New to Light Steel Framing, need help!

[nicaeng]

I am from Nicaragua, today i joined a construction group on social media and saw somebody offering to build homes with "light steel framing", looking closely at the pictures i saw regular drywall studs for the walls, is this allowed?. I am new to Light Steel Framing (LSF) or timber framing for that matter but i've been curious about this structural system for a while now since it seems economical to build with. I know you need special connectors for this (since Managua, the capital city) is in a high seismic area and we are also in a hurricane zone, i need guidance for:

[ol 1]
[li][/li] Structural design of residential construction using LSF (i know AISI has a set of standards, but i would like to know what manual, book or guides can i use to design these and also the connections like Simpson Strong Tie, etc.).
[/ol]

[ol 2]
[li][/li] Construction manuals, books or guides for LSF. This is also very important to me, odds are i won't find all the materials needed in the country, but ships from Miami and Houston arrive regularly here. Also ships from Los Angeles.
[/ol]

 

[DaveAtkins]

First of all, I want to clear up a common misconception: "drywall" studs are only to be used for INTERIOR NON-LOAD BEARING walls--they are thinner gauge and do not have lips to reinforce the flanges. "Structural" studs are heavier gauge, have lips to reinforce the flanges, and can be used for exterior applications (load bearing or non-load bearing), as well as interior, load bearing applications.

The "bible" of cold formed steel framing design, at least in the United States, is AISI S100, the North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members.

However, I suggest you get started by going to the Clark Dietrich website. You will find a wealth of information there--load tables, detail examples, and references to AISI S100.

DaveAtkins

 

[XR250]

First of all, I want to clear up a common misconception: "drywall" studs are only to be used for INTERIOR NON-LOAD BEARING walls--they are thinner gauge and do not have lips to reinforce the flanges. "Structural" studs are heavier gauge, have lips to reinforce the flanges, and can be used for exterior applications (load bearing or non-load bearing), as well as interior, load bearing applications.

They do have lips, just not as big as structural studs and they are narrower. They also go up to 14ga. I had a contractor put them on an exterior wall even though I called out the correct designation for a structural stud. That was not fun.

I have only done one house in light gage with qa complicated cut-up hip/valley roof. It required too much detailing to be built correctly and just ain't no fun for me.

 

[DaveAtkins]

As far as I know, drywall studs only go up to 20 GA.

I have never seen 18 GA, 16 GA, 14 GA, or 12 GA drywall studs.

DaveAtkins

 

[KootK]

Like most things, the first step is to understand the common details. I've attached a decent document to help with that.

The first book shown below if my recommendation for getting up and running with design quickly. It's free but they charge you for shipping. There's a AISI doc that's virtually identical but more American-ized.

The second book is a good option for becoming a grand master of cold formed design, should you decide to take it that far.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

 

[XR250]

As far as I know, drywall studs only go up to 20 GA.

I have never seen 18 GA, 16 GA, 14 GA, or 12 GA drywall studs.

I have not either although they are listed in the SSMA Book up to 14ga.

Seems like past 20ga, you would want to go with structural anyway.

 

[nicaeng]

Thanks everybody for participating, the Clark Dietrich website has a lot of information, haven't checked it all yet. Also the CSSBI book is very helpful, but i was also looking for information on how to "configure" these buildings, like how to globally design the structure (determine which walls need to be shear walls, i've seen pictures with some walls having like dual wall configuration, some are trusses, the bracing, when does it need to be strap bracing and also the general design of the wall and its interaction with the sheating (any kind of sheating, plywood, etc.).