Andrew Newland is the Team Leader of ADTEK Engineers, Inc. Specialty Department in Fairfax, VA. He is an Executive Committee Member of the CFSEI, Mid-Atlantic Steel Framing Alliance, and ASCE-SEI Committee on Cold-Formed Structures. (anewland@adtekengineers.com)
Off-site construction is the future of the building industry. It aims to speed up on-site construction schedules, address skilled worker shortages, and achieve better pre-coordination. Given their lightweight nature, cold-formed steel (CFS) framing projects are uniquely situated to use prefabricated panels. The panels can be complete with all the framing, sheathing, and possibly finishes installed in the fabrication facility.
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Design challenges often present themselves where a readymade solution is not available, and a unique solution using standard products must be designed. Various manufacturers in the cold-formed steel industry have developed a wide range of products, including unique clips and curved members. …