How Steel Framing Enhances Your Building’s Earthquake Resistance

Although it often goes unnoticed, earthquake resistance is a critical aspect of architectural design. Steel framing can significantly improve a building's ability to withstand seismic activity due to its inherent flexibility, high strength to weight ratio, and ductile nature which allows it to absorb and dissipate seismic energy. Here, we will learn more about these properties as well as highlight the ET&F® (a BECK brand) fastening systems, which are particularly suited for light gauge steel structures.

Steel is a Ductile Material

"Ductile" refers to the ability of metals to be deformed without losing toughness. This property is at the core of what makes steel ideal for use in earthquake-prone areas.

To grasp the importance of ductility, it helps to understand what occurs during an earthquake. As the ground shifts, everything above it, including buildings, moves accordingly. Brittle materials often crack or shatter under these vibrations. For instance, unreinforced concrete tends to perform poorly during earthquakes. While it is strong against various forces, its brittleness makes it susceptible to breaking apart during the shaking and vibrations caused by earthquakes.

Some steel can be easily bent, like a thin steel wire. Although the columns and beams that form a building’s structure are larger and more difficult to bend, they still possess inherent ductility. When the ground shakes, a steel structure can bend and flex without shattering in the same way that unreinforced concrete would. Even if a severe quake deforms a steel structure permanently, the steel typically remains strong enough to keep the building standing, whereas structures made from less ductile materials may collapse.

Steel as a Shock Absorber

The ductile properties of steel enhance its resilience during earthquakes, but steel can also be used as a type of shock absorber to protect other, less ductile materials. Many modern buildings utilize steel frames and cross braces designed to absorb seismic waves. Structures with this design rely on these steel "shock absorbers" to absorb the majority of the seismic forces and transfer them back to the ground, thereby protecting the rest of the building from severe shaking.

Additionally, the interconnected steel frame helps distribute seismic forces evenly throughout the building, which prevents localized stress and reduces the likelihood of failure in specific areas. Resulting in uniform load distribution and less overall shock to the entire structure.

The Tools You Need to Work with Steel

Whether you’re working on residential or commercial steel framing, you will need reliable tools and fastener systems. BECK offers a variety of options. One notable tool is the ET&F® Steel Framing Model 500A, which is ideal for wood-to-steel fastening and is recognized as one of the most reliable tools available for this type of work. This system is also code approved for face nailing specific brands of fiber cement siding to cold formed steel studs.

The ET&F® Model 500A is also user-friendly, weighing only six pounds, which allows for easy handling throughout the day. Additionally, it features a bump fire mechanism that enables you to install fasteners three to five times faster than traditional screw guns. Using our code approved, coil collated AKN-100 series pins, the Model 500A tool is used to fasten plywood shear walls and horizontal diaphragms to cold formed 27 mil (22 GA.) to 68 mil (14 GA.) steel.

Another excellent option is the versatile Model 710 System. The Model 710 was engineered for the power and durability required for use with steel and concrete substrates, making it perfect for heavy duty applications. It’s not only excellent for steel framing, but also for drywall, flooring and subflooring, and insulation installations. Paired with our smooth or knurled pins, or the SCRAIL® STEELTHREAD SCRAIL, this system will make easy work of heavy jobs.

These are just two of the great choices available for working with steel—BECK has many more options. Click below to discover additional ET&F® tool systems specifically designed for steel framing and offer your clients the best in earthquake resistance with BECK’s ET&F® light gauge steel fastening systems.