Thin-walled construction

For twenty years, cold-formed sections, often called "thin walled sections", have been greatly popularized and are now found in applications in nearly all the building sectors. Thin thickness is their main feature which results in specific mechanical properties and design methods. The use of these products has been facilitated by the preparation of a set of modern standards in the design and execution of steel structures. The complexity of their structural behavior and the precautions to be taken during transportation, storage and erection, are the sole constraints. Cold forming and profiling make it possible to obtain accurate dimensions and producing optimal geometrical shapes of sections as far as weight and performance are concerned. The systematic surface protection results in excellent durability and in aesthetic qualities. Due to their lightness and their piling geometries, these products are easy to handle, to store and to erect. All these advantages contribute to the development of technical issues; such as sheeting, cladding, shuttering, sandwich panels, purlins, and liner tray, which allow for the building of aesthetic and innovative buildings.