1. THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT GAUGE STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
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2. Light Gauge Steel Framing Members
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Light Gauge Steel Framing Members
Steel components are cold-rolled from steel sheet.
Cold-forming increases metal strength.
Members are essentially noncombustible equivalents of wood light frame construction.
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

3. Used as vertical studs, and horizontal joists, rafters, and headers
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
C-Studs and Joists
Used as vertical studs, and horizontal joists, rafters, and headers
Standards sizes
Depth 1-5/8 to 12 in.
Width 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 in.
Metal thickness 18 to 97 mils (0.018 to in.)
Example designation: 600S162-54
600: 6.00 inches deep
S: Stud or joist
162: (1-5/8) inches wide
54: 54 mils (.054 inches) metal thickness
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
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4. Example designation: 600T125-33
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Tracks
Used at top and bottom of wall framing and at ends of floor framing, to hold studs or joists
Analogous to wall plates and rim joists in light wood frame construction
Standard sizes
Depth to match studs or joists
Width 1-1/4 to 2 in.
Example designation: 600T125-33
6.00 inches deep
Track
1.25 in. wide
33 mils metal thickness
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

5. Used for bridging, blocking, and other reinforcing and bracing
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Channels
Used for bridging, blocking, and other reinforcing and bracing
Also called cold-formed channels
Standard sizes
Depth ¾ to 2-1/2 in.
Width ½ in.
Example designation: 075U50-54
0.75 in. deep
U-channel
0.50 inches wide
54 mils metal thickness
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

6. Used for bridging, backing, furring Also called hat channels
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Furring
Used for bridging, backing, furring
Also called hat channels
Standard sizes
Depth 7/8 or 1-1/2 in.
Width 1¼ in. at raised surface, 2½ in. at base
Example designation: 087F125-30
0.875 in. deep
Furring channel
1.25 inches wide at raised surface
30 mils metal thickness
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
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7. Example designation: 2-800L150-43
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
L-Headers
Used for simplified header construction over openings in loadbearing walls
Break-formed angles (sheet metal bent in fabricator's shop to the specified size)
Standard sizes
Long leg 6 to 10 in.
Short leg 1½ in.
Example designation: L150-43
2 (doubled) angles required
8.00 in. long leg length
L-Header
1.5 in. short leg length
43 mils metal thickness
Section View
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

8. THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Framing Accessories
Various sheet metal clips, stiffeners, bracing, and hangers are used to make connections and reinforce framing.
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

9. THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Special Products
Many manufacturers offer proprietary members that offer various performance advantages or efficiencies.
Example right: The heavy dimpling or extra corrugation result in framing members that are stiffer than their conventional counterparts of the same metal thickness.
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

10. Slip track: A top track with extra deep legs and slotted holes
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Special Products
Slip track: A top track with extra deep legs and slotted holes
Allows fastening of nonloadbearing studs to track while permitting deflection in the track
Studs are intentionally cut short so that a deflection gap remains.
Deflection in the slab above does not impart unintended loads into the wall framing.
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

11. THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Special Products
A jamb-stud, a single, deeper framing member designed to replace two conventional studs at either side of a framed rough opening
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

12. Contemporary ASTM standards specify metal thickness in decimal inches.
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Sheet Metal Thickness
Thicker members are stronger and stiffer, but also heavier and more expensive.
Thickness is traditionally expressed as metal gauge (or gage), with lower numbers corresponding to thicker metal.
Translation of gauge numbers to metal thickness is not always consistent.
Contemporary ASTM standards specify metal thickness in decimal inches.
Minimum thickness of steel sheet
Gauge
Loadbearing framing
Nonloadbearing framing 12
0.097 in. (2.46 mm) 14
0.068 in. (1.73 mm) 16
0.054 in. (1.37 mm) 18
0.043 in. (1.09 mm) 20
0.033 in. (0.84 mm)
0.030 in. (0.75 mm) 22
0.027 in. (0.69 mm) 25
0.018 in. (0.45 mm)
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

13. Cutting Light Gauge Sheet Metal
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Cutting Light Gauge Sheet Metal
Tin snips (aviator's snips): quiet, clean, slower than power methods
Power shears
Power saw with abrasive or carbide-toothed blade
Torch cutting
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

14. Fastening Light Gauge Sheet Metal
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Fastening Light Gauge Sheet Metal
Self-drilling, self-tapping screws are most common. (top)
Crimping tools mutually deform parts to be joined. (middle)
Nail-like pins are power-driven. (bottom)
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

15. Fastening Light Gauge Sheet Metal
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT Gauge STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Fastening Light Gauge Sheet Metal
Welded joints can achieve higher strengths but are more labor intensive to make than mechanically fastened joints.
Welding is best suited to thicker sheets that are less susceptible to melt-through (burn through) than thinner sheets.
Top: Plug welds
Middle: Slot welds
Bottom: Flare vee weld
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

16. FRAMING PROCEDURES 12 LIGHT GAUGE STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

17. Framing methods parallel wood light frame platform construction.
FRAMING PROCEDURES
Framing
Framing methods parallel wood light frame platform construction.
Steel joists spaced from 12 to 24 in. o.c. are framed into tracks or channels.
Web stiffeners or reinforcing are inserted where concentrated loads might cause joist webs to buckle.
Construction panels are fastened with mastic adhesive and screws.
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

18. FRAMING PROCEDURES
Framing
Heavier beam equivalents, such as the ridge beam in the top illustration, can be constructed by nesting standard joists.
Simple angles or end clips facilitate joining of perpendicular members.
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

19. FRAMING PROCEDURES
Framing
Joist hangers, gusset plates, and folded track ends are other connection methods.
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

20. Window header connection to supporting studs
FRAMING PROCEDURES
Framing
Window header connection to supporting studs
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

21. FRAMING PROCEDURES
Bracing
Slender steel members require bracing at regularly spaced intervals to reduce the tendency to buckle.
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

22. Specifying Light Gauge Steel Framing
LIGHT GAUGE STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Specifying Light Gauge Steel Framing
Division 5 Metals, Section —Cold-Formed Metal Framing
Structural, loadbearing framing
Exterior wall framing (subject to wind loads)
Division 9 Finishes Section —Non-Structural Metal Framing
Interior nonloadbearing framing
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.

23. Light Gauge Steel Compared to Light Wood Framing Advantages
LIGHT GAUGE STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Light Gauge Steel Compared to Light Wood Framing
Advantages
Like wood light framing: versatile, flexible, simple to construct
Noncombustible and immune to insect attack
Dimensionally stable, with consistent material properties
Lighter weight
Disadvantages
Members require more frequent bracing
Readily conducts heat and requires extra attention to eliminating thermal bridging effects
Susceptible to corrosion
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 J. Iano. All rights reserved.