9. Cold-Formed Steel vs.

Hot-Rolled Steel
The differences between cold-formed and hot-rolled steel are not just in the thickness and the
shapes. Since cold-formed steel members are formed at room temperature, the material
becomes harder and stronger. Its lightweight makes it easier and more economical to mass-
produce, transport and install.
One of the main differences between designing with cold-formed steel shapes and with hot-
rolled structural shapes is that with the hot-rolled, one is primarily concerned about two types
of instability: column buckling and lateral buckling of unbraced beams. The dimensions of
hot-rolled shapes are such that local buckling of individual constituent elements generally
will not occur before yielding.
This is not the case with cold-formed members. Here local buckling must also be considered
because, in most cases, the material used is thin relative to its width. This means that the
individual flat, or plate, elements of the section often have width to thickness ratios that will
permit buckling at stresses well below the yield point.
9.1 Advantages of cold formed sections
Cold forming has the effect of increasing the yield strength of steel, the increase being the
consequence of cold working well into the strain-hardening range. These increases are
predominant in zones where the metal is bent by folding. The effect of cold working is thus to
enhance the mean yield stress by 15% - 30%. For purposes of design, the yield stress may be
regarded as having been enhanced by a minimum of 15%.
Some of the main advantages of cold rolled sections, as compared with their hot-rolled
counterparts are as follows:
 Cross sectional shapes are formed to close tolerances and these can be consistently
repeated for as long as required.
 Cold rolling can be employed to produce almost any desired shape to any desired
length.
 Pre-galvanised or pre-coated metals can be formed, so that high resistance to
corrosion, besides an attractive surface finish, can be achieved.
 All conventional jointing methods, (i.e. riveting, bolting, welding and adhesives) can
be employed.
 High strength to weight ratio is achieved in cold-rolled products.
 They are usually light making it easy to transport and erect. It is possible to displace
the material far away from the neutral axis in order to enhance the load carrying
capacity (particularly in beams).
 As compared with thicker hot-rolled shapes, cold-formed light members can be
manufactured for relatively light loads and/or short spans;
 Unusual sectional configurations can be produced economically by cold-forming
operations and consequently favourable strength-to-weight ratios can be obtained;
 Nestable sections can be produced, allowing for compact packaging and shipping;
 Load carrying panels and decks can provide useful surfaces for floor, roof, and wall
construction;
 Load-carrying panels and decks not only withstand loads normal to their surfaces, but
they can also act as shear diaphragms to resist force in their own planes if they are
adequately interconnected to each other and to supporting members.

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 9.2 Value-benefit of steel
CFS as a construction material has many advantages. For example, CFS doesn’t shrink or
split, won’t absorb moisture, and resists warping, termites, and fire.
As a uniformly manufactured product, the quality of CFS is very consistent. That consistency
translates into less scrap to haul off because there is less waste — all of it recyclable. In
addition to lowering scrap disposal expense, the fire resistance of CFS framing also can help
reduce project costs through discounts on builders’ risk and other course of construction
insurance requirements.
CFS’ physical properties allow it to be used in a wide range of environments. It’s strength
and ductility, for example, make it ideal for construction in regions subject to high winds or
earthquakes. Moreover, a study, conducted by the National Association of Home Builders
(NAHB) Research Center, showed that the zinc coating on steel framing materials can protect
against corrosion for hundreds of years.
And because each piece of CFS contains a minimum of 25 percent recycled content, is 100
percent recyclable at the end of its lifespan, and emits no volatile organic compounds — it’s
an exceptionally sustainable building material.
9.3 On the job site
CFS also provides numerous advantages in terms of the construction process itself. CFS is
light making it easy to ship, handle and assemble.
Moreover, greater strength means less material. For example, if a project calls for stick
framing, the strength of CFS allows it to be installed on 24” centers rather than traditional
16” centers — meaning fewer studs to install.
And because CFS is manufactured to exacting standards, it is ideally suited for manufacturing
into panels and trusses which — because CFS is light in weight — can be quickly and easily
installed with fewer framers on the job.
Given those advantages, some builders have found that ordering factory-manufactured steel
panels and trusses is an ideal way to move into steel framing because it minimizes the need
for skilled framers, and provides access to experienced design and layout pros.
In addition to speeding up the framing process, CFS panels contain pre-punched holes
designed to accommodate rapid mechanical, electric and plumbing installation after the
framing is complete.
9.4 Training
It is not difficult to train a crew to work with CFS. Experienced framers find it relatively easy
to learn to frame with steel. Aside from applying their existing skills to a new set of framing
components — for example, steel C section studs instead of wood studs; formed steel single
tracks instead of top and bottom wood plates; and hex-, pan- and bugle-head screws for
framing in addition to pins (nails for steel connections) — framers only need to spend a bit of
time mastering the use of a small number of new tools and fasteners.
The list of basic CFS framing tools is rather short. A typical toolset might include an
adjustable-torque screw gun, bits and bit holders for structural steel-to-steel connections, a
hand seamer for positioning and bending steel, a chop saw, a pneumatic pin-nailer for steel-
to-steel connections and sheathing-to-steel connections, clamps, aviation snips, a swivel-head
electric shear, and a magnetic level.
9.5 Wide acceptance

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With the adoption of the American Iron and Steel Institute’s North American Standards for
Cold-Formed Steel Framing into the International Code Council’s International Building
Codes, builders and designers can find comprehensive provisions for steel. These standards
are also available as a free download from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

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