The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Steel Framing Alliance have cooperated to introduce cold-formed steel framing into the residential construction market, and to provide builders and homeowners with a cost-effective alternative construction material. To this end, these organizations have addressed several barriers to the widespread use of cold-formed steel framing. One remaining barrier is the lack of hybrid construction details that give builders the option of using steel or wood, as appropriate.

In response, HUD and the Steel Framing Alliance commissioned the NAHB Research Center to review existing details and develop a comprehensive list of hybrid wood and steel connection details. Details lacking engineering data were tested and the results incorporated into this Builder's Guide. By providing builders and framers with the necessary tools to construct hybrid wood and steel homes economically, HUD enhances housing affordability and quality through competition from new methods and materials.