Light steel keel materials and classifications

The choice of materials is crucial during renovation and construction. Different materials for keel have different advantages and disadvantages, resulting in different characteristics of the houses built. Therefore, it's essential to select the appropriate type of keel based on your specific renovation needs . So, what are light steel keels made of, and what are their classifications? Understanding more about these basic life tips will be very helpful in the future. Below, we'll discuss the materials and classifications of light steel keels.

1. What is the material of light steel keel?

II. Classification of Light Steel Keel

1. Wooden keel

Wooden joists should be made of softwood materials such as pine or fir, which are easy to nail. The joists should be straight, without twisting, bending, or splitting. The main joists should have a cross-sectional dimension of 40mm x 60mm, the secondary joists 30mm x 40mm, and the hanger rods 50mm x 70mm. Wooden joists allow for easy creation of various shapes and designs.      

However, when using wooden joists, it is important to ensure that the wood is completely dry. Furthermore, for safety reasons, the wooden joists should be treated with fire retardant by applying a moisture-proof and fire-retardant coating before use.

2. Light steel keel

The wall thickness of the galvanized steel sheet used for the ceiling light steel keel should not be less than 1mm. All main and secondary keels and connectors should be galvanized, and the coating should be intact and undamaged. The keel should be straight, without bending or twisting. The suspension rods of the light steel keel should preferably be made of steel bars, and the fixing parts should be angle steel, generally with specifications of 30mm x 30mm x 3mm. Both the suspension rods and the fixing angle steel should be painted with anti-rust paint.    

Ceiling metal keel is generally made of light steel and aluminum alloy, featuring light weight, high rigidity, good fire resistance and earthquake resistance, and convenient processing and installation. According to the profile cross-section, there are U-shaped keels and T-shaped keels. Light steel keels have the advantages of light weight, high strength, and good corrosion resistance, and are mainly used in conjunction with paper-faced gypsum board and its products.

3. Aluminum alloy keel

When selecting this type of keel, it is important to note that its wall thickness should not be less than 0.8mm, and the surface should be treated with methods such as anodizing, powder coating, or baking paint for corrosion protection. When purchasing, ensure the surface anti-corrosion layer is intact and undamaged. A qualified aluminum alloy keel should be straight and free from twisting.

Choose matching keel (supporting frame). When purchasing aluminum ceiling panels, buy the matching keel together to avoid inconvenience due to model incompatibility. For bathrooms where appliances such as ceiling lights, exhaust fans, and bathroom heaters are installed, it is even more important to reserve installation positions in advance and fix them to the keel; otherwise, the aluminum ceiling panels may fall off due to excessive weight. It is recommended to reserve an access panel for maintenance; otherwise, repairs will be very troublesome if problems occur.