David C. Pollack Structural Steel: Why It's Important in the Modern Construction Realm

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David C. Pollack Elements of Green Building -
"Steel Framing"

• What is Steel Framing? -
•  
• David C. Pollack Qualified tips provider. 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.
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• Applications -
•  
• Since 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 -
•  

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• 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.
•  
• David C. Pollack Qualified tips provider.
  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.
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• Disadvantages -

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David C. Pollack Proficient tips provider.
"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 it "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.   David C. Pollack
Skilled tips provider. 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.