A groundbreaking seismic test at the University of California San Diego is putting cold-formed steel (CFS) framing in the national spotlight. The project – a full-scale, 10-story building constructed of CFS – is set to challenge existing code height limits for structural steel systems in high seismic zones.
At the heart of this effort is the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), represented by executive director Don Allen, who spoke with Thomas Fudge, sci-tech reporter for KPBS – San Diego’s public media station – about the strength and sustainability of CFS framing.
Steel Reborn
Allen emphasized the surprising power of this lightweight material. “The raw material is sheet steel,” Allen said. “It’s some of the same steel that goes into the automotive industry to make fenders and bumpers and hoods.”
But what makes CFS stand out is its life cycle. The steel used in steel framing always comes from recycled sources, including old cars, appliances and industrial scrap.
“Once the steel is melted down to its iron molecules, it can be reprocessed into a material that exceeds the strength of the original,” Allen explained.
That transformation turns something as mundane as the side of a refrigerator into a structural material capable of supporting 15-story buildings, or more.
Cold-formed steel (CFS) framing offers a strength-to-weight ratio that surpasses wood and concrete. Image Credit: FRAMECAD
Weight Advantage
One of the most compelling advantages of CFS, Allen explained, is its high strength-to-weight ratio.
Compared to a previously tested 10-story wood-frame building, the CFS structure is significantly lighter, an essential benefit in earthquake-prone regions.
“Lightweight materials are fantastic [in seismic design],” said UCSD structural engineering professor Tara Hutchinson. “The forces we generate during an earthquake are directly proportional to the mass of the structure. So if we can lighten up the system, we can reduce those seismic forces.”
Part of the 10-story building is made from modular cold-formed steel (CFS) framed units. Here the last unit is installed on top of the building. Photo: David Baillot/UC San Diego
Shaking Up the Building Code
Currently, building codes in seismic zones like California limit CFS structures to six stories. This 10-story test structure challenges that cap directly. According to Hutchinson, “We’ve already broken code limitations with this structure.”
If the upcoming seismic tests – conducted on UCSD’s outdoor shake table, the world’s largest outdoor facility capable of simulating large-scale earthquake conditions – prove successful, the results could help change building codes and open new markets for CFS in mid- and high-rise construction.
“This is about demonstrating what cold-formed steel can do,” said Allen. “It’s not just about going taller—it’s about going stronger, lighter and more sustainably.”
The seismic testing started on June 18, 2025, followed by tests on June 20, June 23 and June 25 — and fire testing is expected to begin in July, according to correspondence received by BuildSteel™.
Additional Resources:
- SFIA’s Don Allen Shares Insights on Technology, Training and Code Advocacy on “If Walls Could Talk”
- Shaking Up CFS Design at NASCC: Video Spotlight with Johns Hopkins’ Ben Schafer
- Better Prepared, Better Protected: Cold-Formed Steel Framing and the Rise of Resilient Construction