In 2023, the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing industry underwent significant changes when the American Iron and Steel Institute ended its standards development and construction code advocacy program. This led many to ask, “What will happen to the CFS framing standards? Will they still be referenced by the building codes? Will code advocacy continue?”
Don Allen, executive director of the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), has been working with the steel industry to resolve these questions. “My job is to nurture the growth of steel framing, leverage all new forces and technologies that can further this growth and ensure that the CFS standards development process remains active,” says Allen in “Steel Deal,” a bylined article for Walls & Ceilings.
The Steel Associations Council, which represents both cold-formed steel (CFS) and hot-rolled steel interests, met in Chicago in September 2024 to discuss steel standards development.
New Council Discusses Standards Transition
After AISI ceased its standards development work, the former Steel Industry Code Forum was reorganized to become the Steel Associations Council, which now represents both CFS and hot-rolled steel interests, Allen says.
The SAC met in September 2024 at the headquarters of the American Institute of Steel Construction in Chicago. There, the council discussed the need for industry-wide funding of code advocacy and research and the disposition of the former AISI standards. Besides the SFIA, the other associations in attendance included the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, Metal Building Manufacturers Association, Metal Construction Association, Steel Joist Institute, the Steel Stud Manufacturers Association, the Steel Deck Institute and the Steel Tube Institute.
“It was decided that both the International Building Code and the International Residential Code will continue to reference the CFS framing standards,” says Allen.
The future of the steel framing standards is multifaceted and varies depending on the specific set of standards. AISI maintained 32 standards, which fall into four categories:
- S100, North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members
- S200 CFS Framing Standards: S202, S220, S230, S240 and S250, which are all now cared for by SFIA
- S900 Test Standards: There are 23 standards for the cold-formed steel (CFS) industry. SFIA has taken responsibility for 12 test standards that relate primarily to CFS framing; the remaining test standards will be managed by other industry associations
- Other AISI Standards: Standards and portions of standards specific to other industries, including metal buildings, steel deck diaphragms and steel storage racks
By December 2024, SFIA had begun governing the S200 standards, the S400 seismic design standard and 12 S900 series test standards — all related to steel framing.
SFIA Leads CFS Standards Development
Code-referenced standards must be maintained by an ANSI-accredited organization to remain valid in building codes, says Allen. SFIA received ANSI accreditation in July 2024. When AISI ceased its standards development, the Steel Deck Institute temporarily maintained 32 AISI standards.
“The standards needed to go to another accredited standards development organization to maintain their status and be appropriately referenced in the building codes,” says Allen.
By December 2024, SFIA began overseeing the S200 standards, the S400 seismic design standard and twelve S900 standards related to steel framing. These standards are now governed by the SFIA’s newly formed SFIA Standards Committee, which is using the Canvass Method to manage the standards development process.
“Through this process, topic-specific task groups and canvass committees are formed to develop framing and test standards,” Allen says. “And these groups eventually vote on what will be included in the final standards referenced by the building codes.”
Bottom Line: ‘No Major Changes’ to CFS Standards
Thus, significant progress has been made to manage steel framing standards development. Some questions, however, remain unanswered:
- S400 – North American Standard for Seismic Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Systems, which the SFIA Standards Committee now manages, includes provisions that impact multiple industries, so further work is needed to determine how these provisions will be addressed, says Allen.
- The primary standard, S100, is likely to be amalgamated into the hot-rolled steel standard, AISC S230, he says.
“The bottom line for contractors, manufacturers and code enforcement personnel is that there will be no major changes in the building code-referenced CFS framing standards anytime soon,” says Allen.
“The 2024 IBC and IRC reference AISI standards, and the 2027 IBC and IRC will reference the latest edition of these standards, which will be finalized under the SFIA process in 2026,” he adds.
No scope changes for any of these standards are planned in the near future, so the ICC will consider these revised standards as administrative updates, Allen says.
Read the complete article, “Steel Deal: Cold-Formed Steel Framing Standards,” on Walls & Ceilings online.
SFIA Standards CommitteeThe Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), an accredited ANSI Standards Development Organization (SDO) as of July 2, 2024, is responsible for the development of several cold-formed steel (CFS) framing standards previously maintained by the American Iron and Steel Institute but now transferred to SFIA.
The SFIA Standards Committee governs 6 CFS framing standards and 12 test standards using the Canvass Method. Learn about CFS standards development. The SFIA Standards Committee invites individuals interested in participating in the CFS standards development process to complete a survey.
For more information, contact Meredith Perez, SFIA Standards Committee administrator.
Additional Resources
- SDI Transfers 12 S900 Test Standards to the SFIA Standards Committee
- SFIA Appoints Jay Larson as Secretariat of the Newly Formed SFIA Standards Committee
- With ANSI Accreditation, SFIA Begins Process of Managing CFS Framing Standards