Tech Note B001-25: How Cold-Formed Steel Framing is Produced
$5.00
Reaffirmed December 2025
Summary: Cold-formed steel seems like a fairly simple product when you are holding it in your hand, but as you can see, there are many production steps involving things like mining iron ore out of the ground, creating molten steel, furnaces above 2,000°F, reduction mills imparting forces in excess of 100,000 pounds per square inch, and hydrochloric acid cleaning baths before it even reaches the roll forming stage. This Tech Note provides a basic outline of the processes involved in producing the products you work with daily, be it manufacturing, drafting, designing, engineering, installing or demolishing a building at the end of its life cycle.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs when these other designs demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use. CFSEI documents are not intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.
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Tech Note W200-23: Header Design
This Tech Note Updates and Replaces Tech Note W200-09
Summary: AISI S240, North American Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Framing provides provisions needed to design headers over door and window openings in buildings. AISI S240 Section B3.3 – Header Design reflects the appropriate design procedures for back-to-back headers, box headers, and Single, Double and Inverted L-headers subject to gravity loads or wind uplift loads. This Technical Note provides additional recommendations and design examples intended to supplement the AISI S240 header provisions.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs when these other designs demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use. CFSEI documents are not intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.
Tech Note L200-09: Roof Framing Anchorage Forces: MWFRS or C&C
Summary: This Technical Note defines the two levels of force and discusses the effects of using Component and Cladding (C&C) loads versus Main Wind Force Resisting System (MWFRS) calculated uplift loads. Design examples are provided to indicate the difference in roof-to-wall anchorage force for either type of load. Mainstream reference standards and quotes from field experts are cited when discussing the appropriate levels for calculating the uplift forces.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs when these other designs demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use. CFSEI documents are not intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.
Tech Note 558b-1: Lateral Load Resisting Elements: Diaphragm Design Values
Archived with cover page Nov. 2011
Summary: This note was archived November, 2011. The author has developed ASD design tables using an analytical method for wood framing based on the provisions of the 1991 edition of the AFPA National Design Specification for Wood Construction. Additional research is needed to bring the data in line with current codes and standards. The data below is from commentary section D2.1 of American Iron and Steel Institute AISI 213, Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing – Lateral Design.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs when these other designs demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use. CFSEI documents are not intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.
Tech Note G100-23: Using Chapter F of the North American Specification for the Design of CFS Structural Members
This Tech Note Updates and Replaces Tech Note G100-07
Summary: The North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members is intended for use throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico and was developed by the American Iron and Steel Institute, Canadian Standards Association, and CANACERO in Mexico. The Specification provides procedures for the design of load bearing cold-formed steel members in buildings and certain other applications.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs when these other designs demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use. CFSEI documents are not intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.
Tech Note G105-22: Compression Member Reinforcement
Summary: To modify the capacity of a compression member, e.g. wall stud or truss web, adding a reinforcement may result in a non-prismatic member. This Tech Note provides guidance to evaluate the strength of a non-prismatic compression member.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs when these other designs demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use. CFSEI documents are not intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.
Tech Note 551e: Design Guide: Permanent Bracing of Cold-Formed Steel Trusses
Summary: Prefabricated and site fabricated cold-formed steel trusses have proven to be efficient and structurally-sound roof structures. While roof trusses are the major component of the structural roof system, permanent bracing is also required to complete the system and ensure that it performs as designed. In this Tech Note, the basic requirements and design parameters for permanent bracing of cold-formed steel roof systems will be reviewed.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs when these other designs demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use. CFSEI documents are not intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.
Tech Note G900-23: Design Methodology for Hole Reinforcement of Cold-Formed Steel Bending Members
This Tech Note Updates and Replaces Tech Note G900-15
Summary: The AISI S100, North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members does not provide guidelines for the reinforcement of holes in cold-formed steel members. This Technical Note provides a methodology for engineering a reinforcement solution.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs when these other designs demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use. CFSEI documents are not intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.
Tech Note L002-23: Strap Braced Wall: Loose Strap Considerations
Summary: Strap braced walls are a common means of providing lateral stability for cold-formed steel load-bearing structures. Discussed in this technical note are causes of loose straps, potential stability implications as well as potential means of remediation.
Disclaimer: Designs cited herein are not intended to preclude the use of other materials, assemblies, structures or designs when these other designs demonstrate equivalent performance for the intended use. CFSEI documents are not intended to exclude the use and implementation of any other design or construction technique.