A common concern expressed by homeowners about steel framing is the possibility of the steel corroding prematurely. To address this perceived liability, a research project was initiated in 1996 by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center (US) and the International Zinc Association. The objective of this study was to measure the actual zinc and zinc-iron alloy corrosion rates of steel framing samples in four different home environments in the US and Canada over a 10-year period. The report is now available and it shows that corrosion was minimal for all four sites tested. In fact, for exterior exposures, or semi-exposed locations in an aggressive environment subject to higher humidity and exterior pollutants, the service life was extrapolated to be over 150 years. For interior environments this life expectancy was even higher. To read more about this research and the see the results, click on the following link.