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CFS Design Considerations

Please explain the connection between head-of-wall fire resistive designs and composite design for non-structural cold-formed steel framing. The connection between the two is that potentially there is no connection between the two. The...

New Standard Explained

Please explain the new AISI S250. This new standard is titled “North American Standard for Thermal Transmittance of Building Envelopes with Cold-Formed Steel Framing.” The standard is recognized as an ANSI Standard, meaning...

NFPA 221 Defined

What is NFPA 221? This is an NFPA standard that was drafted in 1994 and is now ANSI’s Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls and Fire Barrier Walls. What makes...

Stop the Sound

Can you explain the term “flanking” relative to acoustically rated partitions? “Flanking” in a military sense means to circumvent the enemy’s front line. The same is true in acoustics. Focusing on an acoustically...

What Is This Partition?

Q: I’m renovating an old building where the interior stud framing appears to be made from steel wire. What is this type of partition? A:  There was an interesting framing system developed by one...

Prescriptive Versus Performance

Q: What is the difference between a prescriptive-based and a performance-based building code? A: It is important to understand the main goal of a building code. The preface of the 2021 International Building...

Spot-Grouting: What Is It?

Q: Can you explain the term “spot-grouting” in the installation of steel door frames in commercial applications? A: Spot-grouting in cold-formed steel framing and gypsum panel systems relates to the interface between the...

Critical Lighting

Q: What is meant by the phrase “critical lighting”? A: In general, critical lighting can be considered as any lighting condition that tends to magnify surface anomalies on a finished surface. The finish...

Carbon Content Defined

Q: What is meant by “carbon content” in building materials? A: Carbon content is a phrase used in the design community to compare specific sustainability attributes in building materials. It doesn’t reflect the...