Rethinking Fire Risk During Construction
A major fire destroyed a 5-story apartment building under construction on Olympia Drive in Amherst, Massachusetts. Wood framing formed the building’s structural system. At the time of the fire, the building lacked operational sprinklers and complete fire-resistant assemblies. The incident raised concerns about the risks large combustible buildings can present during this vulnerable stage of construction, says an article on Amherst Indy.
Cold-formed steel (CFS) offers noncombustible framing for walls, floors and roofs. Unlike wood framing, CFS does not burn or contribute fuel to a fire. This characteristic provides an important advantage. CFS can also maintain structural integrity longer when exposed to high temperatures.
The Amherst fire drew attention to nearby properties and the challenges of responding to large construction fires. The fire also demonstrates why framing selection should be part of construction-phase fire planning.
Steel Supports Wildfire-Resilient Home Design
A California homebuilder is using cold-formed steel (CFS) for homes designed to address wildfire risk. Metricon Homes developed its Firesafe Home for houses and accessory dwelling units in fire-prone communities, according to an article on Woodworking Network.
The design uses CFS for structural framing as part of a broader fire-resistant construction strategy.
CFS brings a key characteristic to that strategy. Steel does not burn or contribute fuel to a fire. Metricon Homes also identifies several advantages of CFS construction:
- Maintains structural integrity under extreme heat
- Resists warping, shrinking, splitting and rot
- Resists structural damage from termites
- Maintains precise dimensions that support fire-stopping measures
- Creates tight-fitting assemblies that resist flame penetration
- Provides consistent performance across climate conditions
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Building with steel takes on added relevance in California communities that have experienced destructive wildfires. Firesafe Home models include designs for areas such as Altadena and Pacific Palisades where wildfire exposure influences material selection.
Steel Frames a New Approach to Palisades Rebuild
Rebuilding Pacific Palisades after the January 2025 wildfire has focused attention on alternative construction methods for wildfire-prone communities. Architects and builders are considering how structural materials can help address wildfire exposure, as noted in the New York Post article, “Is the Palisades being rebuilt to burn down again?”
Some home designs in the Palisades are incorporating noncombustible steel systems. One approach combines cold-formed steel (CFS) framing with concrete panels. RSG3-D manufactures walls with a foam-and-steel core between concrete panels. The company says the system presents no combustible material to an approaching wildfire.
Of course, structural systems form just one part of that approach, alongside other measures that protect homes from wildfire. The Palisades projects demonstrate how noncombustible steel systems can contribute to residential design in communities facing wildfire risk.
Additional Resources
- Fire Changes Everything: Why Cold-Formed Steel Is Reshaping Housing Construction
- Home Builders Turn to Steel as Wildfire Threats Intensify
- Update: Insurance Costs Are Re-Shaping Construction Choices — And the Data Speaks for Itself