Thermal Insulation and Energy-Efficiency Technology: To ensure effective thermal insulation, light-gauge steel structures utilize high-durability, high-performance insulating materials within their exterior walls and roofing. In such residential structures, glass fiber insulation is typically packed between the wall studs; additionally, a layer of insulation is applied to the exterior side of the walls, effectively eliminating "thermal bridges" that would otherwise conduct heat through the studs to the exterior cladding. Glass fiber is also used to fill the spaces between floor joists to minimize heat transfer between levels, and is packed between the studs of all interior walls to reduce heat transfer between different rooms or units.
Fire-Protection Technology: A critical aspect of light-gauge steel construction is fire protection; such residential structures are classified under a Grade IV fire-resistance rating. To meet a one-hour fire-resistance requirement, fire-rated gypsum board is applied to both sides of the walls and to the ceilings; specifically, 25.4 mm (1-inch) thick gypsum board is used for standard fire-rated walls and partition walls between units. Furthermore, the glass fiber insulation packed between wall studs and floor joists serves as an additional protective measure against both fire spread and heat transfer.
Sound-Insulation Technology: In light-gauge steel structures, glass wool is used to fill the spaces within interior and exterior walls, as well as between floor joists, effectively blocking airborne sound. To address impact noise-which travels through solid materials-specific structural measures are employed: partition walls between units are constructed using two separate rows of studs with an air gap in between. For ceilings, the small-scale framing (furring channels) used to secure the gypsum board incorporates an elastic design with small notches, which effectively reduces the transmission of structure-borne sound between floors.