Steel Framing Page - 1

Framework for the Future

TRI-CHORD's EESI-STUD was chosen to replace wood in a CARB prototype house built by Del Webb in Phoenix. The system was then evaluated by the Department of Energy, and found to equal wood's thermal performance. No changes to the insulation were made. And, along with other system improvements, the prototype house proved to be 35% more energy efficient than the wood control house. Try that with any other steel stud!

The picture at left is of a Taylor Woodrow project in Southern California. These were the first steel homes ever built in California under its tough Title 24 energy code that did not need any foam sheathing in order to comply with the state's thermal requirement. Just the EESI-STUDs, a Tyvek wrap, standard lath, and a three coat stucco finish. The bat insulation in the cavity was the same as that used in a wood house.

The steel industry has been struggling for years to offer a cost effective option to wood framing. TRI-CHORD has achieved this objective by recognizing that steel and wood can work well together, saving on retraining, tool costs, and framing time. Utilizing wood plates with our EESI-STUD is one way this goal has been realized. Walls are end nailed, just as they are now, so layout and frarning is the same as with wood!

Remember how much easier it was using open web floor trusses? No worries about knockouts being in the wrong places, or having to cut and drill holes to accommodate plumbing and mechanical runs. TRI-CHORD's EESI-JOIST offers all the advantages of steel combined with open web flexibility. The floors pictured at left were installed in (otherwise) wood houses by Payless Homes of Las Vegas.