"Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) members are made from structural quality sheet steel that are formed into C-sections and other shapes by roll forming the steel through a series of dyes. No heat is required to form the shapes (unlike hot-rolled steel), hence the name Cold-Formed Steel. A variety of steel thicknesses is available to meet a wide range of structural and non-structural applications." -BuildSteel.org

"CFS as a construction material has many advantages. For example, CFS doesn’t shrink or split, won’t absorb moisture, and resists warping, termites, and fire. As a uniformly manufactured product,the quality of CFS is very consistent. That consistency translates into less scrap to haul off because there is less waste — all of it recyclable. In addition to lowering scrap disposal expense, the fire resistance of CFS framing also can help reduce project costs through discounts on builders’ risk and other course of construction insurance requirements. CFS’ physical properties allow it to be used in a wide range of environments. It’s strength and ductility, for example, make it ideal for construction in regions subject to high winds or earthquakes. Moreover, a study, conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center, showed that the zinc coating on steel framing materials can protect against corrosion for hundreds of years. And because each piece of CFS contains a minimum of 25 percent recycled content, is 100 percent recyclable at the end of its lifespan, and emits no volatile organic compounds — it’s an exceptionally sustainable building material." -BuildSteel.org

Yes! There are several benefits to using CFS on the job site! BuildSteel.org indicates that "CFS also provides numerous advantages in terms of the construction process itself. CFS is light making it easy to ship, handle and assemble. Moreover, greater strength means less material. For example, if a project calls for stick framing, the strength of CFS allows it to be installed on 24” centers rather than traditional 16” centers — meaning fewer studs to install. And because CFS is manufactured to exacting standards, it is ideally suited for manufacturing into panels and trusses which — because CFS is light in weight — can be quickly and easily installed with fewer framers on the job. Given those advantages, some builders have found that ordering factory-manufactured steel panels and trusses is an ideal way to move into steel framing because it minimizes the need for skilled framers, and provides access to experienced design and layout pros.In addition to speeding up the framing process, CFS panels contain pre-punched holes designed to accommodate rapid mechanical, electric and plumbing installation after the framing is complete."

CFS installation is rather simple according to BuildSteel.org "The list of basic CFS framing tools is rather short. A typical toolset might include an adjustable-torque screw gun, bits and bit holders for structural steel-to-steel connections, a hand seamer for positioning and bending steel, a chop saw, a pneumatic pin-nailer for steel-to-steel connections and sheathing-to-steel connections, clamps, aviation snips, a swivel-head electric shear, and a magnetic level."