more about steel framing.  Specifically, they asked for better information about:

1. Assemblies
2. Building types that benefit the most from light gauge steel framing
3. Connections, flat connections rather than bulging screw connections
4. Construction - marrying two materials together
5. Continuing ed - office lunch and learn you can hear presentation, discuss current and future project
6. Design and Execution, Field Standards
7. Details wall and screw pattern
8. Education - early to mid 90s - didn't even talk about cold formed steel, no university course exists, all learned it all on our own, not through any course.  Huge gap in confidence and competence level
9. Field inspection
10. How the product can be used in different environment - client type, weather, climate
11. LEED impact, green impact, how to submit and receive points
12. Practical details
13. Seismic
14. Stability - engineers worry about torsional buckling and how to handle it
15. Wind bracing techniques - with advantages and disadvantages

What would you add?

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Kathy FLAMENT
President
Flament Associates, LLC
Rehoboth Beach DE
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We have structural engineers in house, so architects don't do much about calcualted design. I have found, thoough, that most framing manufacturers provide span tables for their materials, which allows us to avoid the engineers in most cases.

I would like to learn more about more efficient construction methods. Do we really need double studs for a small opening in a non-load bearing wall? Do we need headers over openings over non-load bearing partitions?

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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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@Charles:

Just heard that from participants in today's groups - tips and best practices for common assemblies including connections.  Is that what you mean?  

There was also a request for more standarized assemblies including some case studies, videos to further demonstrate.

Comments?

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Kathy FLAMENT
President
Flament Associates, LLC
Rehoboth Beach DE
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2013 23:25
From: Charles Graham
Subject: What do you wish you knew about Steel Framing

We have structural engineers in house, so architects don't do much about calcualted design. I have found, thoough, that most framing manufacturers provide span tables for their materials, which allows us to avoid the engineers in most cases.

I would like to learn more about more efficient construction methods. Do we really need double studs for a small opening in a non-load bearing wall? Do we need headers over openings over non-load bearing partitions?

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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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Yes, I suppose it could be lumped into that category. But more than that is the conservation of materials used and reduced effort put into construction, while maintaining the integrity of the system.

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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-08-2013 17:33
From: Kathy FLAMENT
Subject: What do you wish you knew about Steel Framing

@Charles:

Just heard that from participants in today's groups - tips and best practices for common assemblies including connections.  Is that what you mean?  

There was also a request for more standarized assemblies including some case studies, videos to further demonstrate.

Comments?

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Kathy FLAMENT
President
Flament Associates, LLC
Rehoboth Beach DE
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Charles,

I find most wall framing (steel and wood) are based on habit with no calculations performed at all! Standard details are 'copied and pasted' over and over, from job to job, with no thought to the actual conditions on your building. So you are correct in challenging the status quo.

For non-load bearing steel framed walls (i.e. infill framing) in a concrete or red iron structure the size of the framing member is primarily driven by wind loads.  So you have several options,  (alter the spacing, double studs, deeper profile, or a heaver gauge), just explore and specify the most economical option. The header profiles we all typically see make no sense for infill conditions. You just need (usually a single profile laid flat will work) to transfer wind loads to the king studs- not hold up the building.

A point I would like to add to this subject: Our industry needs to stop insulating in the stud cavities! (exception for sound batts) All thermal  insulation on a steel framed building should be continuous and outboard of the framing.  Building cavity insulation in a steel framed wall is a thermodynamic insult,  plus $2.00 out of every $3.00 spend on cavity insulation is wasted. (i.e. adds no valve to energy performance)

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Chip Henderson AIA
Principal
Contects - Consultants & Architects
San Antonio TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2013 23:25
From: Charles Graham
Subject: What do you wish you knew about Steel Framing

We have structural engineers in house, so architects don't do much about calcualted design. I have found, thoough, that most framing manufacturers provide span tables for their materials, which allows us to avoid the engineers in most cases.

I would like to learn more about more efficient construction methods. Do we really need double studs for a small opening in a non-load bearing wall? Do we need headers over openings over non-load bearing partitions?

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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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16. Cost impacts of steel framing.
17. Construction schedule impacts of steel framing.

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Sean Catherall AIA
Integrated Property Services
Herriman UT
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Hello and thanks for your posts.

In the telephone groups I'm doing, I have now heard quite a few requests for a "configurator" a smart software that offers templates, choices, equivalencies, checks for cost efficiencies, and generates materials list a la turbo tax.  

A feature of of this configurator would be a value-engineering check to ensure framing members are appropriately sized.  I often hear of over-engineering that stems from a lack of familiarity - to be sure, add more.  As in recipes, more salt doesn't make for a better cake.

I've heard, too, requests for onsite assistance for construction methods and scheduling, especially for trades - which ones and in which order and a way to estimate the amount of time each task should take - for bidding, and for time management.

Estimators and framing crews seem to have the hardest time.  From them, I have heard that detailing is a principal cause for heartburn - exact details are not included in plans or drawings and the cost and responsibility seem to be up in the air - is it the General Contractor, the framing contractor, engineer or architect that is supposed to include everything for bidding, getting materials, and avoiding change orders when one of those professionals picks up the task.

On a different note, I've heard it would be useful to color code steel studs and other members by gauge for visual confirmation and accuracy.  

Would appreciate more comments - your comments lend depth to what I'm hearing.



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Kathy FLAMENT
President
Flament Associates, LLC
Rehoboth Beach DE
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-08-2013 00:08
From: Sean Catherall
Subject: What do you wish you knew about Steel Framing

16. Cost impacts of steel framing.
17. Construction schedule impacts of steel framing.

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Sean Catherall AIA
Integrated Property Services
Herriman UT
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The color coding of steel framing would be of immense value to all concerned parties, as long as some unscrupilous entity could easily change the color.

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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-14-2013 17:10
From: Kathy FLAMENT
Subject: What do you wish you knew about Steel Framing

Hello and thanks for your posts.

In the telephone groups I'm doing, I have now heard quite a few requests for a "configurator" a smart software that offers templates, choices, equivalencies, checks for cost efficiencies, and generates materials list a la turbo tax.  

A feature of of this configurator would be a value-engineering check to ensure framing members are appropriately sized.  I often hear of over-engineering that stems from a lack of familiarity - to be sure, add more.  As in recipes, more salt doesn't make for a better cake.

I've heard, too, requests for onsite assistance for construction methods and scheduling, especially for trades - which ones and in which order and a way to estimate the amount of time each task should take - for bidding, and for time management.

Estimators and framing crews seem to have the hardest time.  From them, I have heard that detailing is a principal cause for heartburn - exact details are not included in plans or drawings and the cost and responsibility seem to be up in the air - is it the General Contractor, the framing contractor, engineer or architect that is supposed to include everything for bidding, getting materials, and avoiding change orders when one of those professionals picks up the task.

On a different note, I've heard it would be useful to color code steel studs and other members by gauge for visual confirmation and accuracy.  

Would appreciate more comments - your comments lend depth to what I'm hearing.



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Kathy FLAMENT
President
Flament Associates, LLC
Rehoboth Beach DE
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I don't believe this forum is for specific industry marketing input. I believe this forum is for professionals to have a sounding board or back stop for issues arising in our practice and the answers and opinions therein.

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Joel McCreary AIA
Principal Architect
McCreary Snow Architects, P.A.
Columbia SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-14-2013 17:10
From: Kathy FLAMENT
Subject: What do you wish you knew about Steel Framing

Hello and thanks for your posts.

In the telephone groups I'm doing, I have now heard quite a few requests for a "configurator" a smart software that offers templates, choices, equivalencies, checks for cost efficiencies, and generates materials list a la turbo tax.  

A feature of of this configurator would be a value-engineering check to ensure framing members are appropriately sized.  I often hear of over-engineering that stems from a lack of familiarity - to be sure, add more.  As in recipes, more salt doesn't make for a better cake.

I've heard, too, requests for onsite assistance for construction methods and scheduling, especially for trades - which ones and in which order and a way to estimate the amount of time each task should take - for bidding, and for time management.

Estimators and framing crews seem to have the hardest time.  From them, I have heard that detailing is a principal cause for heartburn - exact details are not included in plans or drawings and the cost and responsibility seem to be up in the air - is it the General Contractor, the framing contractor, engineer or architect that is supposed to include everything for bidding, getting materials, and avoiding change orders when one of those professionals picks up the task.

On a different note, I've heard it would be useful to color code steel studs and other members by gauge for visual confirmation and accuracy.  

Would appreciate more comments - your comments lend depth to what I'm hearing.



-------------------------------------------
Kathy FLAMENT
President
Flament Associates, LLC
Rehoboth Beach DE
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