Universal Structures Cold Formed Steel Buildings

Cold-Formed and Rigid Framed Buildings are very similar with the main difference being the primary framing and bracing. Cold-formed steel framing is put together using Cee channels and x-strapping, versus rigid framing that is built up material with traditional welded I-beams with cable and rod x-bracing.

Cold formed steel buildings are a rugged and affordable alternative to traditional rigid-frame construction because the buildings are lighter than traditional red-oxide steel buildings, and are typically designed with a single-pour thickened edge slab foundation and post-installed anchors.

Even when cold-formed and red oxide steel buildings are the same size, cold-formed buildings do not require as much concrete for their foundations. Foundation costs for a rigid-frame steel building may eat up a large amount of a buyer’s budget, but foundations for cold-formed steel buildings use about 30% less concrete than alternatives, reducing foundation costs by as much as 25%.