What You Should Know
The Cold-Formed Steel Advantage
100% non-combustible
Cold-formed steel contributes zero fuel to a building fire. There are fewer floor area restrictions when using cold-formed steel framing in addition to less stringent sprinkler system requirements. As the National Building Code of Canada recognizes the necessity for non-combustible construction, all new buildings over three storeys in height must be specified as non-combustible. Insurance underwriters also recognize the inherent benefits of cold-formed steel as a framing material and adjust their premiums accordingly, saving some building owners as much as 70%.
Recycled/recyclable material
All of VanderWal Group's cold-formed steel framing members are manufactured in Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) that typically utilize around 95% scrap or recovered steel. There is absolutely NO landfill waste created by any of VanderWal Group's processes as everything employed can be recycled, and specifying cold-formed steel can assist in the accruement of LEED points toward an overall LEED building certification.
Pre-engineering and prefabrication
By prefabricating trusses and panelizing wall and floor assemblies, VanderWal Group circumvents the errors commonly attributed to stick-framing or on-site fabrication. Controlled facilities are dedicated exclusively to the fabrication of cold-formed steel, with state-of-the-art technology employed to ensure adherence to exact measurements. Skilled, experienced professionals ensure that each individual component is formed to exacting standards.
Installation speed
Pre-engineered cold-formed steel really comes into its own during the erection phase of a project. With panelized wall and floor systems combined with prefabricated trusses, VanderWal Group's system can reduce install time by as much as 75%. It requires fewer workers less time to erect cold-formed steel framing and when space allows, trusses are assembled into sheathed roof sections that are hoisted into final position by crane, making a safer environment for employees.
Architectural and structural flexibility
There is practically no application for which cold-formed steel cannot be effectively utilized. Boasting the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any building material, it may facilitate the upward expansion of a building not designed for an extra storey, and with long, clear roof truss spans (up to 25m or 80'), cold-formed steel framing allows large, open areas without intermediate columns or bearing walls. VanderWal Group has succesfully engineered and fabricated some unique shapes including curved trusses and dome roofs, condominium turrets, solar panel frames and advertising hoardings.
Pre-insulation
As more and more building owners seek to maximize quality while reducing install time and the number of on-site trades, VanderWal Group has introduced pre-insulated cold-formed steel wall and floor assemblies to offer those very savings. Closed cell spray polyurethane foam is applied to pre-sheathed wall and floor panels which require only electrical/mechanical work and finishes after erection. Eliminating on-site insulation results in faster overall building completion and more timely ROI for the owner.
Durability
Cold-formed steel is hot-dip galvanized for longevity, and American studies have shown that even in the most aggressive climates the projected structural life of a cold-formed steel member extends into centuries. It does not crack, shrink, warp or twist; it retains its geometric properties almost indefinitely, meaning that wall, floor and ceiling finishes remain straight and true while maintaining a tight building envelope to control heating/cooling costs.
Imperviousness
Cold-formed steel does not provide a source of food for infestations such as mould, termites, insects or rodents. It is inorganic, and consequently there are no off-gases emitted into the building envelope (as there would be from drying lumber, for example) to compromise air quality and exacerbate respiratory problems.