Channel Steel

Steel channels are hot-rolled carbon steel, shaped to have a vertical web and two horizontal flanges. The web is typically wide, while the flanges can either be parallel or tapered. 

Steel channels have excellent strength and durability, which makes them ideal for steel structures. They are often found in building frames and braces, as well as in supports for a variety of heavy equipment and machines. 

Steel channels are also very thick, which allows them to absorb sound and muffle vibrations. 

However, these are only just a few of their many possible applications, which are very tough, long-lasting, and have many other great qualities.

How steel channels are made:

Steel channels are usually made from hot-rolled mild steel. In this process, a metal strip is fed through a series of rollers — also known as supports. This distorts the strip until the desired shape and form are created. After the shaping is completed, the rolled form is cut to the required length.

The process of creating steel channels is generally quick and low-cost. Steel channels also don’t require any extra processing or finishing steps. This allows steel channels to be mass-produced at an affordable price.

However, there are cases where steel channels will be subjected to extra fabrication steps after being hot-rolled. They can be galvanized after fabrication to improve their durability and corrosion resistance. They can also be drilled or machined to fit the precise specifications of the project. Lastly, they can be welded to create larger or custom forms.

Steel channels have many uses, from homes to industrial buildings to other metal structures. Some common applications include:

Constructing walls for warehouses, garages, and other similar structures, wherein they are installed similarly to studs for supporting the building’s vertical load. 

As attachment points for sidings, such as sheet metal. Here, they are run horizontally from pole to pole to create a connecting arm for external and internal wall finishes. 

As rafters for light-duty roofs, where they run from eaves to ridge and provide support for the roof deck. 

As supporting metal for heavy-duty roofs, where steel channels are installed perpendicularly on top of l-beam rafters. This bridges the spaces between the rafters, allowing them to be spaced further apart, while also creating attachment points for the roof deck.

As strong frames for windows and doors. Channels are attached in four parts, with miter joints on each end to create a flat surface in the opening on which a door or window can be mounted.

To support hardwood beams in a wood-framed building when extra strength is required. Either the wood beam is placed in a large steel channel, or steel channels are added at the bottom of an existing beam to boost their strength.

To make car frames. Primary frame rails that run from end to end of the vehicle are usually made from heavy-duty steel channels. Braces and other structural components are made from lighter steel channels. 

In building trailers, such as box trailers, travel trailers, and even recreational vehicles (RVs). 

In commercial and industrial buildings, where they are installed in conjunction with l-beams and other structural steel pieces. In this application, they can be used as studs, braces, girts, and joists. 

They can also be used for railings, bridge trusses, guard rails, stair stringers, and other similar structures in buildings. 

Steel channels are a very flexible and versatile steel product, with many uses in structural support — both in light-duty and heavy-duty applications.

In China, the standards for channel steel, as well as other structural steel sections, are established by the Chinese National Standards (GB) or the Chinese National Building Codes (GB/T). The commonly used channel steel in China is known as "Chinese Standard Channels" or simply "C-Channels."

The specifications and designations for Chinese Standard Channels are covered under various GB standards, depending on the specific requirements and applications. The primary standard that outlines the dimensions, technical requirements, and tolerances for Chinese Standard Channels is GB/T 706-2016.

The designation of Chinese Standard Channels follows a standard format that includes the channel's depth (in millimeters) and its mass per meter (in kilograms). For example, a C160x60x20 would have a depth of 160 mm, a flange width of 60 mm, and a mass of 20 kg per meter.

In addition to GB/T 706-2016, there are other GB standards that cover various aspects of steel sections, including GB/T 9787 for hot-rolled parallel flange steel sections and GB/T 6728 for cold-formed steel sections.

In the United States, the standards for channel steel are governed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The commonly used channel steel in the US is known as "American Standard Channels" or "C-channels."

The specifications and designations for American Standard Channels are outlined in ASTM A36/A36M, which covers carbon structural steel shapes. ASTM A36 is a widely used material specification for various structural steel shapes, including channel steel. It has a minimum yield strength of 36,000 psi (or 250 MPa) and is commonly used in construction and structural applications.

American Standard Channels are designated with a letter "C" followed by the depth (in inches) and weight per foot (in pounds). For example, a C10x20 channel would have a depth of 10 inches and weigh 20 pounds per foot.

Apart from American Standard Channels, there are also Miscellaneous Channels (MC) and Junior Channels (MC Junior), which are covered under ASTM A529/A529M and ASTM A572/A572M, respectively. These standards specify higher-strength low-alloy structural steel shapes suitable for certain specialized applications.

In the United Kingdom, the standards for channel steel, along with other structural steel sections, are established by the British Standards Institution (BSI). The commonly used channel steel in the UK is known as "Parallel Flange Channels" or "PFC."

The specifications and designations for Parallel Flange Channels are outlined in the British Standard BS EN 10365. This standard covers the dimensions, technical requirements, and tolerances for hot-rolled steel channels with parallel flanges.

The designation of Parallel Flange Channels follows a standard format that includes the channel's depth (in millimeters) and its mass per meter (in kilograms). For example, a PFC 180 x 70 x 8 would have a depth of 180 mm, a flange width of 70 mm, and a mass of 8 kg per meter.

In Japan, the standards for channel steel, like other structural steel sections, are established by the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). The commonly used channel steel in Japan is known as "Channel Shapes" or "C-Channels."

The specifications and designations for Channel Shapes are outlined in JIS G 3192, which covers the dimensions, sectional properties, and technical requirements for hot-rolled steel sections used in general structures.

The designation of Channel Shapes follows a standard format that includes the channel's depth (in millimeters) and its mass per meter (in kilograms). For example, a C140x58x6.6 would have a depth of 140 mm, a flange width of 58 mm, and a mass of 6.6 kg per meter.

Channel steel specifications and models are expressed in height (h), leg width (b), and waist thickness (d).
Domestic steel specifications range from No. 5 to No. 40, which means the corresponding height is 5-40cm. Under the same height of channel steel, light channel steel has narrower legs, thinner waist and lighter weight than ordinary channel steel. No. 18-40 is a large channel steel, and No. 5-16 channel steel is a medium-sized channel steel.
The imported channel steel all indicate the actual size and execution standard. Generally, the length of imported channel steel is 6~15m, and the length of domestic channel steel is 5~12m, 5~19m, 6~19m, etc. according to different specifications.

Allowable deviation of channel steel (mm)
Height h +1.5 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0
Leg width b +1.5 soil 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Waist thickness d +0.4 +0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
The bending deflection should not exceed 0.15d
Usually the length is 5 ~12m 5 ~19m 6 ~19m.