Structural, Fire, and Energy performance of Cold-Formed Steel Members with Staggered Slotted Perforations: Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunities

Considering the global availability of cold-formed steel (CFS), it serves as a key material for shaping the next generation of sustainable structures in modern construction. CFS with staggered slotted perforations represents a new generation of CFS members that offer enhanced overall performance in terms of structural, fire resistance, and energy efficiency. Therefore, CFS structural members with staggered slotted perforations appear to be a superior choice over conventional CFS members. The staggered slotted perforations in the web offer numerous advantages, such as reducing direct heat transmission across the web and minimising thermal bridging, all of which contribute to a reduction in energy loss in buildings. The application of this new generation of CFS members has gained significant interest within the global construction industry. This paper aims to explore the general state-of-the-art of CFS members with staggered slotted perforations and provide a summary of research conducted on their structural, fire, and energy performance, placing it in a broader context. This paper targets both the research community, aiming to guide future research advancements, and practicing engineers, enabling them to utilize CFS members more readily and confidently with staggered slotted perforations to meet structural, fire, and energy efficiency requirements.