2023 CFSEI EXPO | MAY 8-10, 2023 | NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

Top 10 Headaches for a CFS Specialty Structural Engineer

On most jobs, the contractor has to hire a Specialty Structural Engineer (SSE) to undertake the formal delegated design of the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing for submittal to an architect/engineer (A/E) of Record. The SSE is tasked with interpreting the contract documents and designing the CFS framing to work within the architectural intent and in accordance with the parameters provided by the Structural Engineer of Record. But when the A/E contract documents require CFS to do something it just cannot do, or the contractor in the field performs an installation that is not in accordance with the design of the SSE, it causes project delays, cost overruns and giant headaches for the SSE. This session will share case studies that showcase 10 of the most commonly repeated issues seen by an SSE and will provide potential solutions and suggestions on how to avoid them on future projects. Five examples will cover situations called for in contract documents that are not appropriate or feasible for CFS framing, and the other five will focus on common errors witnessed in the field of improper installation and how to fix them. Architects, engineers and contractors will find this session valuable to ensure their future projects are less stressful and more successful.

Jeffrey Klaiman, P.E.
ADTEK Engineers, Inc.

Jeffrey Klaiman, P.E.

Jeff has almost 30 years of experience in the construction industry. He is principal in charge of structural engineering at ADTEK Engineers, Inc., where he oversees the design and coordination of all cold-formed steel design documents. He manages in-house staff in four offices for general structural and cold-formed steel framing design, develops project schedules, and coordinates quality control reviews with project managers on his team.

His expertise includes building maintenance and engineering, on-site engineering for a concrete contractor, and manager of technical services and Versa-Truss product manager for Dale/Incor (national manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing products and systems). He participates on the American Iron and Steel Institute’s Committee on Specifications for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members and the Committee on Framing Standards. Jeff is chairman of the Standard Practices Subcommittee of the AISI Committee on Framing Standards, chairman of the SFIA Technical Committee, and president of MASFA. He has been a member of CFSEI for more than 15 years and served as a past president, and is also a member of ASTM International and the Steel Framing Alliance.

 

DOMINION USA, Inc. USG SCOTTSDALE FRAMECAD Marino\WARE MiTeK CLARKDIETRICH BUILDING SYSTEMS BYLD ASC Steel Deck Steel Framing Industry Association SIMPSON STRONG-TIE ARGOS SYSTEMS TrusSteel NUCOR VULCRAFT/VERCO DeWALT Advant Steel LLC CEMCO