| Author |
Message |
Bill Morley
Member
Username: billm
Post Number: 3
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 12:41 pm: |    |
I received product literature recently from Dietrich about the time some of this new textured steel stud (“UltraSteel”) began showing up on some of our projects. I am still poking around looking for what's wrong with this.
The concept is to use thinner gauge sheet and add some dimpled texture to give the framing structural properties that are about the same as a "normal" smooth steel stud.
Screw-holding is supposed to be at least equal. Span capacity/stiffness seems to be about the same. It appears that the product is less expensive than smooth-steel studs, given how quickly the contractors have begun to use it. I understand that it would be a substitution in a typical UL fire-rated steel stud/gypboard partition, but Dietrich says they have the data and listings to support that.
Any thoughts, opinions, experiences, advice? |
Ronald L. Geren, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, MAI
Senior Member
Username: specman
Post Number: 253
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 01:45 pm: | |
I saw it at the CSI Show & Convention at Las Vegas. They have a UL listing in the UL Fire Resistance Directory (V450), which is for a 1-hour, nonloadbearing wall. They've made application to ICC-ES (Evaluation Services), but no evaluation report has been published yet.
They hold the patent on the product, but have started licensing it out to others, so you may see it manufactured by other companies soon.
I personally don't have an opinion, but if it's less expensive than other steel studs, then I'm all for it. |
Mark Gilligan SE, CSI
Senior Member
Username: markgilligan
Post Number: 77
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:48 am: | |
I have looked at the Dietrich catalog and have the following observations:
The product is in lighter gages so it is more appropriate for non-loadbearing studs.
While the pullout capacity of screws maybe enhanced other failure modes may be no better although this will likely not govern.
When deflection governs I would expect no advantage.
Like most products there are strengths and weaknesses with the manufacturer emphasizing the strengths. |
Brian Kutchma (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 10:28 am: | |
The "UltraSTEEL" process is a method of work hardening the steel. The process actually changes the physical characteristics of the base steel and actually makes the thinner material stronger than traditional material of a higher thickness. The UltraSTEEL process actually provides a number of different performance improvements including better fire and sound performance, increased screw retention, tighter friction fitting, hihger limiting heights in a number of conditions, strong or weak side gypsum board attachment and improved safety. The product has been tested by a number of independent testing facilities including UL, Riverbank, PEI and CTL. ICC has also issued a draft report for approval. UltraSTEEL should be granted this number within the next 30 days. UltraSTEEL is only available for interior nonstructural applications at this point. It is priced the same as tradition interior framing.
This product has gained such widespread acceptace by the contractor community because it is simply a better preforming product. Screw stripping and riding is a major installation issue with steel framing. This product virtually eliminates them. This product actually has much higher screw pull values because of the "effective thickness" after the UltraSTEEL process. In addition, most contractor want their employees using the safer edge product.
[Brian Kutchma is Director of Marketing at Dietrich. You can call him at 412.281.2805 - Colin] |
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