Light Gauge or Structural Steel
When is multi-story load-bearing metal-stud framing the right choice?
DSI frequently receives requests to convert a project into a light-gauge metal framed structure. Given the expansion of metal stud use beyond the traditional non-load-bearing partition walls into acceptance as a primary structural system, there is no wonder so many firms are anxious to become educated in the use of this product.
When considering the benefits provided by a load-bearing metal-stud system, it’s easy to get excited about light-gauge materials as a replacement for wood, metal or concrete framing. It’s good for everyone, especially the owner, right?
Is load-bearing light-gauge metal framing the right choice? The answer to this question is often yes. But when the answer is no, it is important to acknowledge that forcing the use of the wrong system can be a monumental, and expensive mistake. The use of even a great product in an unsuitable application negatively impacts everyone--- from construction costs and time overruns, to increased construction errors as a result of unnecessary complexity. Such problems can leave many parties hesitant to use metal framing on future project, even when metal is the right choice.
How do you know when a load-bearing stud system is the right decision for your commercial or residential structure? In most residential construction, if the project can be built out of wood, it can likely be efficiently built using light-gauge framing. In commercial construction, there are additional considerations.
The first consideration is the height of the building. Although buildings can be successfully constructed using metal structural framing for nearly any height, complexity is increased and efficiency is rapidly lost if the building is more than five or six stories above the slab-on-grade or elevated concrete slabs, though these heights can sometimes be increased by using lighter floor systems.
The second consideration is the type of structure being built. For instance, if the structure is a hotel, apartment building, condominium, dormitory or assisted living facility, the likelihood is increased that load-bearing studs are a good choice. For all of these structures, it is likely that the floor spans will not be excessive, at least a reasonable percentage of the walls will stack above one another, repetition of rooms and units will be common, loading conditions are moderate and the wall locations are well established. In contrast, even though storage facilities generally have permanent wall locations, with moderate floor spans and considerable wall stacking, high live load requirements may minimize the efficiency of using typical structural studs as the primary structure for buildings above two or three stories. Office buildings, retail structures and buildings with large volume rooms, like warehouses and gymnasiums, are typically not candidates for a metal framed structure due to the need for flexibility in future wall locations and excessive loading conditions. However, pre-engineered metal and other specialized metal framed systems may address the needs of these projects.
Once the use of a light-gauge structural system has been determined to be suitable, the next consideration is whether to use light-gauge metal or steel framing. Even though the majority of the framing may be light-gauge metal, the structural system will likely still include a multitude of materials, the most common of these being steel. How do you decide what to use where? The same rules that were used to determine whether the building as a whole should be built using light gauge materials should be considered in determining what areas of the building should be framed with metal, steel or some other material. As an example, in the case of hotels, the lobby and other non-stacking or clear span multi-story areas may be steel or some other appropriate system, even when the rest of the building is metal. Taking advantage of the benefits that both products provide will result in a building that is more easily and efficiently constructed, with the natural consequence of a happy customer and owner, which is good for you and the industry.
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