This specification covers steel studs, runners (tracks), and bracing or bridging for screw application of gypsum panel products and metal plaster bases in load-bearing construction assemblies. Steel of lesser thickness shall be permitted in additional engineered products. Members shall be manufactured from steel meeting the requirements specified. The properties and strength of members shall be computed in accordance with the given specification. The steel members shall be free of defects that interfere with the purpose for which they are intended. Penetration test method provides a procedure for evaluating the member's ability to pull the head of a screw below the surface of the gypsum panel product. Five specimens of members shall be tested. If more than one test specimen fails to meet the requirements, two more test specimens shall be chosen for retesting. Report shall indicate all specimens meeting the requirements of this specification if the screw penetrated the steel and the screw spin out; or shall indicate all specimens failing if the screw did not penetrate the steel, or the screw spun out.

1.1 This specification covers steel studs, runners (tracks), and bracing or bridging (with a base metal thickness range of not less than 0.0329 in. (0.836 mm)) for screw application of gypsum panel products and metal plaster bases in load-bearing (transverse and axial) construction assemblies. Steel of lesser thickness shall be permitted in additional engineered products.

1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.3 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 8, of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.