Future looks shiny for steel trusses

QTEEL studs have sought to slowly \)steal small shares of the residential housing market from wood, citing such advantages as more stable pricing and availability. One major new components to make framing design and engineering quicker and easier. nents use mill-certified steel that can be incorporated in a variety of web panerns.

Producing steel studs since 1982, Allied American Studco, Phoenix, Az., discovered that traditional cold-formed steel C-sections are not inherently efficient for use in trusses. Two years ago, the company introduced U-shaped members for the core and square materials for the web that work better as truss components.

In order to efficiently design steel-framed houses, a computerized system was developed to link the plans, materials and design so that the framing contractor had all the tools to get the job done. Allied American Studco. with Keymark Enterprises, Boulder, Co., developed the Amkey System, a software package that enables the framing contractor to output architect plans, produce panel drawings, a cut list and a materials list, and design the truss with the calculation given to the structural engineer for analysis and wet seal.

Allied American Studco manufactures the components and ships them to authorized AmKey fabricators. Some of the nearly 20 companies now assembling AnKey steel trusses are builders that fabricate them for their own jobs, others are wood truss plants looking for a new product line.

"(Existing wood fabricators) are definitely at an advantage," says Matt Watson, technical services specialist. "They know the market, they know trusses, and they have customers in place. And they now have something to offer the customer with a job that requircs steel."

While the steel truss industry is small, Watson sees it as an excellent way to break into the light commercial market.

Story at a Glance

Newly configured steel components, software facilitate design, engineering and framing of tnrsses.

"They're perfect where wood trusses are not an option," he explains. "Some building codes do not allow use of wood trusses in structures over four stories high."

obstacle for steel has been its lengthy plan-to-permit process.

No more, claims one steel stud manufacturer, which has introduced a new truss fabrication system using

The strength characteristics of the specially configured framing components reportedly are capable of spans that duplicate or exceed those made of wood. with less deflection under stress. The compo-

He expecs slow, continued growth for steel trusses. "There's definitely a market for them, but it's going to take a while," Watson predicts. "It'll be a snowball effect as word gets around the architectural communi$."