When a 10-story building rocks and rolls on a giant shake table—and doesn’t collapse—that’s news. That’s also opportunity.
CFS10 Breaks New Ground
I’m talking about cold-formed steel 10 (CFS10)—this past summer’s Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) project at the University of California San Diego. It’s the largest cold-formed steel (CFS) building ever tested for seismic resilience. It’s also the most ambitious. The team of researchers didn’t stop with earthquake testing. They lit the structure on fire to study how CFS holds up under flames.
Why should you care? Because projects like CFS10 could shape tomorrow’s standards. New standards, in turn, could lead to less restrictive and more appropriate building codes. Better codes can mean taller structures—and more business for wall and ceiling contractors and their partners.
As a contractor, you live by codes and standards. They dictate assemblies, inspection requirements and approved materials. If CFS10 proves that CFS can do what many of us believe it can—perform in high-rise seismic zones and resist post-quake fires—then the International Building Code may one day allow structural CFS designs to go beyond today’s 65-foot height restriction.
As Dr. Ben Schafer, CFS10’s co-lead investigator from Johns Hopkins University, told me, “There’s nothing about the engineering that limits us to that height. If you design it properly, you can build it taller—and we’ve done that. This project is about pushing boundaries and collecting the data to prove it.”
Why Research Matters
My take is that resilient design drives resilient business. But we can’t take this for granted. Research like CFS10 depends largely on the National Science Foundation. Yet, recent federal funding cuts threaten progress. It could mean fewer large-scale tests like CFS10, fewer breakthroughs and fewer chances for our framing industry to prove what it can deliver. When government cuts support for science, construction loses.
Think about it. It’s good to have proof that our assemblies work. Research in labs, on shake tables and in fire tests strengthens the case for more framing options with architects and code officials. It sets steel apart from competing materials—from wood, which lacks resilience in fire conditions, and concrete, which adds weight to a structure. Research can prove the worth of more framing options to bring more business our way.
CFS10 shows the way. As the research data rolls in, the project will only confirm what many of us already know—that CFS is safe, strong and efficient. But it takes money, time and advocacy to get that story heard.
What Contractors Can Do
Here’s my call to action. Contractors don’t need to write checks—the steel mills are best positioned to fund this research. But what contractors can do is powerful. Engage with the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA). Follow the results of CFS10 and talk about them. Share the story with your clients, engineers and architects. Let decision-makers know that steel framing isn’t just another option—it’s the resilient option. And keep your team sharp with training like AWCI’s Steel—Doing It Right® educational program. A new release of this program is coming January 2026.
The payoff could be big. New standards calling for more CFS will bring new opportunities for wall and ceiling firms—and more market share.
I saw the videos of that 10-story building swaying under seismic loads, standing up to controlled fire tests. It was a sight to behold. No collapse. No catastrophic failure. Just proof that with the right science, design and materials, we can build better. Let’s spread the word.
Mark L. Johnson writes for the walls and ceilings industry. He is also the editor of BuildSteel.org. He can be reached via LinkedIn.com/in/markjohnsoncommunications.
