PARTNERS

United Steel
Partners

Steel Stud Manufacturers Association

The Steel Stud Manufactuers Association (SSMA) is the unified voice
of the steel framing manufacturing industry.

Supporting the development and maintenance of quality product
standards and specifications.

Creating growth opportunities for cold-formed steel through
research, marketing and education.

Because: STEEL BUILDS BETTER STRUCTURES

There are many reasons why steel framing has come to the forefront as
one of the best and most feasible alternative building materials for
residential and commercial construction. Steel is a Superior Construction
Material

Highest strength-to-weight ratio of any building material
100% recyclable
68% industry recycling rate
Non-combustible - does not burn nor contribute fuel to the spread of a fire
Inorganic - will not rot, warp, split, crack or creep
Dimensionally stable - does not expand or contract with moisture content
Consistent material quality - produced in strict accordance with national
standards, no regional variations
Benefits to the Builder

Substantial discounts on builders risk insurance
Lighter than other framing materials
Noncombustible
Easy material selection - no need to cull or sort the pile and small punch
list.
Saves job-site time with ease of panelization off-site
Straight walls and square corners
Windows and doors open and close as they should
Less scrap and waste (2% for steel vs. 20% for lumber)
Price stability - price spikes are extremely rare
Consumer perceives steel as better
Benefits to the Consumer

There are many reasons why homeowners are turning to steel framing:

High strength results in safer structures, less maintenance and slower
aging of structure
Fire safety
Not vulnerable to termites
Not vulnerable to any type of fungi or organism, including mold
Less probability of foundation problems - less weight results in less
movement
Less probability of damage in an earthquake
Lighter structure with stronger connections results in less seismic force
Less probability of damage in high winds
Stronger connections, screwed versus nailed