July 30, 2025
The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) has published Technical Note L400-25, entitled “Non-Bearing Cold-formed Steel Lateral Force Resisting Systems.”
Cold-formed steel (CFS) lateral systems are commonly used in bearing walls. But non-bearing CFS lateral force resisting systems are non-standard applications that fall outside the design criteria of ASCE/SEI 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures. Thus, they can pose significant challenges for design and construction.
While these walls can offer lateral load resistance, they come with limitations. For proper force transfer, specifiers and designers must understand the performance, limitations and detailing options of these systems. In sort, these systems require intensive detailing.
Tech Note L400-25 addresses these concerns. It covers the limitations of these systems. It presents alternatives to avoid their unnecessary use. And it provides critical detailing practices when they are used.
- Tech Note L400-25 is free of charge to CFSEI Corporate, Professional and Student Members
- For nonmembers, L400-25 is available for purchase
CFSEI Technical Note L400-25, “Non-Bearing Cold-formed Steel Lateral Force Resisting Systems.”
Industry experts produce and update CFSEI Technical Notes. They educate design professionals on advancements and best practices in CFS design and construction.
Cold-Formed Steel Engineers InstituteThe Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) comprises hundreds of structural engineers and other design professionals. Together, they are finding a better way to produce safe and efficient cold-formed steel (CFS) designs for commercial and residential structures.
CFSEI members develop industry standards and design methods. CFSEI issues technical bulletins, organizes seminars and provides online training so that engineers and design professionals can improve their knowledge and skills. CFSEI is part of the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) family. For more information, visit www.cfsei.org.
Additional Resources
- CFSEI Publishes Tech Note on Evaluation and Remediation of Cold-Formed Steel Members and Connections
- CFSEI Publishes Tech Note on the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Bearing Stiffeners
- CFSEI Publishes Tech Note on Hole Reinforcement of Cold-Formed Steel Compression Members
- CFSEI Publishes Technical Note on Strap Braced Wall Design, Loose Strap Considerations