1

General Provisions
AISI North American Specification
Design Specification for All Cold-Formed
Steel
Standard
Commentary
2
ANSI Accredited Standards
General
Provisions
Header
Design
Truss
Design
Prescriptive
Method
Prescriptive Method (Standard)
Design provisions developed by a ANSI-
Accredited Consensus Group and Industry
Experts
Goal: Promote Standardization and
Reduce Engineering Time and Costs
Audience: Engineers, Architects, Code
Officials and Inspectors, Builders, and
Framers
3
Development of Prescriptive
Method
CFS In Building Codes
4
Maximum House Width: 40 feet
Maximum House Length: 60 feet
Two Stories Above Grade
Maximum Wall Height is 10 feet
130 mph Maximum Wind Speed (exposures A, B or C)
70 psf Maximum Ground Snow Load
Seismic Design Categories A, B, C, D, D
1
, D
2
and E
Rafters and Ceiling Joists
PM: Limits of Applicability
Table A1-1
Page 11
PM: Limits of
Applicability
6
0

2
4

40
10
12
12
10 psf DL
30 or 40 psf LL
10 psf DL
30 or 40 psf LL
Below
Grade
10
130
MPH
70 psf
5 psf DL
10 or 20 psf LL
5
Steel Grades
65 KSI 50 KSI
45 KSI 33 KSI
Tensile Strength Yield Strength
Steel Thickness
43 mils & Smaller 54 mil &Greater
50 KSI 33 KSI
Steel Grades
Minimum Yield Strength 33 KSI
For High Wind and High Seismic Areas:
ASTM A653 SS Grade 33
ASTM A792 SS Grade 33
ASTM A875 SS Grade 33
Minimum
6
Steel Properties and Identification Steel Properties and Identification
(industry-wide standard)
Member Designations
Standardization of member sizes and material
properties for generic sections
Member depth expressed in 1/100th inches
A single letter designator to represent the type of
section
Flange width expressed in 1/100th inches
Minimum base metal thickness in mils
(1/1000th of an inch = 1 mil)
7
Section Designators
S T U F L
Stud or joist
Track
Cold
rolled
channel
Furring
channel
Angle
or L-
header
Thickness Designators
25 0.018 18
22 0.027 27
10 0.118 118
12 0.097 97
14 0.068 68
16 0.054 54
18 0.043 43
20 0.033 33
Reference
Gauge
Number
Minimum
Thickness
(inch)
Thickness
Designation
(mil)
8
Designator
800 S 162 - 54
Min. base metal thickness in mils
(0.054 = 54 mils or 16 G.)
1-5/8 Flange in 1/100 inches
Stud or Joist with Stiffener
8 Member Depth in 1/100 inches
Note: The Lip is not indicated in the
designator because it is standardized
as a function of the flange width.
Standardization
800 S 162 - 54
Min. base metal
thickness in mils
(0.054 = 54 mils)
Stud or Joist
with Lips
1-5/8
Flange
(1.625)
Steel Member Using the Universal
Designation System
9
Member Dimension
2.00 1-5/8 7.25 725S162-
2.00 1-5/8 12.00 1200S162-
2.00 1-5/8 10.00 1000S162-
2.00 1-5/8 9.25 925S162-
2.00 1-5/8 8.00 800S162-
2.00 1-5/8 6.00 600S162-
2.00 1-5/8 5.50 550S162-
2.00 1-5/8 3.50 350S162-
Maximum
Flange Width
(inch)
Minimum
Flange Width
(inch)
Web
Depth
(inch)
Member
Designation
Note: The Lip is not indicated in the designator because it
is standardized as a function of the flange width.
Corrosion Protection
ASTM Referenced Standard
GF45 AZ50 G40
Non-
Structural
GF60 AZ50 G60 Structural
A 875
A 875M
A 792
A 792M
A 653
A 653M
Coating Weight
(oz/ft
2
)
Framing
Component
10
Copper Pipes
Plastic bushing or
grommets
Corrosion Protection
AISIs Publication Durability of
Cold-Formed Steel Framing
Members
American Galvanizers Association
Publication Galvanizing For
Corrosion Protection - A Specifiers
Guide
FEMAs Publication Corrosion
Protection for Metal Connectors in
Coastal Areas
11
Field Identification
Load bearing members shall be labeled
(stamp, stencil or embossment) with:
Manufacturer Identification
Minimum uncoated base metal thickness
Minimum coating designation
Minimum Yield Strength
Note: This labeling is required at 48 oc
Coating Designation Not Required Unless
Coating is Other Than The Minimum
Typical
Old Label
New Label
12
Identification: New Label
Requirements for Screw
Connections
minimum of 3 exposed
threads
minimum edge
distance = 1/2
minimum center-to-
center distance = 1/2
13
Screws: Wood Structural
Sheathing to Steel
Heads Countersunk
Minimum No. 8
Note: The drill shank must
be as long as the wood
sheathing to allow the
drilling action in the steel
to take place without over
driving the screw head
into the plywood.
Screws: Gypsum Board to Steel
Minimum No. 6 Screw (drywall screw) for 33 mil Studs.
No. 8 Screws for 43 and 54 mil Studs.
Installed According to Applicable Building Codes
Pneumatic pins are available for this application
14
Holes and
Penetrations
permitted provided they meet the
provisions in the PM
Joist Penetrations
15
Stud Penetrations
Large Holes Large Holes
permitted provided
they are Properly
Designed
16
Large Holes
Hole and Penetration
Patches
Joist Patch
Patches allowed for
holes:
up to 70% of the
web depth.
less than 10 long
or the depth of the
web.
17
Hole and Penetration
Patches
Stud Patch
Patches allowed for
holes:
up to 70% of the
web depth.
less than 10 long
or the depth of the
web.
In-Line Framing
Fundamental
Requirement for
Cold-Formed Steel
Framing: All Steel
Members Shall Align
Vertically with a
Maximum Tolerance
of 3/4. Otherwise
load distribution
member (such as
top plate) must be
designed to carry
loads
18
In-Line Framing
Grommet
Wiring
19
Use Full Batts
(Do Not Use Batt Insulation That Is Used For
Wood Framing)
Cavity Insulation
Exterior
Insulation
When
Needed
Exterior Insulation
20
Field Inspections (what to look
for)
Materials / Identification and Verification
Allowable Penetrations
Field Cuts
Fastener Installation
Proper Corrosion Protection
In-Line Framing
see LGSEA Tech Note
Inspection Checklist for Structural Cold-
Formed Steel Framing