| | LEED General Contractor ArticlesElements of Green Building - "Steel Framing"By
Tasha Lucas What
is Steel Framing?Imagine the wood framing of a traditionally built home,
but where there are 2x4s, 2x6s, etc., there are steel studs. The studs themselves
start out as large steel sheets. These sheets are passed through a series or rollers,
none of which use heat, to bend the steel to make more useful shapes for buildings,
like the flanges, web, and lips of a stud or C-shape. Steel studs come in various
shapes and sizes, much like those that builders are accustomed to seeing in dimensional
lumber, including 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 2x10, etc. The lengths are custom cut in the
steel plant. And, since there is no heat used to shape the steel, no integrity
or strength is lost. The shape makes the studs stronger than the original steel
sheet. The steel studs can either be sold as is or placed into configurations
to be sold as wall panels. Applications of Steel FramingSince steel
is so strong, durable, versatile, and affordable, it can be used as framing for
a great variety of situations, from superstructures like skyscrapers, bridges,
and high-rises to lower-scale building projects like commercial shopping centers
and residential homes. Since steel's strength-to-weight ratio is so high, it is
ideal for situations that require long spans. For example, steel opens up possibilities
for wide, open living spaces in residences. Advantages of Steel Framing- Steel
framing's higher strength-to-weight ratio gives designers and engineers more options
to use less framing material, allowing longer spans and wider on-center spacing
schedules. In other words, fewer studs need to be used in the erection of a house
or building, and larger open spaces are available in a home or building.
- Steel
studs and joists are strong, light-weight, and made from uniform-quality material.
- Galvanized
steel is noncombustible, unsusceptible to rot, and resistant to corrosion. It
does not shrink, warp, twist, crack, split, or swell. This means your walls are
straight and square for the life of the house, which will be a long life at that.
Steel framing contributes to better drywall and exterior appearance, as well as
the fit of doors and windows.
- Steel is insect and termite resistant.
It is also mold resistant.
- Steel performs well in high wind and
seismic areas.
- Steel provides a more reliable supply of framing
materials for the building industry. It isn't affected by the shortages and sharp
price increases of the lumber industry.
- Remodeling and additions
are no issue with steel framing since, just like wood framing, non-load-bearing
walls can be removed.
- It is at least partly made of recycled materials
and is 100 percent recyclable after use.
- Since steel is fire retardant,
withstands high winds, and is more durable in hurricanes and earthquakes, homeowners
may enjoy lower insurance premiums.
Disadvantages of Steel Framing"Thermal
bridging" occurs when hot or cold air is drawn to a stud, resulting in heat loss
or gain. In cold climates, thermal bridging could result in increased heating
costs and in hot climates, heat gain could result in moisture damage. When we
build with steel, we use thermal barrier insulating materials to provide exceptional
heat and cooling loss protection to steel-built homes. What Makes Steel
Framing "Green"?- Steel is completely recyclable. In fact, steel is
North America's most recycled material. More than 65 million tons of steel scrap
is recycled each year. More steel is recycled than paper, aluminum, glass, and
plastic combined. As an end result, recycling steel scrap also saves landfill
space and natural resources. When the steel framing of a home has outlived its
useful life, it can be recycled into new steel.
- An average 2,000
square foot steel framed house can generate as little as a cubic yard of recyclable
scrap, diverting material for local landfills. This is partly because steel studs
are cut to exact lengths from steel stud machines so there are no wastes at the
construction site. The wastes in the steel plant are recycled to make more steel.
- Steel
framing contains at least 28 percent recycled steel and is completely recyclable.
Using recycled steel takes the pressure off renewable resources. For example,
a typical 2,000-square-foot home requires about 40 to 50 trees, about an acre's
worth. With steel, only the equivalent of about six scrapped automobiles is needed.
- When
used with thermal barrier materials, there is minimal heating and cooling loss.
Steel framing also results in less loss around windows and doors as well as foundation
and roofing connections because the steel will not warp and move, ridding concern
of gaps and accompanies energy loss created over the life of the house.
- Steel
framing means less need for lumber. Today, more than 90 percent of North America's
old-growth forests are already being harvested. This eases the strain on these
dwindling forests, saving the wildlife that lives in those forests, as well.
- Steel
is non-toxic and allergy free, which means healthier living for occupants.
About
the AuthorWritten by Tasha Lucas, Monster Constructors,
L.L.C You can also see this article on the Monster Constructors
website: http://www.monsterconstructors.com http://www.monstergreenbuilding.com Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tasha_Lucas
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