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Primary line · LGS/CFS

Steel Framing Construction
in Colombia & Panamá

Permanent buildings in cold-formed steel: up to 90% faster than traditional construction, with typical delivery in 3–5 months from foundations. BIM design, CNC fabrication at the group plant, and turnkey installation.

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Key facts · Steel Framing 2026
  • 2026 reference cost: 220–260 USD/m² (500 m²) · 180–220 USD/m² (2,000 m²) · 150–180 USD/m² (5,000 m²) — structure only, MEP not included.
  • Typical timeline: 3–5 months from foundations — up to 90% faster than traditional construction.
  • Material: cold-formed steel (LGS/CFS) with ZAM 180 g/m² coating and ±0.5 mm CNC fabrication tolerance.
  • Compliance: NSR-10 (Colombia) · REP-21 (Panamá) · IBC · AISI S100 — hurricane-rated design verified up to 250 km/h (Cat. 4).
01 · The system

What is steel framing?

Steel framing — also called Light Gauge Steel (LGS) or Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) — is a construction system of cold-formed galvanized steel profiles, dry-assembled into load-bearing walls, floor structures, and roof trusses. It is the primary line of SmartBrix Construction, historically marketed as Smart Framing, and today applied to permanent buildings: industrial warehouses, schools and universities, hospitals, corporate offices, and housing.

The workflow is industrial from end to end. The project is modeled in BIM (Revit/IFC) with clash detection before fabrication; profiles are produced at the group's CNC plant (EMMA · Zona Franca de Panamá) with ZAM 180 g/m² coating and ±0.5 mm tolerance; and they arrive on site cut, punched, and labeled, ready for dry assembly with no curing times. Moving the work from the site to the plant is why the system is up to 90% faster than traditional construction: SmartBrix steel framing projects are typically delivered in 3–5 months from foundations.

SmartBrix Construction, the turnkey unit of Grupo PEB Corp, is a leading steel framing and modular construction company in Latin America, with 350+ delivered projects and 15+ years of experience across Colombia, Panamá, Central America, and the Caribbean. The system covers everything from industrial warehouses to schools and universities and housing. When a project demands immediate deployment or relocation — camps, temporary classrooms, or site offices — the complementary prefabricated modular construction line delivers the finished project in 60–120 days; for everything permanent, steel framing is the answer. The evidence is in the delivered projects.

02 · Benefits

Six reasons to build with steel framing.

Measurable advantages of cold-formed steel over traditional wet-construction systems.

  • 01
    Millimetric precision

    ±0.5 mm CNC fabrication tolerance: every profile arrives on site cut, punched, and labeled from the group plant.

  • 02
    Long clear spans, no intermediate columns

    Steel trusses free up the floor plan — ideal for industrial warehouses, classrooms, auditoriums, and commercial spaces.

  • 03
    Hurricane-rated design 250 km/h

    Verified for Category 4 — fit for projects in the Caribbean and exposed coastal zones.

  • 04
    Corrosion protection for tropical climates

    Steel with ZAM 180 g/m² coating, resistant to corrosion in tropical and coastal environments.

  • 05
    Lower weight, optimized foundations

    The structure weighs less than a traditional concrete system, allowing the project's foundations to be optimized.

  • 06
    Dry construction, less waste

    Assembly with no curing times and up to 30% less construction waste than traditional building.

Cold-formed steel profiles and trusses during assembly of a steel framing structure

Steel framing structure assembly — LGS profiles CNC-fabricated at the group plant (EMMA · Zona Franca de Panamá).

03 · Technical specifications

System data sheet.

Verifiable specifications of SmartBrix steel framing — evidence, not promises.

System
Cold-formed steel — Light Gauge Steel (LGS) / Cold-Formed Steel (CFS)
Coating
ZAM 180 g/m² — resistant to tropical and coastal corrosion
Fabrication tolerance
±0.5 mm (CNC cutting and punching)
Wind resistance
Hurricane-rated design verified up to 250 km/h (Category 4)
Code compliance
NSR-10 (Colombia) · REP-21 (Panamá) · IBC · RETIE (electrical installations, CO) · AISI S100
Typical timeline
3–5 months from foundations
Modeling
BIM — Revit / IFC, with clash detection before fabrication
Fabrication
Group CNC plant — EMMA · Zona Franca de Panamá

Need the full system detail? Download the Steel Framing brochure (PDF, ES, 680 KB) or request a quote with your project data.

04 · Construction process

Eight steps, from engineering to handover.

The same process proven across 350+ SmartBrix portfolio projects.

  1. Design
    Structural engineering and BIM modeling (Revit / IFC)
    01
  2. Production
    CNC fabrication of LGS profiles — ZAM 180 g/m² · ±0.5 mm
    02
  3. Slab pouring
    Civil works and foundations at the project site
    03
  4. Wall and truss erection
    Dry assembly of the load-bearing structure
    04
  5. Wet and dry utility installation
    Plumbing and electrical installations — RETIE in Colombia
    05
  6. Exterior cladding
    Building envelope and façade
    06
  7. Structural panel assembly
    Closing the building's panel system
    07
  8. Interior and sanitary finishes
    Final finishes and turnkey handover
    08
05 · Gallery

Steel framing on site.

Structure, trusses, assembly, and cladding — the system as it is actually built.

Structure Cold-formed steel structure during assembly of a steel framing building
Trusses Galvanized LGS steel trusses assembled for the roof of a steel framing project
Assembly Dry assembly of load-bearing steel framing walls with CNC-cut profiles
Housing Steel framing home structure with galvanized steel profiles
Utilities Wet and dry utility networks installed inside a steel framing building structure
Cladding Exterior cladding of a building constructed with steel framing
06 · 2026 reference investment

How much does steel framing construction cost?

Grupo PEB Corp reference ranges by project size — structure only, MEP not included.

500 m² project

220–260USD/m²

Steel framing structure — MEP not included.

  • LGS profiles with ZAM 180 g/m² coating
  • Structural engineering and BIM modeling
  • CNC fabrication at the group plant

2,000 m² project

180–220USD/m²

Steel framing structure — MEP not included.

  • LGS profiles with ZAM 180 g/m² coating
  • Structural engineering and BIM modeling
  • CNC fabrication at the group plant

5,000 m² project

150–180USD/m²

Steel framing structure — MEP not included.

  • LGS profiles with ZAM 180 g/m² coating
  • Structural engineering and BIM modeling
  • CNC fabrication at the group plant

These ranges cover the reference structure: LGS profiles, engineering, and fabrication. Every turnkey project — which can add civil works, MEP installations, cladding, finishes, and fit-out — is quoted by scope. Request a technical proposal with your project's area, use, and location, and get an answer within 48 hours.

07 · Built evidence

Steel framing projects.

Verifiable area, timeline, and location — three projects from the 350+ portfolio.

Institutional CO Ministerio de Defensa Nacional headquarters built in steel framing in Bogotá — 39,000 m²

Ministerio de Defensa Nacional

39,000 m² 8 months Bogotá
Education CO Universidad del Rosario, Sede Mutis and Sede Norte — 5,500 m² in steel framing built in 3 months

Universidad del Rosario — Sede Mutis y Norte

5,500 m² 3 months Bogotá
Education CO Colegio Santa Luisa built in steel framing in Bogotá — 2,500 m² in 3 months

Colegio Santa Luisa

2,500 m² 3 months Bogotá
08 · Frequently asked questions

The most asked questions about steel framing.

How much does steel framing cost per square meter in 2026?
As a 2026 Grupo PEB Corp reference, steel framing structure ranges by project size: approx. 220–260 USD/m² for 500 m² projects, 180–220 USD/m² for 2,000 m², and 150–180 USD/m² for 5,000 m² (structure only, MEP not included). The final figure depends on design, use, and location, so every turnkey project is quoted by scope: request a technical proposal and get an answer within 48 hours.
What advantages does steel framing have over traditional construction?
Speed is the main difference: assembly is dry, with no curing times, and profiles arrive on site CNC-cut and punched to ±0.5 mm tolerance — which is why the system is up to 90% faster than traditional construction. The structure also weighs less than a traditional concrete system (optimized foundations), allows long clear spans with no intermediate columns, and generates up to 30% less construction waste.
How does steel framing perform in tropical climates? Does it corrode?
Profiles are made of steel with a ZAM 180 g/m² coating, resistant to corrosion in tropical and coastal environments like those of Colombia, Panamá, and the Caribbean. The structural design is also hurricane-verified up to 250 km/h (Category 4). That is why the system is used in permanent buildings across the region: schools, hospitals, industrial warehouses, offices, and housing.
Which building codes does SmartBrix steel framing comply with?
Every project is designed and verified for its jurisdiction: NSR-10 in Colombia, REP-21 in Panamá, and IBC (International Building Code) as the international reference, along with AISI S100 for cold-formed steel and RETIE for electrical installations in Colombia. The quality system is backed by Grupo PEB Corp's ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and 37001 certifications.
How long does a steel framing project take?
Typically 3 to 5 months from foundations. Real portfolio evidence: Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá (5,500 m²) was delivered in 3 months, Colegio Santa Luisa (2,500 m²) in 3 months, and the Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (39,000 m²) in 8 months. The final timeline depends on the project's area, design, and location.

Your steel framing project, quoted by engineers.

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