Cold-Formed-Steel (CFS)
After passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and GSA’s release of the GWP limits, multiple CFS manufacturers issued EPDs for Low Embodied Carbon (LEC) products. The data from the current (9/2025) LEC EPDs is summarized in the chart below.
Impact of Steel Mill Providing Coils
The GWP of the manufacturer’s products are based on EAF production, and the electricity mix used at the mill will have a large impact on the final value of GWP. When specifying low GWP Cold Formed Steel products, you will need to pay attention to the ranges in the chart above, especially if you want to have multiple suppliers to choose from.
Use of EQ Studs for Non-Bearing Walls
Many CFS manufacturers provide EQ studs and tracks. These products use a higher stress steel, alternate thicknesses, and optimized shapes. The resulting GWP when compared to standard studs and tracks could be as much as 30% lower.