Use of QR Code and YouTube on Mid-Rise CFS Project Earns Iron Engineering a CFSEI Award

Featured image: Cold-formed steel framing is the primary framing system for the KindCare Assisted Living in Bristol, Conn. Project profile courtesy of CFSEI. All photos courtesy of Interior Building Contractors, Inc., except where noted.

KindCare Assisted Living is a four-story facility in Bristol, Conn. It is constructed mostly with cold-formed steel (CFS) and a small amount of structural steel for lateral and second-floor podium support.

Dana Hennis (left), P.E., S.E. and CFSEI vice chair presents the CFSEI award to Anthony Coviello, P.E., S.E., of Iron Engineering. Courtesy of CFSEI

Iron Engineering, PLLC, won the 2023 CFSEI Design Excellence Award for an innovative use of a QR code and a YouTube cold-formed steel (CFS) installation explanation on the KindCare Assisted Living project, taking third place in the creative detail category in the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute’s award competition.

The CFSEI Award entry was submitted by Anthony Coviello, P.E., S.E., of Iron Engineering, who was the project’s CFS specialty engineer. Iron Engineering received the award for KindCare Assisted Living at the 2023 CFSEI Expo held recently in New Orleans.

Unusual Framing, Heavy Sections

During construction, a portion of the structural steel framing was found to be in conflict with the window openings. The engineer of record (EOR) and the contractor contacted Iron Engineering and asked the firm whether the column loads above could be supported with CFS headers.

The design proved challenging. It required some very heavy sections and some unusual framing conditions where the sequence of framing was critical to making the detail a success.

Use of Jack Studs

• Dimensional restrictions did not allow for the header support track to be fastened to the jamb prior to the assembly of the header
• The unusual use of jack studs and the height to the floor deck meant that the header had to be assembled in place

The header was lifted out of the way to permit installation of the header support connection tracks. After the tracks were installed, the header could be dropped into place.

Unusual Web Stiffeners

Also unusual to the detail was the need for web stiffeners inside the header ends.

The combination of the above less common construction techniques concerned Iron Engineering’s engineers. They wanted to ensure that the contractor and any inspector would not miss these critical items.

“At first, we typed a wall of text to explain the complexities of these issues, but we felt that the more we typed, the more likely our text would be ignored,” said the CFSEI Awards submission writeup concerning the KindCare Assisted Living project.

Iron Engineering provided a tech solution to a problem where some structural steel framing was in conflict with window openings.

Creative Tech Solution

Ultimately, Iron Engineering’s engineers decided on a unique response.

YouTube

“We recorded a video explanation of the issues and critical nature of the assembly and posted it on our YouTube channel,” the Iron Engineering CFSEI Award submission writeup says. “We also created a QR code and put that in the detail.”

QR Code

The QR code and video allowed anyone working with the detail to take out their smartphone, scan the QR code and listen to the audio on YouTube. The contractor appreciated the explanation and the encouragement to give thought to the constructibility of the details.

The use of a QR code and video allowed for a whole new dimension in construction drawings.

Fourth and Fifth Dimensions

“BIM is often cited for its amazing 3-D coordination abilities,” the Iron Engineering CFSEI Award submission writeup says. “However, construction drawings enhanced with an attached audio or video feature add a fourth and fifth dimension to the drawings.”

Iron Engineering believes this extra effort decreased the chance of errors and increased the communication between the designer and the builder.

Read more about Iron Engineering’s CFS detailing for the KindCare Assisted Living in Bristol, Conn., here.

Additional Resources

• CFSEI Publishes Tech Note on Cold-Formed Steel Shear Wall Design for Wind and Seismic Forces
• CFSEI Publishes Technical Note on Strap Braced Wall Design, Loose Strap Considerations
• Ask an Expert: CFSEI Responds to a Question about the Anchored Leg of a Clip Angle