Metal stud manufacturers are required to stamp the stud size and gauge on each product. The Most Common CFMF Sizes & Shapes Before you get started, here’s a link to our most popular presentation on bidding projects and identifying costly details. We’ll also talk about what to do if no identifying marks are visible - plus, we’ll provide you with the most common cold-formed steel metal framing (CFMF) sizes and shapes. In this guide, learn how read the printed code, which is stamped by the manufacturer on each stud, and how you can identify thickness just by the color painted on the end of steel studs and tracks.
Some experienced tradespeople can tell the difference between standard thicknesses by feel alone, but thankfully there are many ways to easily identify CFS thickness - including by color. View the current Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for cold-formed steel products.įollowing is a listing of cold-formed steel framing resources and organizations that can provide additional information.When performing inspections of cold-formed steel framing, one of the most obvious aspects to check is the material thickness (mils or gauge). Learn more about Strong, Safe, Affordable and Sustainable Steel: The Obvious Choice for Mid-Rise Construction (Canadian Steel Construction Council brochure) Cold-formed steel framing has been used successfully in building projects greater than 10 stories in height. Cold-formed steel framing lends itself to architectural layouts where the floor and roof systems are supported on bearing walls. Cold-formed steel framing products are typically made from zinc-coated cold-rolled steel with yield strength of 33 ksi or 50 ksi.Ĭold-formed steel framing in North America is typically designed and constructed in accordance with standards developed by the American Iron and Steel Institute.
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Standard cold-formed steel products are defined in AISI S201, North American Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing – Product Data, 2012 Edition (free download at A variety of cold-formed steel framing products are available from various manufacturers. For cold-formed steel framing, typical material thicknesses range from 0.0147 in.
Cold-formed steel floor and roof trusses are also available for cold-formed steel framing applications.Ĭold-formed steel refers to a manufacturing process where metallic-coated sheet steel is roll-formed into products such as studs, joists, track, headers, angles, truss members and other components. Additional elements of the framing system include fasteners and connectors, braces and bracing, clips and connectors. Similar configurations are used for both floor joist and rafter assemblies, but in a horizontal application for floors, and a horizontal or sloped application for roof framing. Wall members are typically vertical lipped channel “stud” members, which fit into unlipped channel “track” sections at the top and bottom. The framing members are typically spaced at 16 or 24 inches on center, with spacing variations lower and higher depending on the loads and coverings. It typically refers to light-frame construction where the vertical and horizontal structural elements are primarily formed by a system of repetitive framing members. Cold-formed steel framing is a durable, reliable and cost-effective option for low-rise and mid-rise building projects.