Some Keywords in Metal Building Materials

this is very basic nomenclature that you should find in engineering 101. we don't do other peoples homework on this site.

I'd name it, "steel structure", " steel frame", " stud and track", " metal stud", ""stud frame", "omega channel", "furring channel", " T grid", " ceiling grid", " T bar", "metal ceiling tile", " steel ceiling", " magnesium oxide board", " mgo board", " fiber cement board".

Have you tried Wiki? I am inferring that you have not.

Trying to pedal yours wares again by asking a question?

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/82178

Well: back when I was usin'all that stuff we called it the building, tin studs, Z track, hangin' ceiling, dur rock. This was before mgo. You left out rock, blue board and fire stop. Feel free to use this as your homework answer.

Why do you ask if you are in this business, you should know! ???

I'm assuming your question is "Who came up with the nomenclature of construction building materials and why is there so much ambiguity in the description of various items?" By the phrasing of your question, I wondered if you had been looking through a government material requisition list, where material is listed by noun, and in many cases, defies logic. You wouldn't go to a building supply company as ask for a stud, metal, galvanized, steel, 16 gauge, 3 1/2 in. width x 1 in. depth x 8 ft. length. In fact, it's counter-intuitive. A normal person would say, "I need a 3 1/2 in. x 1 in. 16 gauge galvanized stud, 8 ft. length. (if it's galvanized, there's a REAL good chance it's going to be steel) A government spec. might call for "Steel, Structural, Channel, 8 inch, 2.260 Flange width, .220 Web Thickness, 11.5 lbs./ft. (Note: if a Military Specification is called out, you would need to cross reference the mil-spec to commercial standards) If you went to a steel supply and ask for an AISI C8 x 11.5 Steel Channel, you would get the same thing. (Note exception above if a Mil.-Spec. is called out) A government spec. might call out: Tile, ceiling, Lay-In, T-Bar Grid, suspended, vinyl faced, 1 in. x 2 ft. x 4 ft. MFG: Armstrong, Series XXX. If you went to the supply house and ask for Armstrong Series XXX 2 x 4 Suspended Ceiling tiles, you'd get the same thing. (The series XXX would have identified the salient characteristics of the Armstrong series tile: thickness and tile facing material) which no doubt are available for a 2 ft. x 2 ft. or 2 ft. x 4 ft. grid system.

The government has a propensity to try to make things seem complicated to insure that maximum taxpayer dollars are consumed, while commercial applications tend to have the exact opposite goal.

My short answer would be the government is hung up on syntax, noun first, (even though it doesn't follow it's own format) anything steel: I-Beam, structural, frame, stud and track, etc. ("Steel Pipe" comes under "Pipe, Steel") I'm sure they hired a rocket scientist, (or at least paid them an equivalent wage) to categorize all materials/components/items that might be procured or specified by a US governmental agency, while the private sector uses the common sense/industry standard approach. (This is the same government who will spend $3 million studying the effects of methamphetamine on Rhesus monkeys, or $10 million studying the effects of 2nd hand tobacco smoke on prostitutes!!!)

I hope that answers your question. Government: Make it seem complicated, confusing~~Spend the maximum taxpayer dollars. Private Sector: Standardize, Make: it cost effect~~earn the most in profits.

I'm sure that there are areas where industry standards may not suffice: space travel, Research and Development, and Weaponry come to mind, but for us in the "Construction" world, industry standards and nomenclature should be sufficient.

thanks