BBYY AANNDDRREEWW MMAARRSSHHAALLLL

THE GULF COAST WILL BE

CHALLENGED IN A WAY NEVER

BEFORE SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY, TO

MEET THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF

WORK NEEDED TO BE DONE. AND IT IS BUT IT IS ALSO

BEING PRESENTED WITH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, TO

BUILD BETTER THAN BEFORE.

As these communities reestablish theirunique looks and feels, deciding where tolocate parks, businesses, housing, commu-nity centers and traffic flows, they will alsoadopt new building codes that will requirethe construction of stronger, better homesand businesses.

Many new building products availabletoday—including concrete, structural insulat-ed panels and cold-formed steel framing—provide a variety of choices in the rebuildingthe Gulf South. Of these building choices, Ibelieve cold-formed steel framing providesthe best solution.

Cold-formed steel framing is differentfrom traditional wood construction, and noteveryone in the workforce knows how tobuild with steel framing correctly. However,a variety of resources are available to learnthe methods to be successful. If the onlyobstacle to using cold-formed steel framingis lack of knowledge and the perception of

increased cost, then shame on our industry. As homebuilders, we have the ability and

duty to provide our customers the best prod-uct available. Our industry can no longersay, “That is how we have built homes foryears,” and thereby avoid building with prod-ucts that are better suited for home con-struction in terms of strength, quality, equalcost, and protection of the environment.

When the material used for countertopconstruction changed from Formica to solidsurface and then to granite, were knowledgeand cost the only considerations? The shiftfrom single-speed cooling units to high-ener-gy-efficient two-speed units began at a high-er cost, yet we now use both as a standardfor our homes.

SSEELLLLIINNGG PPOOIINNTTSS

After all, steel should be an easy sell formany reasons. Its benefits in homebuildingcover ground already familiar to general pub-lic.

The impact on the environment andhealth is one. On average, 20 percent of thelumber used in residential constructionbecomes waste and ends up in the debrispile and ultimately in landfills, costing moremoney. Many landfills across the countryhave reached or are approaching capacity.Cold-formed steel framing offers a betteralternative. Waste in cold-formed steel fram-ing averages 2 percent to 3 percent, andthat waste is recyclable and gets money.The beginning of the life cycle of cold-formed

steel building products is equally friendly tothe environment when one considers thenumber of cars that are scrapped every yearto ultimately become the steel used in pro-ducing cold-formed steel.

Personal health of the occupants of thehomes we construct is another importantfactor supporting the use of cold-formedsteel framing. Concerns for accumulation ofgasses, mold and mildew associated withtraditional wood-frame construction are driv-ing up insurance costs and concerns for per-sonal health. Other environmental andhealth concerns have led to restrictions onthe use of certain pesticides to control ter-mites.

In addition, cold-formed steel framing’shot-dipped galvanized coating for rust pre-vention extends its life expectancy to morethan a century.

PPRRIINNCCIIPPLLEESS

The proof of steel’s viability lies in itscommercial use. We can certainly concludethat if steel framing is a better fit for mostlife-safety regulations in commercial con-struction that families should be protected inthe same way. Homebuilders who careabout the safety of their customers, expect-ed life of the home and the future of the

A FEW WORDS ABOUT STEEL

STEEL THE BEST CHOICEFOR REBUILDING GULF COAST

FRAMEWORKY O U R G AT E WAY T O T H E S T E E L F R A M I N G I N D U S T R Y

p r e s e n t e d i nMetal construction products for the residential market.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A FEW WORDS ABOUT STEEL A FEW WORDS ABOUT STEEL 23-2423-24

STEEL THE BEST CHOICE FOR REBUILDING GULF COAST

UPDATES FROM KATRINA RESPONSE TEAM

NEWS FROM LGSEA NEWS FROM LGSEA 25-2625-26

LGSEA LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE LGSEA LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE 2626

FROM THE FORUM FROM THE FORUM 2828

RESEARCH RESEARCH 28-3028-30

PRESSURE TREATED WOOD AND STEEL FRAMING

BULLET-RESISTANT WALL ASSEMBLIESBULLET-RESISTANT WALL ASSEMBLIESUSING COMPOSITE SHEATHINGUSING COMPOSITE SHEATHING 32-3332-33

EDUCATION EDUCATION 34-3634-36

STEEL’S THERMAL FACTORS

MEMBER MAKES GRADE MEMBER MAKES GRADE IN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 3737

MHDMay/Jun 06

SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST

environment, will find cold-formed steel is wor-thy of their embrace for residential construc-tion.

Currently, less than 2 percent of residentialconstruction utilizes cold-formed steel framing.The growth potential of capturing just 5 per-cent of the market share in this industry isastounding. Achieving this objective requires achange in the mindset of builders and con-sumers that will ultimately drive a change inthe marketplace. The supply chain of raw steelsuppliers, cold-formed steel manufacturers,distributors and home builders must coalesceto provide a cost-effective product for the enduser—the homeowner—to make this transitionmore palatable.

When I first started building homes withcold-formed steel, I learned first-hand whateveryone else had previously experienced:There was no support in the marketplace forsteel home construction. After conductingsome research, I found a metal constructiontrade show in Las Vegas and learned about theSteel Framing Alliance. SFA helped educateme from the outset, and it turned out to be thegreatest resource supporting my quest tobecome a producer of light gauge steel homes.I learned about the new tools and technologyfor fastening, cutting, designing and evaluatingproduct quality of the cold-formed steel. I alsomet other people in the industry who were will-ing to share their knowledge and experience inusing cold-formed steel framing.

My suggestion to all of you other home-builders and contractors is to educate your-selves about the resources available today andjoin the growing movement, now only in itsinfancy, to use cold-formed steel as the fram-ing material in residential construction, espe-cially those rebuilding in the Gulf Coast.

It is the smart choice when it comes tostrength, durability and cost once you educateyourself about the benefits and methods of thetrade. After you complete a cold-formed steel-steel-framed home, you will know that you havedone your best to ensure a product that offersstrength and durability to your customers,while also being friendly to the environment.You can be proud to build with steel. I am!

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MHDMHD

BBOOAARRDD OOFF DDIIRREECCTTOORRSSChairman: Don Moody, Nucon Steel Corp.

Vice Chairman: Mike Meyers, United States Steel Corp.

Secretary/Treasurer: George Vary, American Zinc Assoc.

President: Larry W. Williams, Steel Framing Alliance

Chuck Belanger, Ipsat Inland Inc.

David Jeanes, American Iron & Steel Institute

Greg Ralph, Dietrich Industries

Allen Root, Dofasco Inc.

Kory Yi, USS-POSCO Industries Inc.

Kevin Reinhard, Clark Steel Framing

Dan Dry, representing Steel Stud Manufacturers Association

SSTTAAFFFF

Larry W. Williams, president

Jay Larson, director of construction standards development

Maribeth Rizzuto, director of training and education

Don Allen, director of engineering

Bill Kraft, director of regional operations

Janice Duncan, finance/administration

Rose Kuria, webmaster/publications

Sarah Humphreys, communications/media relations

FRAMEWORK is produced by the Steel Framing Alliance

1201 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, D.C. 20005-2842(202) 785-2022; Fax: (202) 785-3856 • www.steelframingalliance.org

MHDMay/Jun 06

2244

BBYY AALLAANN MMAACCQQUUOOIIDD

THE STEEL FRAMING

ALLIANCE HURRICANE KATRINA

RESPONSE TEAM CONTINUES TO

TAKE STEPS TO MAKE IT EASY

FOR BUILDERS TO SWITCH TO COLD-FORMED STEEL

FRAMING.

We have met and continue to meet withbuilders and framers to better understand howthey operate in that regional market. We have lis-tened to their concerns, real and imagined, andare plotting a course that will allow them to feelcomfortable using steel in reconstruction efforts.

As aptly articulated in the accompanying col-umn, the builders and framers in that region, aselsewhere, develop a “comfort zone” and resistmoving out of that zone. The residential buildersand framers often rely on the expertise of thelumber yards, with whom they have an existingrelationship. They also have a history of dealingwith those yards, especially a credit history.

Most residential builders and framers pur-chase their materials though local lumber yards.Most commercial construction builders andframers, however, purchase their materialsthrough building material distribution companies.

If the builders and framers to have to switchfrom dealing with their established lumber yardsupplier to the building material distribution cen-ters, support problems might be created, and inmany cases an inability to enjoy credit terms givenby their previous suppliers.

There is talk of major home builders entering

the construction market in the affected Gulf area,but at present it appears that most residentialconstruction will be performed by the small tomedium-size firms.

The major home builders, with their sophisti-cated purchasing and logistical departments, arenot saddled with the same problems as the small-er builders and framers.

While not ignoring the building material hous-es that traditionally supply cold-formed steel fram-ing to the commercial (tenant improvement andlow-rise commercial buildings), we will be workingwith the lumber yards to insure that they arefamiliar with basic information that will allowthem to be a part of the distribution chain. Theywill have to be familiar with the requirements andstandards to be followed by the building inspec-tors. It would not be good for a lumber yard to sellframing materials and have the inspectors pullthat material off the job. The residential buildinginspectors will also have to be familiar with thesame requirements and standards.

To that end, we will be producing basic andeasy-to-understand written materials aimed at thevarious players.

The bottom line is that because cold-formedsteel framing is relatively new to that region, thebuilders, framers, lumber yards, building materialsupply centers, code officials and building inspec-tors will have to be reading off the same page.

This is an interesting challenge, but with thecooperation of all segments of the industry we willmake it easy for the builders and framers to buildbetter structures.

AAllaann MMaaccQQuuooiidd iiss cchhaaiirr ooff SSFFAA’’ss HHuurrrriiccaannee KKaattrriinnaa

RReessppoonnssee TTeeaamm..

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UPDATES FROM KATRINA REPSONSE TEAMSTEEL THE BEST CHOICE...STEEL THE BEST CHOICE...

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

NEWS FROM LGSEA

MHDMay/Jun 06

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BBYY DDOONN AALLLLEENN

LLGGSSEEAA CCOOUUNNCCIILL HHIIRRIINNGG IINN DDCC OOFFFFIICCEE

To facilitate and expedite thedevelopment of technical notes,seminars, online content, and otherwork products helpful for the struc-tural engineer designing with cold-formed steel framing, the LightGauge Steel Engineers AssociationCouncil and the Steel FramingAlliance are seeking qualified candi-dates for a full-time position in theWashington, D.C., headquarters office. Qualifiedcandidates should have minimum two years experi-ence in structural engineering or construction, hold abachelors degree from a four-year accredited college,and be skilled in technical writing and editing.Applicants may call (202) 785-2022 or e-maildallen@steelframing.org.

LLGGSSEEAA CCOOUUNNCCIILL MMEEMMBBEERRSS TTOO PPRREESSEENNTT

AATT AASSCCEE CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

Members of the LGSEA Council will make a pres-entation at the ASCE Structural Engineering InstituteStructures Conference. The ASCE SEI will hold itsannual Structures Conference May 18-20 at theAdams Mark Hotel in St. Louis, Mo. This year, thetheme of the conference is “Structural Engineeringand Public Safety.” Special tracks “Extreme EventLoading,” “Special Structures,” and “InfrastructureEngineering” focus on this theme and applicationsfor modern practice. A Friday morning session, from10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., titled, “Loadbearing, Mid-Rise, Cold-Formed Steel Building Design,” will includepapers from three members of the LGSEA Council.Nabil Rahman of The Steel Network will presentinformation on “Cold-Formed Steel Stud-PlankSystem for Mid-Rise Construction.” Former LGSEAPresident Dr. Reynaud Serrette of Santa ClaraUniversity will present the paper, “Estimating Drift inCold-Formed Steel Frame Structures.” LGSEACouncil Secretary Don Allen will present a paper on“Mid-Rise Construction Detailing issues with Cold-Formed Steel and Compatible ConstructionMaterials.” Additional information on the confer-ence is available at http://content.asce.org/confer-ences/structures2006/.

CCHHAAIIRRMMAANN OOFF AASSCCEE SSEEII CCOOLLDD--FFOORRMMEEDD SSTTEEEELL CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEE AAPPPPOOIINNTTEEDD

Dr. Tom Sputo Ph.D., P.E. has been named thechairman of the American Society of Civil Engineers—Structural Engineering Institute Cold-Formed SteelCommittee. The retiring chairman of this committeeis Dr. Benjamin Schafer, who currently sits on theBoard of Directors of the LGSEA Council. Sputo hasextensive experience in the design of cold-formedsteel framing, and has been a member of the AISI

Committee on Specifications for many years. TheASCE SEI CFS committee meets semi-annually inconjunction with AISI COS meetings; under Sputo,additional meetings are projected for industry eventssuch as the CCFSS Specialty Conference to get more

involvement and interaction with abroader range of the framing com-munity. The Committee is largelyresponsible for the current presenta-tions at the ASCE SEI conference, theBracing Design Guide, and the cur-rent issue of the ASCE Journal ofStructural Engineering, focusing oncold-formed steel framing.

SSUUBBMMIITTTTAALLSS AACCCCEEPPTTEEDD IINN MMAAYY

FFOORR SSEEPPTTEEMMBBEERR SSOOFFTTWWAARREE IISSSSUUEE

The September/October issue of the LGSEANewsletter will contain its biannual listing of softwarefor cold-formed steel framing structural design.Submittals for this issue are being accepted in May.Next month the newly updated LGSEA Council Website will include a form for software developers, ven-dors and users to include information on theirfavorite software for the design of cold-formed steel.Previously, issues of the newsletter from 2002 and2004 contained this information. With the 2006issue, the information will be compiled into a techni-cal note for ease of use and reference by members.Information presented in the software survey ismerely based on information supplied by softwaremanufacturers and users; LGSEA does not endorsethe use of any design software or products. Foradditional information, see the LGSEA Council Website in May, or e-mail info@lgsea.com.

HHAAWWAAIIII CCHHAAPPTTEERR IINNSSTTAALLLLSS NNEEWW DDIIRREECCTTOORRSS AANNDD PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT

The Hawaii Chapter of the Light Gauge SteelEngineers Association installed its officers and direc-tors for 2006. Tim Waite, who helped found theorganization more than 10 years ago, will serve hissecond term as president of the organization. Waitewas the first president of the LGSEA Council HawaiiChapter, and in Tim’s words “has been recycled”back into the lead position again. Assisting Tim willbe newly installed Vice-President Brian Enomoto,Secretary Adrian Lee and Treasurer MarvinMestanza. Other members of the Board of Directorsare Akira Usami, Will Wong and Shane Arnold. This10th annual officer installation banquet was held atthe Oahu Country Club in Honolulu.

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DDEESSIIGGNN GGUUIIDDEE PPUUBBLLIISSHHEEDD BBYY AASSCCEE

The American Society of Civil Engineers recentlypublished “Bracing Cold-Formed Steel Structures – ADesign Guide,” edited by Tom Sputo and JenniferTurner. Tom Sputo Ph.D., P. E. is a senior lecturer ofStructural Engineering at the Department of Civil and

SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST

• Trade friendlypass-throughs

• Used in Bearingand Non-Bearing

• Lightweightand durable

• Superior acousticalproperties

• Green Building Product

From Insight to Jobsite.

For More Information:

toll-free: 800.627.4667web site: www.marinoware.com

e-mail: framerite@marinoware.com

Circle #8

SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST

Coastal Engineering, University of Florida. JenniferL. Turner is a recent graduate and ResearchAssistant at the University of Florida. The DesignGuide documents the current practices related tobracing cold-formed steel structure elements andsystems. Content ranges from recent research,including some performed by Sputo and Turner, to ahistoric paper by George Winter from 1958. Heavyon applications and examples, this book containsdesign examples illustrating bracing design for vari-ous types of cold-formed steel structures, as well asan extensive list of primary reference sources. Thisreport is presented as a design guide and will assistthe practicing engineer in designing cold-formedsteel structures with greater levels of reliability, safe-ty, and economy. Individual chapters were written byexperts in the industry, and edited by members ofthe ASCE Structural Engineering Institute’sCommittee on Cold-Formed Steel. More than 45pages of the Guide are devoted to design examples.Topics include:

• Introduction to bracing design.

• Cold-formed framing, including sheathing-braced design, wall systems and floor systems.

• Cold-formed steel truss system and component bracing.

• Shearwalls and roof diaphragms.

• Cold-formed steel in metal building systems.

• Miscellaneous cold-formed steel elements and systems.

The 144-page softcover Design Guide is availablefrom ASCE ($44.25 members; $59 non-members) orfrom the LGSEA/SFA store at www.steelframing.org($42 members; $59 non-members).

AASSCCEE JJOOUURRNNAALL FFEEAATTUURREESS

CCOOLLDD--FFOORRMMEEDD SSTTEEEELL SSTTRRUUCCTTUURREESS

“Cold-formed steel structures” is the theme of theApril 2006 (volume 132, issue 4) special issue of theJournal of Structural Engineering, published monthlyby the ASCE. LGSEA Board Member Benjamin W.Schafer served as guest editor, and the Committeeon Cold-Formed Steel performed nearly all the paperreviews. The majority of the papers appearing arefrom the Seventeenth International SpecialtyConference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures, whichwas held in Orlando, Fla., in October 2004. This bian-nual conference is organized by Professor RogerLaBoube of the Center for Cold-Formed SteelStructures at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Thisissue provides expanded versions of the most highlyregarded papers from this conference as selected bythe members of the ASCE-SEI Committee on Cold-Formed Steel of the Technical Advisory Committee onMetals.

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AALLLLIIAANNCCEE’’SS TTEECCHHNNOOLLOOGGYY DDEEVVEELLOOPPMMEENNTT AACCTTIIVVIITTIIEESS

One of the primary objectives of the SFA/LGSEATechnology Development Committee is to keep themembers on the leading edge of technology improve-ments. To do so, input is needed well beyond the13 volunteers who fill out the roster of the commit-tee.

During the past year the TDC has been busy can-vassing the industry to identify barriers to the use ofsteel framing and opportunities to improve its com-petitiveness. The work culminated with a survey ofthe membership in November to identify priorityareas for technology development research projects.

“Training of framers, inspectors, and trade con-tractors continues to be an important issue for themembers,” said Mark Nowak, chair of the TDC. SFAwill continue to focus on training as an importantservice to the industry.

On the technology front, respondents to the sur-vey rated inequities between wood and steel framingas the top priority. “These inequities are a recurringtheme in discussions with designers and builders,”said SFA President Larry Williams, “and must beaddressed from a research and building codes andstandards perspective if we are to create a level play-ing field for all materials.”

Other “top 5” priorities for the TDC that wereidentified in the survey include the need for morecomplete information on the use of strap bracing forwalls, sheet steel as an alternative to wood-basedsheathing products, clip angles for common loadingconditions, and pin fasteners in a broader range ofsteel-to-steel and sheathing-to-steel connections.

“We thank the 130 members who participated inthis priority survey. The direction provided will allowthe TDC to focus its efforts to develop more completedescriptions and funding plans for the highest priori-ty projects,” said Jay Larson, secretary for the TDC.

For more information on the survey results and the TDC activities, contact Jay Larson atjlarson@steel.org.

DDoonn AAlllleenn iiss sseeccrreettaarryy ooff tthhee LLGGSSEEAA CCoouunncciill..

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THE WEB SITE OF THE LGSEA COUNCIL IS MORE

USER-FRIENDLY THAN EVER BEFORE, THANKS TO A NEW EASY-TO-NAVIGATE DESIGN AND A MORE CONVENIENT LOGIN FEA-TURE.

Designed by LGSEA Web site Task Group, thenew site allows members to log in directly atwww.lgsea.com, without having to visitwww.steelframing.org. LGSEA members can nowalso access the SFA Members Only pages.

Work continues on some pages including asearchable directory specific to LGSEA. In themeantime, LGSEA members appear in thesearchable SFA directory, which no longerrequires logging in. Their listings appear in bluewith the LGSEA logo, designating them from reg-ular SFA members.

Visit the site at www.lgsea.com.

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LGSEA LAUNCHES

NEW WEB SITE

NEWS FROM LGSEA...NEWS FROM LGSEA...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

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Are there any documents that dis-cuss the issue of deflection compensationat the connection between steel non-load-bearing partitions and the structure abovein residential construction? What is the“industry standard” for these partitions?

There are no industry standard docu-ments that discuss the suitability of orrequirements for slip connections in non-loadbearing partitions. There are manyopinions on this, but it is often left up tothe judgment of the architect or the engi-neer of record.

One school of thought is that every-where there is the opportunity for move-ment of the structure above, wallsdesigned to be non-loadbearing need tobe isolated from this movement so thatthe wall will remain non-loadbearing.Because all portions of the structure willmove a small amount under any loading,all partitions not designed as loadbearingmay need to be isolated from the structureabove, or accommodations for a slip con-nection should be provided.

The other end of the spectrum is thatthere is some capacity in steel framingmembers, and the building code evenallows non-loadbearing partitions to carryloads (exclusive of sheathing and self-weight) of up to 100 pounds per linearfoot. Also, with multi-story structures,similarly loaded and constructed floors willhave similar deflections; therefore the rel-ative displacement between levels will beclose to zero.

The best guidance on this can be foundin LGSEA Council Technical Note 544,“Design of By-Pass Slip Connectors inCold-Formed Steel Construction.” Thefirst section after the introduction is titled,“Determination of Need for SlipConnectors: Vertical Movement,” and con-tains a good discussion of the topic.

I am looking for section propertiesfor cold-formed steel angles. Wherecould I find that?

The best place to find listed propertiesfor cold-formed steel angles is the 2002AISI Manual for Cold-Formed Steel Design.The publication number is SG03-1 CFS-MANUAL. The manual also gives designexamples for developing these propertiesfor angles with or without stiffeners on thelegs. You can obtain the manual atwww.lgsea.com. You may also calculatethe values on your own using the provi-sions from the “North AmericanSpecification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members” (AISIpublication #SG02-1 NASPEC) or usingsoftware.

Are there any regulations or designrequirements for the type, quantity andspacing of fasteners that are to be usedfor track-to-floor/foundation at doorjambs?

The following is from ASTM C754-04:

5.2 Runner (Track) Installation:5.2.1 General—Runners shall be

aligned accurately at the floor and ceilingand securely anchored approximately 2inches (50 millimeters) from the runnerends, not more than 24 inches (610 mil-limeters) on center. Runners shall besecured with fasteners at partition cor-ners. One runner shall extend to the endof the corner and the other runner shallbutt to it and be gapped to allow clear-ance for the gypsum panel product thick-ness. Runners shall not be mitered.

5.2.2 Runners to Concrete Slabs—Shallbe fastened with concrete stub nails,expansion anchors, shield screws, orpower-driven fasteners not exceeding 24inches (610 millimeters) on center.

The actual fasteners themselves andtheir holding power in specific situations isnot addressed by these standards.Typically designers will specify a certainstrength of fastener based on loading oron concrete requirements. The standardalso gives requirements for attachment towood and to suspended ceilings. Thereare no special requirements in this stan-dard for loads on the fastener.

Thanks for your questions!

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ISSUE PAPER ON

PRESSURE-TREATED WOOD

WITH STEEL REVISED

THE STEEL FRAMING ALLIANCE HAS UPDATED ITS ISSUE

PAPER ON “PRESSURE TREATED WOOD AND STEEL FRAMING,”

WHICH MAKES PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE COMBINED

USE OF THESE TWO FRAMING MATERIALS.

The original issue paper, released in late 2003,aimed to guide designers and builders on the useof steel and pressure-treated wood as a ban ofchromium copper arsenate, a preservative used fordecades in pressure-treated lumber, was takingeffect. The chemicals positioned to replace CCA wereshown to be more corrosive to steel than their prede-cessor and likely to adversely impact the durability ofsteel framing.

The new version of the issue paper reflects thetwo years of experience behind the industry in deal-ing with the rapidly changing issue. This documentwas reviewed by the Corrosion and Durability TaskGroup, a joint task group of the LGSEA Council andAISI COFS. The task group is chaired by Doug Rourkeof the International Lead Zinc Research Organization.

Found on the facing page and the page behind it,this issue paper may be torn out for immediate use.It also may be downloaded at www.steelframing.org.

JJaayy LLaarrssoonn,, ddiirreeccttoorr ooff ccoonnssttrruuccttiioonn ssttaannddaarrddss ddeevveellooppmmeenntt,, AAIISSII

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FROM THE FORUM

DEFLECTIONS, ANGLES AND FASTENER SPACING

FROM THE FORUM SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST

AASSKK YYOOUURR QQUUEESSTTIIOONN!! LOG ON ONTO THE FORUM AT wwwwww..sstteeeellffrraammiinnggaalllliiaannccee..ccoomm

OR CALL THE STEEL HOTLINE AT (800) 79-STEEL.

STEEL-FRAMED BUILDINGS OFTEN INCLUDE

WOOD COMPONENTS, SUCH AS SILL PLATES, TOP

PLATES, DOOR OR WINDOW BUCKS, AND SHEATHING

FOR FLOORS, WALLS AND ROOFS. CONSUMERS AND

REGULATORS OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INVOLVING

WOOD COMPONENTS OFTEN REQUIRE PRESSURE-TREATED WOOD TO HELP PROTECT THE COMPONENTS

FROM ATTACK BY TERMITES, OTHER INSECTS, AND

FUNGAL DECAY. DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS NEED TO

BE AWARE THAT RECENT CHANGES IN THE AVAILABLE

WOOD PRESERVATIVES USED IN SUCH APPLICATIONS

MAY IMPACT THE DURABILITY OF THE STEEL FRAMING.

PPRREESSSSUURREE-- TTRREEAATTEEDD WWOOOODD

Wood is pressure treated when there isconcern about premature deteriorationdue to termites, other insects and fungaldecay. Pressure treatment is a processthat forces preservatives into the cellularstructure of the wood. Waterborne,Creosote, and Oil-borne (penta) are thethree broad classes of preservatives typi-cally used when pressure-treating wood.Wood treated with waterborne preserva-tives is typically used in residential, com-mercial and industrial building structures.Creosote is primarily used for treating rail-road ties, guardrail posts, and timbersused in marine structures. Oil-borne(penta) is most often used for treating util-ity poles.

Typical Waterborne preservatives usedin building applications include SodiumBorate (SBX / DOT), Chromated CopperArsenate Type C (CCA-C), Alkaline CopperQuat Type D Carbonate (ACQ-DCarbonate), Copper Azole Type B (CA-B),Copper Boron Azole Type A (CBA-A), andAmmoniacal Copper Zinc Arsenate(ACZA).Typical waterborne preservativesused in building applications includeSodium Borate (SBX), Chromated CopperArsenate (CCA), Alkaline Copper Quat

(ACQ), Copper Azole (CA), and AmmoniacalCopper Zinc Arsenate (ACZA). There are anumber of variations of these treatmentsavailable and they are often referred to bytrade name. Please refer to the Web siteof the treated- wood industry web site(www.awpa.com) for additional data.

CCA has been used for a number ofdecades for pressure treating wood. Thebuilding construction industry has becomefamiliar with its attributes and its impacton other materials, and CCA has been themost widely used preservative in buildingconstruction. However, since December31, 2003, CCA has not been produced forresidential or general consumer use. Thiswas due in part tonegative publicityfocused on theuse of arsenic inCCA. The treated-wood- productsindustry has tran-sitioned from CCAto alternative pre-servative systemssuch as ACQ andCA.

Unfortunately,testing has indi-cated that ACQ,CA and ACZA aremore corrosive togalvanized steelthan the formerCCA ((RReeffeerreennccee11)).

This hasbecome a signifi-cant concern tothe wood fastener,connector andmetal plate con-nected trussindustries. It mayalso have animpact on steel-

framed buildings.Note: The above data are based on

accelerated testing per AWPA StandardE12-94, and may or may not have a rela-tion to actual service life.

GGAALLVVAANNIIZZEEDD SSTTEEEELL FFRRAAMMIINNGG

Steel framing members are galvanizedto protect the steel from corrosion. Hot-dipgalvanizing is a process of providing a pro-tective coating (zinc) over bare steel. In

Circle #10

RESEARCH

PRESSURE TREATED WOODAND STEEL FRAMING

SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST RESEARCH

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this process, coils of steel sheet are con-tinuously unwound, cleaned and passedthrough a bath of molten zinc where aspecified zinc coating thickness is appliedto the steel sheet. The galvanized coils arelater slit into narrower widths and cold-formed into shapes suitable for framingapplications.

Industry standard practice is to useG40 for non-structural and G60 for struc-tural framing when the members are“located within the building envelope andadequately shielded from direct contactwith moisture from the ground or the out-door climate” ((RReeffeerreennccee 22)). Heavier coat-ings, such as G90, are recommended inthose cases where additional protection isneeded. Oceanfront buildings are onesuch application ((RReeffeerreennccee 33)).

Several manufacturers now marketcold-formed steel framing fabricated fromG90 galvanized steel, which, compared tothe standard G60, has a zinc coating thatis 50 percent thicker. Since the corrosionresistance of zinc is proportional to thethickness of the zinc, these framing mem-bers should last approximately 1.5 timeslonger. However, when using the morecorrosive ACQ, CA or ACZA, increasing toG90 may not match the performance ofthe former CCA with G60. Heavier thanG90 coatings are typically not available forframing members, therefore, this wouldnot be considered a practical option.

IIMMPPAACCTT OOFF PPTT WWOOOODD OONN SSTTEEEELL IINNDDUUSSTTRRYY

Manufacturers of products that comein contact with pressure treated wood,such as fasteners, metal connectors andtruss plates, have become aware of thepotential for increased corrosiveness ofthe new generation copper-based prod-ucts, conducted tests and published rec-ommendations for the specification anduse of their products.

It needs to be recognized, however, thatthe primary focus of this work by othershas been in developing recommendationsfor their products in a wide range of appli-cations including outdoor applications. Inmany cases, relatively heavy galvanizedcoatings (>G90) and stainless steel are

being recommended; options not readilyavailable or cost effective for cold-formedsteel framing.

RREECCOOMMMMEENNDDAATTIIOONNSS FFOORR SSTTEEEELL FFRRAAMMIINNGG

The following would seem to be viableoptions for cold-formed steel framing thatshould be considered:

• Specify Sodium Borate (SBX/DOT)

• Isolate the steel and wood components

• Avoid use of pressure treated wood

SSPPEECCIIFFYY SSOODDIIUUMM BBOORRAATTEE ((SSBBXX//DDOOTT))

Testing has demonstrated that theSodium Borate (SBX/DOT) preservative isless corrosive to galvanized steel than theformer CCA. However, being water soluble,it is generally not recommended for appli-cations that are exposed to the weatherand special care should be taken toensure the wood is covered during trans-port and storage at the job site. Producersindicate it is suitable for sill plates andother such applications. However, speci-fiers and builders are cautioned to firstverify local availability of these productsfor their building projects.

IISSOOLLAATTEE TTHHEE SSTTEEEELL AANNDD WWOOOODD CCOOMMPPOONNEENNTTSS

Another option is to isolate the steelframing from the pressure treated woodcomponents. This could be done with apolyethylene barrier or other non-absorbent barrier material. However, careneeds to be taken during construction toassure that integrity of the barrier is main-tained. Consideration also needs to begiven to the appropriate selection of fas-teners used to connect the steel and woodcomponents and should consider dissimi-lar metals. Use of typical self-tappingscrews, which are not hot-dip galvanized((RReeffeerreennccee 44)) would not be recommend-ed.

AAVVOOIIDD UUSSEE OOFF PPRREESSSSUURREE--TTRREEAATTEEDD WWOOOODD

The pressure-treated wood compo-nents often used in steel-framed buildingscan usually be eliminated. This obviouslyavoids the problem altogether. For exam-ple, building codes do not require a woodsill plate beneath steel framing and, when

needed, relatively inexpensive barrierproducts are available. Wood top platesare generally not required either, as align-ment framing or a steel load bearing toptrack can be selected. Avoiding use ofpressure treated wood probably providesthe greatest assurance that the designintent will be realized.

RREEFFEERREENNCCEESS

11)) Technical Bulletin, PreservativeTreated Wood, T-PTWOOD, SimpsonStrong-Tie Company, Inc.,DublinPleasanton, CA

22)) AISI, Standard for Cold-Formed SteelFraming – General Provisions, 2001,American Iron and Steel Institute,Washington, DC.

33)) LGSEA Technical Note 140,Corrosion Protection for Cold-Formed SteelFraming in Coastal Areas, 2003, LightGauge Steel Engineers Association,Washington, DC.

44)) LGSEA Technical Note 560-b5,Fastener Corrosion, 1999, Light GaugeSteel Engineers Association, Washington,DC.

This “Issue Paper on Pressure TreatedWood and Steel Framing” is published by theSteel Framing Alliance. The information provid-ed in this publication shall not constitute anyrepresentation or warranty, express or implied,on the part of the Steel Framing Alliance orAISI or any individual that the information issuitable for any general or specific purpose,and should not be used without consultingwith a qualified engineer, architect, or buildingdesigner. ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY MAKINGUSE OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THISPUBLICATION ASSUMES ALL RISKS AND LIA-BILITIES ARISING OR RESULTING FROM SUCHUSE. The Steel Framing Alliance and AISIbelieve that the information contained hereinis in conformance with prevailing engineeringstandards of practice. However, none of theinformation provided in this publication isintended to represent any official position ofthe Steel Framing Alliance or AISI or to excludethe use and implementation of any otherdesign or construction technique.

© Copyright 20036. All rights reserved.

PRESSURE TREATED WOOD...PRESSURE TREATED WOOD...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

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BBYY AALLLLAANN SSWWAARRTTZZ PP..EE..

RECENT AND ONGOING

TESTS IN NEVADA HAVE SHOWN

PROMISING RESULTS FOR BALLIS-TIC RESISTANCE OF STEEL-FRAMED WALLS.

The walls, which were filled with granu-lar materials and sheathed with a compos-ite gypsum board and sheet steel, wentunder fire to test their resistance to ballis-tic penetrations to the Level 8 UL 752standard. Tests were conducted by thedevelopment team of the patented wallproduct, known by its trade name as Sure-Board7.

The primary use of this composite hasbeen as shear resistant sheathing on bothwood- and metal-framed walls extensivelyon low- and mid-rise projects across NorthAmerica. It also has ICC-ES and LA Cityapprovals for this application. The manu-facturer initiated its testing to expand thescope of the product’s use.

WWAALLLL CCOONNSSTTRRUUCCTTIIOONN

All of the samples tested to date havebeen constructed using an exterior sheetof Sure-Board7 that is composed ofcement board and 27-mil galvanized steel,and an interior sheet of “Series 200”Sure-Board7 composed of 5/8-inch gyp-sum board and various thicknesses of gal-vanized sheet steel ((FFiigguurree 11)). Some ofthe assemblies haveincluded exterior finishessuch as ceramic or stonetile. The results haveranged from encouragingto excellent depending onthe assembly used.

The design philosophybehind the function ofthe wall was inspiredby the results ofwind-blown-projectile

testing in Florida, where wall sampleswere subjected to ballistic impact from apiece of 2-by-4 lumber fired into the wallat high speeds. Sure-Board7 with 27-milsheet steel passed all tests with no pene-tration, even when the test equipment wasoperated at its maximum possible set-tings.

The wall assembly’s resistance to pene-tration from a large blunt object was veryhigh. However, resisting bullet penetrationwould prove to be a more difficult proposi-tion. When bullets were fired directly intothe board, penetration occurred with a9mm handgun (the lowest penetrationprojectile tested).

Bullet penetration is difficult to resistbecause the force from the projectile isfocused on a very small area. The solutionappeared to lie in the development of asystem that would spread the load over alarger area, causing the load from the bul-let to behave more like a large bluntobject. The project team decided to pur-sue a completely different approach fromthat used by the currently available ballis-tic resistant rigid panels. These systems(often composed of Kevlar7 laminates)tend to be very expensive, and provideresistance to penetration by stopping thebullet in a relatively short distance (i.e.,the thickness of the panel). This appearedto be unnecessary since the entire thick-ness of the wall could be used to slow thebullet, absorb its energy, and blunt itsimpact on the interior Sure-Board7 panel.

In order toachieve thecompliance tothe Level 8standard, theteam testedseveral typesof “ballisticpanels” and“ballistic fills”composed ofdry granularmaterials.

Preliminary informal testing has beencompleted with promising results. Thebest outcomes thus far were achievedusing the granular ballistic fill approach.Three and one-half-inch-thick wall assem-blies tested with ballistic fill completelystopped penetration from all handgun andrifle calibers tested ((SSeeee SSiiddeebbaarr 11)). Allshots were fired from a distance of 10 to15 feet. All the rifle ammunition testedhad much greater velocities and penetrat-ing power than the 7.62x39mm (AK47).

TTHHEE UUPPSSHHOOTT

The handgun bullets that were recov-ered from the granular fill test sampleswere heavily deformed and flattened((FFiigguurree 22)). None of the handguns man-aged to dent the Sure-Board7 on the inte-rior face. There appeared to be no dam-age to the drywall.

The high-velocity rifle bullets weredestroyed ((FFiigguurree 33)). The 243 and 7mmbullets were fragmented into small pieces.The copperjackets of the3006 fullmetal jacket(FMJ) bulletswere turnedinside out.The lead corefragmentedand complete-ly separatedfrom themetal jacket.

None of the

BULLET-RESISTANT WALL ASSEMBLIES

USING COMPOSITE SHEATHING

SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST

Figure 1: Exterior wall panel.

Sidebar 1

CALIBERS TESTED

HHAANNDDGGUUNNSS::• 9mm Parabellum• 357 Remington Magnum• 44 Remington Magnum

RRIIFFLLEESS:: • 243 Winchester with 100 grain Nosler7

partition bullets (muzzle velocity = 3060 fps)

• 3006 Springfield with 150 grain full metal jack- eted (FMJ) bullets (muzzle velocity = 2900 fps)

• 7mm Remington Magnum with 140 grain ballistic tip bullets (muzzle velocity = 3370 fps)

Figure 2: Recovered 30 caliber FMJ bullets.

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3333

bullets succeeded in penetrating the wall.The drywall on the inside face was brokenby the force of the riflebullet impact ((FFiigguurree 44)),but no penetrationoccurred. The 27-milmetal was bulged outslightly andexhibited onlyminor dentingfrom bulletimpact ((FFiigguurree 55)).

The researcherswere very surprised bythese results. The bul-lets fired from the 243and the 7mm Magnumare designed for con-trolled expansion onimpact. They foundthat these types of bul-lets tended to be easi-er to stop because,once deformed, theypresented a largerfrontal area for theballistic fill to actupon. The 3006 fullmetal jacket bullets,however, are designed not to expandthereby providing maximum penetration.

“We fully expected the 3006 FMJ topenetrate the 3½-inch wall. It did not”said Carlton Elliot, who lead the productdevelopment team, which also includedKelly Holcomb. “To date, we have yet tofind any projectile that is capable of pene-trating this wall assembly, but we will keeptrying.” If the inner board is breached, theresearchers feel that they can easilyenhance the assembly’s ballistic resist-ance by thickening the wall and/or usingheavier sheet steel in the manufacture ofthe interior Sure-Board7 panel.

After completing preliminary testing,data will be used to construct test sam-ples for formal evaluation at a certifiedlaboratory per UL 752 Ballistic Standards.Based upon preliminary testing, theresearchers feel confident that level 8 bal-listic performance, which is suitable foruse in many military and other facilities,can be achieved with no difficulty.

The wall assemblies using the proto-type configuration could also be easilyconstructed (either on site or prefabricat-

ed) and would be rela-tively inexpensive. Theywould also seem to fill agrowing need, asinquiries in the market-place, as well as calls tothe LGSEA Council andSSMA technical office,have shown a markedincrease in the interestin blast and ballisticresistance in structures.

MMOORREE RROOUUNNDDSS

The next round ofballistic testing will include various thick-

ness configurations with a 50-caliberheavy machine gun round fired at closerange, as well as a flexible ballistic mat.With increasing demand in the market-place for ballistic-resistant walls and struc-tures framed with non-combustible steelframing, several products are expected tobe available to structural engineers andspecifiers, including “Ballistic Sure-Board7” panels specially configured forboth interior and exterior use.

Wall assemblies constructed with thismaterial will provide superior resistance toshear from lateral wind and seismic loadsalong with the bullet-resistant perform-ance. As these products are developed,design shear values will be available fromthe manufacturer, and as always, all man-ufacturers’ instructions and code provi-sions must be followed when detailing theproduct’s anchorage to steel framing andaddition of the granular fill. Specificinquiries about the current testing may beaddressed to Support@Sureboard.com

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Figure 3: Recovered 357Magnum bullets.

Figure 4: Damaged drywall but no bullet penetration.

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SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST

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ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUES-TIONS THAT COMES UP REGARDING

STEEL FRAMING IS ITS REACTION

TO THERMAL FACTORS.

The answer is that with the proper insu-lation and installation techniques, a steel-framed building can be completely ther-mally efficient.

Different parts of the country have dif-ferent energy codes. The energy code fora particular area will determine the levelsrequired for a steel-framed house.

Energy codes or standards—includingthe International Code Council’sInternational Energy Conservation Code,formerly the Council of American BuildingOfficials Model Energy Code; the AmericanSociety of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 90.2;and California’s Title 24—require steel-framed homes to meet certain energy per-formance criteria, usually developedaround the thermal transmittance (U) val-ues. Thermal U-values indicate the effec-tiveness of a wall at holding warm or coldair inside. The location of the steel-framed house and governing codes willdictate the amount of insulation required.

MMEEEETTIINNGG TTHHEE EENNEERRGGYY CCOODDEE

The IECC provides equivalent thermalvalues for steel- and wood-framed con-struction. When comparing the currentsteel and wood thermal values for 24-inchspaced studs with R-13 insulation inbetween the studs, the wood-framed wallgenerally has twice the effective R-value(the thermal resistance of the wall). Thetables in the IECC are based on laboratorytesting of wall panels called hot box tests.

Following the IECC, extra insulation isusually required on steel-framed housesto increase the effective R-values and it isoften more effective to satisfy a portion ofthe R-value requirement using exteriorinsulated sheathing than to use cavityinsulation alone.

Hot box testing showed studs in thewall form “thermal bridges.” The tables inthe IECC show that the thermal efficiencyof steel studs is approximately one-halfthat of wood when tested in this manner.

PPRRAACCTTIICCAALL EEXXPPEERRIIEENNCCEE

Experience has shown that energy billsfor steel-framed are not higher than theirwood counterparts for similar size, con-struction and occupancy. The thermalefficiency of a steel-framed home isdependent on:

• Good construction detailing and air tightness (tightness of the joints to prevent air infiltration).

• Clustering of steel studs in walls (can provide cold spots that contribute to heat loss in a home).

Until more testing is conducted andbetter methods of calculating thermal effi-ciency for steel-framed houses are devel-oped, applying extra insulation is the pre-ferred method for increasing thermal effi-ciency. However, one may also examinethe house for other energy credits, i.e.,fewer window openings and energy-effi-cient HVAC equipment. Most energycodes allow this type of credit when calcu-lating insulation levels.

GhostingTemperature is only one of the factors

to be considered when selecting insula-tion materials and methods.

Ghosting is the deposition of dirt anddust particles on surfaces of the walls,usually at stud locations, when the sur-face thermal gradient is greater than 3degrees F. The particles adhere to thecolder areas of the wall, highlighting thelocation of the framing members.Ghosting is not limited to steel framing,but tends to occur more often with steelbecause of the higher thermal conduc-tance. It also has a higher probability ofoccurring in homes where occupantssmoke or frequently burn candles.

To determine if ghosting protection isnecessary, one can examine the meantemperature difference from outside toinside a house. If the difference is 50degrees or greater for two or more days,there’s a good chance ghosting will occurin one year or less.

MoistureCondensation also can impact all fram-

ing types, including steel. Excessive mois-ture can degrade thermal insulation anddamage architectural finishes, includingexterior siding or interior gypsum wall-board. An advantage of using exteriorinsulated sheathing in a cold climate isthat it can move the dew point outside ofthe wall cavity and away from the steel.

Steel-framed houses usually allow lessair infiltration. Although airflow is notviewed as beneficial from an energy per-spective, a lack of it can result in abuildup of moisture inside the home. Thesame moisture control used for woodframing should be applied to steel fram-ing: applying a vapor barrier and tapingjoints on foam board insulation. Practicesvary from region to region.

AAIISSII TTHHEERRMMAALL DDEESSIIGGNN GGUUIIDDEE

The Thermal Design Guide for ExteriorWalls provides contractor guidelines forthe amounts of insulation needed to prop-erly insulate steel-framed homes.Published in 1993 by AISI, it shows theresults of testing and presents three dif-ferent ways to determine the amount ofinsulation required for a steel-framedhouse: a thermal degree-day map andtable indicating extra insulation require-ments; effective R-values for various typesof steel-framed construction, dependingon the energy code requirements (seeTable 1); and a Thermal Zone map andtable. It also includes a chart method andcalculation method.

CCAAVVIITTYY IINNSSUULLAATTIIOONN

Because a metal stud is open on oneside, the wall cavity formed between the

STEEL’S THERMAL FACTORS

EDUCATION SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST

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studs is wider than in wood framing. It isimportant to select fiberglass batt insulationthat occupies the full width of the cavity sothere is no air space left in the wall cavity. Aspray-applied insulation can also be used,as long as it completely fills the cavity.

Fiberglass insulation is held between thewall studs by friction. Full-width batts, whichare 16 inches or 24 inches wide, should beused. Kraft-faced insulation should betaped or glued to the wall studs that do nothave lips to hold it in place.

Insulating WallsInsulation should be placed in any area

that could produce a cold spot, including:

• Exterior walls.• Jambs.• Headers.• Corner studs.• Any built-up members.• Inside multiple studs.• Behind outlet boxes in

exterior walls.

Insulating CeilingsInsulation for ceilings

should be installed inareas including:

• Full width between ceil-ing joists underneath unheated attics.

• Between ceiling joists of unheated garages or areas where there arerooms above the ceilings used for living purposes.

• Below stairway of an unheated attic.

• In knee walls inside of unheated attics.

• In cathedral ceilings.

Insulating FloorsInstalling insulation in floor cavities

requires insulation to be placed in spotsincluding:

• Around the joist or track between the joists and along the end walls.

• Between joists that are above an unheat-ed living space.

• Between floor joists over a crawl space.

The insulation will need to be securedbetween steel joists in the same manner as

for wood joists. Strapping, ties or chickenwire can be used to hold the insulation per-manently in place. If a gypsum wallboardceiling is used beneath the joists, ties willnot be necessary.

FFOOAAMM BBOOAARRDD IINNSSUULLAATTIIOONN

In colder regions, the Thermal DesignGuide for Exterior Walls recommends addi-tional insulation on the exterior of the housein the form of foam board. These productsare usually made from extruded polystyreneor polyisocianurate. Depending on the R-value required, the thickness of the foamboard will vary, as seen in TTaabbllee 11).

Foam Board AttachmentAttach the foam board to the exterior of

the house using screws, adhesives or nails.The type of attachment directly depends onthe type of sheathing or siding beinginstalled.

TTaabbllee 22 shows recommendations for fas-teners. Note that screw length is deter-mined by thickness of materials. It mustpenetrate siding, foam board, structuralsheathing and steel studs, plus a minimumof three exposed threads. The engineer willspecify the number of screws. Also, wherestructural sheathing is used, foam boardand exterior finishes may not be required tobe fastened to the stud. Refer to the manu-facturer’s recommendations for fasteningrequirements of siding for recommendedfasteners.

Specific applications require differentfasteners and methods.

For Stucco Houses• Attach the foam board to the steel,

using a long self-drilling screw with

SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST EDUCATION

MHDMay/Jun 06

3355

• Complete trusses delivered to your site

• Exceptional strength-to-weight ratio

• Requires less bracing than conventional trusses

• Outstanding dimensional stability

• UL Classified

For More Information:

toll-free: 800.627.4667web site: www.marinoware.com

e-mail: framerite@marinoware.com

From Insight to Jobsite.

Circle #13

a plastic washer.

• Attach the metal lath to the foam board also using a long self-drilling screw with a washer to hold the lath in place.

For Houses Sheathed with Plywood or OSB• Attach the foam board to the sheathing

with roofing nails or adhesive.

• Attach the siding over the foam board with nails or screws that penetrate through the foam board into the sheathing or studs.

For Vinyl SidingUse nails, staples or screws to attach

the siding into the sheathing or studsaccording to the siding manufacturer’s rec-ommendations.

CCOONNSSTTRRUUCCTTIIOONN AANNDD CCOOSSTT IISSSSUUEESS

Installing siding over foam board andfastening to steel may be more costly thaninstalling siding over plywood or OSB.

Foam board insulation is readily avail-able and relatively inexpensive, but thecosts of fasteners and associated laborcan be high. In addition, long screws maybe difficult to work with, as they tend toflop or fall over when screwed in.

Studies from the NAHB ResearchCenter show it costs twice as much toattach foam board insulation to steel as itdoes to attach it to wood sheathing. Whenrequired to install foam board insulationon a home, it sometimes can be lessexpensive to sheath the house with ply-wood instead of using X-bracing.

OOTTHHEERR TTYYPPEESS OOFF IINNSSUULLAATTIIOONN

Spray-In Foam InsulationSpray-in foams such as Icenyne are

available to fill wall cavities. Gypsumboard is usually installed first, and thenthe foam is injected into the wall cavity.Icenyne expands in the wall cavity to sealoff all voids to prevent air infiltration.Insulation products like this are very effec-tive in sealing off all areas of the wall toprevent air infiltration.

Loose CelluloseAs with wood-framed houses, loose cel-

lulose is an alternative for insulating ahome. Loose cellulose is installed in asteel-framed house the same way as awood home, by blowing the insulationmaterial into the wall cavity using forcedair.

TTHHEERRMMAALL SSTTUUDDSS

Another alternative that will eitherreduce or eliminate the need for foamboard insulation is the use of thermalstuds.

Thermal studs remove a substantialamount of the web to reduce the thermalconductivity of the stud. Some of thesestuds are so effective they eliminate theneed for exterior foam board altogether,also eliminating the cost of foam boardand fasteners needed. Thermal-stud man-ufacturers, including Tri-Chord, can providethermal-resistance values and the studs’associated costs and determine their use-fulness on the jobsite.

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SFA’S FRAMEWORK IN METAL HOME DIGEST

MATERIAL DONATIONS BY SFA MEMBER

CEMCO HAVE AIDED STEEL-FRAMING EDUCATIONAL

EFFORTS CLOSE TO ITS FACILITIES’ COMMUNITIES.

Glendale High School and Laney Collegein Berkeley received stud and track andeducational materials from CEMCO’s City ofIndustry and Pittsburg, Calif., plants,respectively.

“This was the first time most of theteachers have used steel framing and theyenjoyed the experience,” said Glendaleteacher Tom Vessella. “It was so success-ful that some of the teachers brought backwall sections to their classrooms and planto include the process in their curricula.”

CEMCO’s Executive Vice President TomPorter said the donations were the compa-ny’s way of “just doing its part” to aid in thepromotion of cold-formed steel framing.

SFA President Larry Williams encouragesall members to get actively involved withlocal groups to support their needs fortraining.

“This in the long term,” Williams said, “isan important investment all members canmake for a very low cost.”

MHDMHD

MEMBER MAKES GRADE IN

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Teachers and studentslearn about steel framing at Glendale (Calif.)High School thanks to amaterial donation.