This is a comparison between primary structural members (A36 H-beams) and lighter, secondary members.
| Feature | Hot-Rolled A36 H-Beams (W-shapes) | Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) Members |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Shaped from a single heated billet in a rolling mill. | Formed from steel sheet/coil (often galvanized) at room temperature by press-braking or roll-forming. |
| Material Grade | ASTM A36 (carbon steel). | Often ASTM A1003 or similar (higher strength, thinner gauge). |
| Thickness | Thick (flanges & webs typically > 1/4 inch). | Very thin (gauges from ~0.5 mm to a few mm). |
| Cross-Section | Standardized wide-flange I-shapes (W, S). | A wide variety of custom open and closed shapes (C-sections, studs, tracks). |
| Primary Use | Primary structural framing: Beams, columns, girders. | Secondary/light framing: Wall studs, floor joists, roof purlins, and non-structural components. |
| Strength | Lower strength-to-weight ratio but much greater overall load capacity. | Very high strength-to-weight ratio but limited by thinness and susceptibility to buckling. |
| Connection | Bolting and welding. | Primarily screwing and bolting. |
In a building, A36 H-beams form the main skeleton, while cold-formed steel is used for walls, floors, and roof systems that attach to this skeleton.