Expectations from Prefab CFS Manufacturer/Installer on Structural Drawings

In addition to expectations of quick turnaround and quick response from structural engineers, the manufacturer/installer also expects engineers to give creative solutions that align with the contractor’s preferences.

Venkata Charan, P.E., will discuss the expectations or preferences that a cold-formed steel (CFS) manufacturer/installer expects on structural drawings. This presentation will include preferences such as screw vs weld connections, anchor type/spacing, drift vs stacked system, direct applied vs drift track system, bracing preferences, minimum access requirements at clip connections, minimum access for anchors, minimum access for hold down, stud consolidation etc.

Venkata Charan, P.E.
Digital Building Components LLC

Venkata Charan, P.E., is a structural engineer with a passion for innovation and excellence in construction. He is a key member of the structural engineering team at Digital Building Components. Charan specializes in the intricate design, fabrication, and construction of cold-formed steel (CFS) walls.

Before joining Digital Building Components, Charan worked as a Project Engineer in a construction firm building lattice steel towers and as a structural engineer in a consulting firm working on various projects in California. Charan's comprehensive background spanning design, fabrication and construction brings a unique and innovative perspective to project execution. During his free time, he works with machine-learning models using Python libraries.

Charan earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Pondicherry University and M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Arizona.