For most cold-formed steel framing projects, industry or manufacturers’ design tables are sufficient for specifying and constructing nonstructural partitions. But for projects where the requirements are outside the usual limits, design professionals and building officials now have a resource to address those challenges.
Prior to 2011, designers consulted AISI S200, North American Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing—General Provisions, for both structural and nonstructural members. In an effort to more clearly delineate and eliminate confusion between requirements for cold-formed steel structural members and nonstructural members, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Committee on Framing Standards developed a new standard: AISI S220, North American Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing—Nonstructural Members. This standard intends to provide a level playing field for cold-formed steel manufacturers to develop new, efficient products for nonstructural applications.
AISI S220 applies to commonly recognized nonstructural members such as wall studs used in interior partition walls and other members that meet the nonstructural definition and limitations. Having this information contained in one standard makes it easier for design professionals and building officials to specify and approve cold-formed steel nonstructural framing for building projects. The standard recognizes that the consequence of failure for a nonstructural member is less severe than for a structural member, and therefore permits a lower reliability for nonstructural members. AISI S220 includes several important updates and clarifications for designers working with cold-formed steel.