The full height truss frame (FHTF) is an exciting new residential framing system in response to the need for low floor-to-floor steel construction. The FHTF has the potential to provide low floor-to-floor heights, a column free first floor area, an integrated frame that uses the entire height to resist loads, and the capacity to resist both gravity and lateral loads. Because of its configuration, the full structural height can be used to resist loads. A FHTF is made up of stacked floor trusses that result in one full height truss spanning the entire width of the building. The FHTF is constructed in a conventional manner one floor at a time. The strength, inertia, and truss height will increase as each floor is added. Therefore, the construction sequence will affect the final stresses in the members. The purpose of this thesis was to analyze and design two prototype FHTFs, to compare the economy of the prototypes with similar staggered truss frames, and to develop an approximate method to calculate staged member stresses. Each prototype was analyzed using a computer program and designed according to the 2001 American Institute of Steel Construction Load and Resistance Factor Design. The prototypes were used to assess the strength and serviceability of the structures, and the results of the staged analysis were used to validate the numerical method developed to approximate a staged loading sequence based on the non-staged dead load results. The results of the analysis and design of the prototypes was the initial step in confirming the viability of the FHTF for use in the residential multistory market. FHTFs can be designed with preexisting procedure, and are capable of offering low floor-to-floor heights. The prototypes exhibited excellent lateral stiffness against wind loads. The numerical method for estimating the staged dead load accurately approximated the results of the analysis preformed by ETABS. The numerical method can be used to simulate a variety of sequences in order to optimize the stages. Lastly, the FHTF was shown to be competitive with the staggered truss systems in terms of material usage, fabrication, and construction.

This thesis researched why light gauge steel framing members are not used more in single-family residential construction. A survey was designed to extract information from licensed contractors in Utah on uses of light gauge steel framing members in residential homes. The purpose of the research was to discover what Utah builder's perception was concerning light gauge steel framing. Also, the researcher tried to learn a little about the contractors to see if there was a correlation between contractors that used light gauge steel and those that did not. Names of licensed general building contractors and residential contractors and their contact information were acquired from the State of Utah's Department of Professional Licensing. A random sample of the licensed contractors was selected. They were contacted by mail and telephone and invited to participate in a survey. The researcher discovered that light gauge steel was used in a very limited amount. The respondents seemed build using traditional methods, namely lumber. They were unfimiliar with light gauge steel and its properties, as well as the benefits and disadvantages of light gauge steel.

The Thesis deals with customer survey preferences in area of cable management and framing systems in the Czech market. Inquiry will end in recommendations for the company, which intends to launch a new product and widen its line of products. Theoretical part deals with marketing instruments and marketing research