What are the different types of steel channel?

Metal  channels are often used in construction for masonry support or as wall restraints. These channels provide good structural support and are made of metals including steel, aluminum, zinc, or brass with aluminum. Steel channels are the most popular choice for metal channels when it comes to construction and is one of the popular uses of steel coils.

What is a steel channel?

Most common steel channels look like a long hollow cuboid with an absent top face and two lateral faces. Technically speaking, a steel channel is two steel legs connected by a web of flattened steel. Just imagine the alphabet C. The curve of the C is the web and the two lines that extend from the curve above and below are the legs. Most common steel channels found in India are C shaped and U-shaped channels.

How are steel channels made?

The process of making steel channels is very simple. A steel strip is fed through a series of rollers. These rollers process the strip and lend the desired shape. After the shaping is completed, the rolled form is cut to the required length.

Different types of steel channels

In India steel channels are categorised according to their shapes. There are four main types of steel channel prevalent in India:

• U steel channels

The distinctive shape of a U channel is achieved by forming two right angles on a flat piece of steel. It is used as trim for hand and stair railings, including escalators. U channels come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes with round or flat bottoms and different leg heights. The channel depth and the leg height varies depending on how the U channel is to be used.

• C steel channels

C channels are widely used in construction as buildings, walls, roofs, and ceiling support.  C steel channels includes a wide variety of channel types, dimensions, and sizes as steel can be roll formed to fit any specific requirements.

Also read: C channel weight chart – Learn how to calculate C-channel weight

• J channels

When one leg of the channel is shorter than the other, the channel is referred to as J channel. They come in a wide range of sizes and can be tailored to meet specific project needs. Hemless channels and hemmed channels are two forms of J channels.

• Hat channel

This channel has legs that are folded in the outward direction resembling an old-fashioned men’s hat instead of having a tapered or parallel leg ending. Hat channels are commonly used as a framing component in ceiling assemblies.

What are steel channels used for?

Excellent structural support and durability are two facts about steel channels that make them desirable to the construction industry. These factors also contribute to making steel a key raw material in the construction sector. Let us explore some steel channel applications:

• They are used as studs, braces, girts, and joists in conjunction with l-beams and other structural steel pieces in the construction of industrial and commercial buildings.
• They are used as supporting metal for roof decks in the construction of light-duty and heavy-duty roofs.
• They are used as studs to support a building’s vertical load during the construction of walls for warehouses and garages.
• They are used as strong frames for windows and doors.
• They are used to support hardwood beams in a wood-framed building when extra strength is required.
• Heavy-duty steel channels are used to make primary frame rails of a car frame. Braces and other structural components are made from lighter steel channels.

Steel channels are built using different grades of steel which will be specified by the manufacturer. You should also look at the specifications of the steel channels and see whether they suit your needs.

To find the best steel channel suppliers visit Tata nexarc’s Procurement and get connected with trusted sellers across India offering steel channels at reasonable prices.

Also Read: Steel railing: Types, uses and more