- Bottom Plate: A plate that contains the bottom end of a wall stud. The top plate has a web and flanges, but no lips.
- Ceiling Joist: A horizontal structural framing member that supports a ceiling and/or attic loads.
- C-section: Used for structural framing members such as studs, joists, beams, girders, and rafters. The name comes from the member’s “C’ shaped cross-sectional configuration consisting of a web, flange and lip. C-section web depth and flange width measurements use outside dimensions
- Clip Angle: An L-shaped short piece of metal (normally with a 90 degree bend) typically used for connections.
- Cold-forming: A process where light-gauge steel members are manufactured without the use of heat. Flange: The part of a C-section or track that is perpendicular to the web.
- Flat Strap: Sheet steel cut to a specified width without any bends, typically used for bracing and other flat applications.
- Floor Joist: A horizontal structural framing member that supports floor loads.
- Galvanized Steel: Steel that has a zinc protective coating for resistance against corrosion. The level of coated protection is measured by the weight of the galvanized coating applied to the surface area of the steel.
- Gauge: A unit of measurement traditionally used to describe the nominal thickness of steel. The lower the gauge, the greater the thickness.
- Header: A horizontal built-up structural framing member used over wall or roof openings to carry loads across the opening.
- In-Line Framing: Frame systems where all vertical and horizontal load carrying members are aligned.
- Jack Stud: A vertical structural member that does not span the full height of the wall and supports vertical loads and/or transfers lateral loads. Jack studs are used to support headers.
- King Stud: A vertical structural member that spans the full height of the wall and supports vertical loads and lateral loads. Usually located at both ends of a header adjacent to the jack studs to resist lateral loads.
- Lip: The part of a C-section that extends from the flange at the open end. The lip increases the strength characteristics of the member and acts as a stiffener to the flange.
- Load Bearing Wall: A wall that carries vertical loads from above or lateral loads resulting from wind. These loads may act separately or in combination. Both internal and external walls may be load bearing.
- Material Thickness: The base metal thickness excluding any protective coatings. Thickness is expressed in mils (traditionally expressed in gauge).
- Mil: A unit of measurement typically used in measuring the thickness of thin elements. One mil equals 1/1000 of an inch.
- Multiple Span: The span made by a continuous member having intermediate supports.
- Non-Load Bearing Wall: Walls which do not support any loads.
- Punch-out: A hole in the web of a steel framing member allowing for the installation of plumbing, electrical, and other trade installation.
- Rafter: A structural framing member (sloped) that supports roof loads.
- Shear wall: A wall assembly capable of resisting lateral forces to prevent racking from wind or seismic loads acting parallel to the plane of the wall.
- Single Span: The span made by one continuous structural member without any intermediate supports.
- Span: The clear horizontal distance between bearing supports.
- Structural Sheathing: The covering (e.g. steel sheets) used directly over structural members (e.g. studs or joists) to distribute loads, brace walls, and strengthen the assembly.
- 80 Stud: Vertical structural element of a wall assembly that supports vertical loads and/or transfers lateral loads.
- Top Plate: A plate used to carry truss loads from the roof to the studs, where the studs are not located directly under the truss load points. The top plate has a web and flanges but no lips.
- Track: Used for applications such as top and bottom plate for walls and band joists for flooring systems. The track has a web and flanges, but no lips. Track web depth measurements are taken to the inside of the flanges.
- Web: The part of a C-section or track that connects the two flanges.
- Web Stiffener: Additional material that is attached to the web to strengthen the member against web crippling. Also called a bearing stiffener.
- Yield Strength: A characteristic of the basic strength of the steel material. It is the highest unit stress that the material can endure before permanent deformation occurs.