Image: The CFS-NHERI capstone project, CFS10, now underway features a 10-story cold-formed steel (CFS) building that will undergo seismic and fire testing.
Wildfire activity is rising across the country. As of May 2025, more than 1.1 million acres have burned in over 26,500 wildfires so far this year, both figures substantially exceeding the 10-year average.
As climate change fuels more frequent and widespread wildfires, home buyers, builders and insurers “are urgently seeking wildfire-resistant homes and climate-resilient construction strategies,” says the Forbes article, “Home Builders Deliver Under Threat Of Wildfire Season.” Builders are using cold-formed steel (CFS) “as a noncombustible frame solution to create wildfire resilient, affordable homes,” the article says.
Steel-Framing Cuts Build Time 40%, Insurance Premium 20%
Hapi Homes, a modular home manufacturer that delivers customizable housing solutions in a single 14-foot container, is seeing skyrocketing demand thanks to its use of noncombustible CFS framing.
“We’ve seen a 300% to 400% increase in inquiries after the Los Angeles fires,” says Hapi Homes CEO Mary O’Brien. “Resiliency starts with the [cold-formed] steel. It forms the core frame, manufactured to spec using automated factory tools.”
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Kits from Hapi Homes assemble 40% faster with 20% lower labor costs than traditional builds, the article notes. In addition, the homes are considered “wildfire-hardened structures” and qualify for discounts on insurance premiums of up to 20%.
In 2024, Hapi Homes further strengthened its operations by relocating its steel supply chain to the United States, thereby mitigating international delays and import tariffs.
Fire Safety: 5 Reasons to Use Steel
Many builders are turning to cold-formed steel (CFS) framing for their low and mid-rise projects. Here are five reasons why:
1. Steel is Noncombustible
Steel can’t burn, because it contains no elements that can serve as fuel. It does not contribute to fire growth and does not generate smoke or other toxic fumes in fires.
Steel studs simply do not ignite when exposed to a 500 degree Fahrenheit temperature, says TheBigRedGuide. In fact, metal studs can even contain the spread of a fire.
2. Steel Maintains its Noncombustibility
Steel remains noncombustible throughout the entire lifecycle of a building — during construction, occupation and renovation and repair.
3. Steel Framing Reduces Fire Risk to Workers and Occupants
Decades of research into how structural steel performs in fire conditions has equipped designers to engineer buildings with optimum fire safety. Fire-rated walls and floors help contain flames and preserve the integrity of a structure.
4. Steel-Framed Buildings Reduce the Impact on Municipal Fire Services
Fires have strained local fire departments, prompting many municipalities to adopt site-safety regulations for combustible buildings — measures that often increase construction time and costs. Some cities, such as the affluent Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs, are even moving to ban combustible framing above three stories.
5. Steel-Framed Buildings Tend to Cost Less to Insure
Insurers typically offer lower builders risk and general liability premiums for steel-framed structures compared to those framed with wood.
For example, CFS framing saved $1.32 million in builders risk insurance premiums over the 24-month construction of a four-story, 400-unit hotel — plus $66,000 annually in property insurance premiums compared to wood framing.
Steel-Panels Deliver 50% Energy Savings
Steel is the primary structural component in RSG 3-D’s proprietary panel system. The system uses a pre-galvanized steel truss framework encasing solid-core polystyrene insulation and concrete to deliver disaster resilience against wildfires, hurricanes and earthquakes.
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“We’ve had 30 years of real-world testing in real-world conditions,” says RSG 3-D CEO Ken Calligar, noting that his panels have a wind-rating certification of up to 300–321 mph. The panels endured a simulated 9.4 Richter event without a single structural or cosmetic crack — and were subsequently rated up to 11.0 after internal inspection.
By leveraging steel’s strength and durability, these panels serve as walls, roofs and floors while remaining cost-competitive at scale. On a lifecycle basis, they deliver 50% energy savings, 50% lower maintenance requirements and 40% reduced insurance rates, the Forbes article says.
Surge in Fires: The Case for Steel Framing
Download this free article brief exploring the rise of fires in mid-rise wood construction across the U.S., highlighting incidents in California and Texas. The report outlines the key advantages of steel framing as a noncombustible alternative to significantly reduce fire hazards.
Devastation To Innovation
Noncombustible steel framing has become central to the building industry’s response to wildfires, driving adoption of fire-resistant design, sustainable materials and cost-effective rebuilding solutions.
As climate risks intensify, innovators now realize that constructing safer, smarter homes with steel framing will not increase their costs to build. Rather, building with steel can deliver long-term savings through enhanced energy efficiency, reduced maintenance and lower insurance premiums.
Additional Resources
- As Wildfires Rage On, One Homebuilder Urges a Shift to Steel Construction
- Examining the Surge in Mid-Rise Wood Construction Fires: The Case for Steel Framing
- California Homes Destroyed by Wildfires Being Rebuilt with Steel Framing
- A Shift to Steel: Interview on Fire-Resistant Rebuilding Strategies After California Wildfires