The viability of light-gage steel construction.
The viability of light-gage steel construction.
(OP)
I am a licensed Civil Engineer who recently obtained accreditation as a LEED Green Associate. I have stong interest in encoraging expansion of the light-gage steel construction market.
My motive is simply to ecourage what I see as the most viable method of construction in California. Farmed lumber used in wood construction I believe is not capable of keeping up with the demand, and produces a product of cheap quality not becoming of a construction industry. Farmed lumber is not environmentally sound.
Do you have comments on this line of thought?
My motive is simply to ecourage what I see as the most viable method of construction in California. Farmed lumber used in wood construction I believe is not capable of keeping up with the demand, and produces a product of cheap quality not becoming of a construction industry. Farmed lumber is not environmentally sound.
Do you have comments on this line of thought?






RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
I suggest you try and google some.
Steel really depends on the recycled content. You may find that the recycled content of light gauge material is low due to the high yield strength required. As usual these things are more complicated than they first appear.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
There are lots of issues here, one is: Availability of workforce.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
Thank you for your contributions. I will continue to contribute with supporting information and responses to your comments in the near furture.
Richard L. Flower, P. E., LEED Green Associate
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
Richard L. Flower, P. E., LEED Green Associate
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
Steel is not a renewable resource, either. You can always plant more trees.
Steel for cars gets recycled, and you can make more cars out of it. I do not think houses are quite as neat as this.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
Richard L. Flower, P. E., LEED Green Associate
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
If somebody would come up with design equations that did not require help from Einstein to understand I would also be more agreeable to using cold formed steel. I am not a fan of using the black box tables the manufacturer's provide.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
Richard L. Flower, P. E., LEED Green Associate
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
I stoped using the SSMA Product Technical Information. SSMA's published moment capacity do not always agree with the AISI manual. In some cases, the SSMA lists a 10-15% higher moment capacity. It seems as though the SSMA uses a different method for determining the strength increase due to cold forming. Someday, I will go through the calcs to determine the strength increase. It would be nice to find a (good) text book for cold-formed steel.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
I expect that you will find the SSMA is based on testing rather than purely on code. I could be wrong though.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
However, I agree that there are problems with the complexity of the code. Most of the light gage steel design on our jobs is delegated and provided by the light gage steel supplier. We have had some trouble with getting decent submittals, but I think contractors are beginning to understand that detailed calculations are required.
When we do our own light gage steel design, we always use some sort of black box program for design, since the code can be rather complex when buckling modes are applicable. Now, I have seen consistent results from program to program (anyone use the Clark-Western program?). I think it would be helpful for the industry to offer some free webinars/seminars that give an overview to engineers on the benefits and capabilities of the system, as well as an overview of the code equations and applicable limit states. We have used light gage steel successfully to please a client in high wind situations.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
In the past I have used Expansion bolt tables that came with ICC reports. That is the exception.
I tend to not use load tables produced by manufacturers for their own products for a rather obvious reason. At least half the time I can not match their values and for some reason their values are always stronger in these instances. Now if they are willing to eat the design liability that is another story.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
I concur with abusementpark that the industry should offer "some free webinars/seminars that give an overview to engineers on the benefits and capabilities of the system, as well as an overview of the code equations and applicable limit states". Perhaps the Steel Framing Alliance is the door to knock on?
Richard L. Flower, P. E., LEED Green Associate
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
Richard L. Flower, P. E., LEED Green Associate
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
Richard L. Flower, P. E., LEED Green Associate
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
With the history of construction in California in mind, we have seen light-gage metal framing coming of age in the last 40 years. Why is light-gage metal framing considered a viable option? Drawing from the experience gained from major structural steel framing and from wood construction, the structural engineering community is finding ways to answer the need for a cost-viable option using light-gage metal framing, while eliminating the need for major structural steel lateral-load-resisting systems. This results in a light-weight structure that is also light on the pocketbook. Numerous manufacturers have a long history of producing light-gage metal floor joists, wall studs, and shear wall systems. The cost of light gage metal framing has held steady over the years when compared to the wild cost variations of wood framed construction; for residential construction, the cost of labor may be more, but the material cost is much less, resulting in (roughly) one or two percent more in initial costs.
Richard L. Flower, P. E., LEED Green Associate
Senior Structural Engineer
Complere Engineering Group, Inc.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.
Richard L. Flower, P. E., LEED Green Associate
Senior Structural Engineer
Complere Engineering Group, Inc.
RE: The viability of light-gage steel construction.