Technical guide · Pandaboard

Drywall Metal Frame: Partition, Ceiling and Lining Systems

Direct answer

A drywall metal frame is built from U tracks at floor and ceiling, C studs, bracing channels and clips — commonly C75 or C100 with studs at 400 mm centres. A ceiling frame uses C38 / C50 / C60 main runners, furring channels, hanger rods and clips at ≤1200 × 1200 mm, cambered 1/200. Steel thickness and zinc coating govern strength and corrosion resistance, and profiles from different makers must never be mixed.

01Key specifications and suitability

Suitable

• Drywall partitions, including lightweight bathroom walls

• Suspended drywall ceilings

• Wall lining and pipe boxing

• Mezzanine infill and feature bulkheads

• Fast dry-trade refurbishment

Not suitable

• Load-bearing structure (never a substitute for concrete beams or columns)

• Exteriors or permanently wet areas without protection

• Very tall self-supporting walls without structural design

• Direct support of heavy equipment (needs independent framing)

• Locations beyond the fire rating of the selected profile

02Preparation Before Installation

2.1 Site Conditions

• Wall centrelines, edges and opening positions marked on floor, soffit and walls; diagonals within 5 mm

• Floor and soffit level; correct steps over 10 mm with mortar first, or the wall will lean once the track is fixed

• Conduit, back boxes and distribution boards positioned and fixed before framing starts

• Structural fixing method agreed: drive pins or anchors into concrete, proprietary anchors into blockwork or AAC

• Room temperature at least 5 °C, RH ≤80 %, openings closed; protect profiles from damp in the wet season

• Reinforcement agreed for openings and for anything heavy (TVs, cabinets, sanitaryware)

2.2 Tools and Equipment

Table 2-1 Main tools

2.3 Parts List and Reference Quantities

Quantities are estimated per 100 m² of partition face with studs at 400 mm and a 3 m height, including normal wastage. Ceiling framing is counted separately.

Table 2-2 Parts list (reference quantity per 100 m² of wall)

Keep the system matchedStuds, tracks, bracing channels and clips must come from one maker and one series with equal steel thickness. Web hole positions and flange dimensions differ between brands; mixing them means holes that will not line up, clips that will not lock, and a load capacity no test report can support.

2.4 Delivery and Site Conditioning

• Store flat indoors on bearers at ≤1.5 m centres, stacked no higher than 1.5 m so long profiles cannot sag

• Never lean profiles against a wall or leave one end overhanging — a 6 m length takes a permanent set

• Spot-check 5 %: even zinc coating with no rust, steel thickness as ordered, symmetrical holes, straightness within L/1000

• Keep one batch per wall so hole positions and steel thickness match

• Touch up every cut and drilled end with zinc-rich paint; never leave a cut edge bare

03Method 1: Partition System

The most common drywall frame: internal partitions, lightweight bathroom walls and plant room divisions. It is light, dry-trade and hides services, but openings and heavy fixings must be reinforced during framing.

Figure 3-1 Partition build-up: U tracks, C studs at 400 mm, bracing channel, staggered double boarding and mineral wool

1. Set out and check：Mark the wall centreline and both faces on floor and soffit, and mark every opening. Measure the diagonals; only proceed when they agree within 5 mm.

2. Fix the floor track：Set the U track on the line and fix with drive pins or M6×40 anchors at ≤600 mm centres, with one fixing within 100 mm of each end and a closer spacing at corners.

3. Fix the ceiling track：As the floor track. Use drive pins into concrete and proprietary anchors into masonry; pack out undulating soffits rather than forcing the track out of shape.

4. Install studs：Insert studs at 400 mm centres (first stud within 150 mm of the wall) with flanges facing the same way, then fix with bracing clips or blind rivets. Check plumb to 3 mm in 2 m.

5. Fit bracing channels：Where the wall exceeds 3 m or lateral restraint is specified, run a bracing channel through the web holes at mid-height and lock it with clips.

6. Reinforce openings：Add a second stud at each jamb (or tighten spacing to 150 mm), a header above the opening, and diagonal bracing or a 3 mm steel plate on openings wider than 1.2 m.

7. Run services：Pass conduit through the pre-punched web holes or use grommets; never cut large holes in the flange. Fix back boxes and distribution boards with the maker’s brackets.

8. Insulate：Full-fill with mineral wool, flush with the stud face and with no voids; cut and pack around services and face the wool with fleece where fibres could escape.

9. Board the first face：Run boards with long edges across the studs, screws at 150 mm on board edges and 200 mm in the field, heads 0.5–1 mm below the surface and at least 10 mm from the board edge.

10. Board the second face：Stagger the second face by one stud so no joint shares a stud; with two layers, stagger the layers by at least 300 mm.

11. Joint and finish：Fill the joint, embed the tape, apply two thin coats, sand when dry, and fit corner beads at internal and external angles.

04Method 2: Ceiling System

For flat and feature drywall ceilings. Main runners carry the whole load; furring channels only carry the board and set the joint positions — the two are never interchangeable.

Figure 4-1 Ceiling boarding: furring channels at 400 mm, screws at 150–170 mm, 3–5 mm joints, heads 0.5–1 mm below the face

1. Set out level and hangers：Mark the finished ceiling line on all walls and set hanger positions on a grid of 1200 × 1200 mm or closer, clear of access panels and light fittings.

2. Fix hanger rods：φ6 for non-access ceilings, φ8 where the ceiling is walked on or carries equipment; keep rods vertical, within 300 mm of runner ends, with thread left for levelling.

3. Install main runners：Hang C38 / C50 / C60 runners from clips at the designed spacing (normally ≤1200 mm) and camber the short span 1/200–1/300. Splice with connectors and stagger adjacent joints.

4. Install furring channels：Perpendicular to the main runners at 400 mm centres (up to 600 mm only where the board is 12 mm or thicker, 1200 mm wide and the board maker allows it); clip and lock each one.

5. Level：Adjust every clip against a taut line until the frame is flat within 3 mm over 2 m and joint steps are within 1 mm.

6. Board：Run long edges across the furring channels, screws at 150–170 mm, heads 0.5–1 mm below the face without breaking the paper; leave 3 mm at the wall.

7. Openings and reinforcement：Frame every light, grille and access opening with extra channel; fittings over 3 kg and air devices need independent hangers, never the furring channel.

8. Joints and corners：Tape and fill the joints; form a shallow V at internal corners or fit a corner bead to control cracking.

05Method 3: Wall Lining System

Used to flatten an existing wall, add insulation or conceal services. The frame carries only the board; it is anchored back to the wall and never takes structural load.

1. Prepare the wall：Remove dust and grease, cut back hollow plaster, treat damp and repair any leak before framing.

2. Install lining studs：Vertical C profiles or proprietary lining sections at 400–600 mm centres, anchored to the wall at ≤800 mm with fixings at the top and bottom of each stud.

3. Level and plumb：Pack the studs out to the design plane and check flatness and plumb to 3 mm over 2 m against a taut line.

4. Services and insulation：Run services between studs without crushing conduit; add mineral wool where acoustic or thermal performance is required.

5. Board and joint：As for partitions: long edges across studs, screws at 150–200 mm, joints staggered.

6. Details：Add perimeter channels at skirting, reveals and corners, and keep a 10 mm gap at the floor sealed with neutral silicone.

06Detailing

6.1 Movement joints and long walls

• On continuous walls over 12 m, form a 10 mm joint every 12 m or at structural movement joints, filled with elastic sealant

• Do the same on ceilings over 100 m² or 15 m in one direction, to stop thermal movement opening the board joints

• Never place a movement joint at the corner of an opening; keep it at least 300 mm away

6.2 Wet areas (bathrooms and kitchens)

• Tank the floor first and cast a concrete upstand at least 150 mm high at the doorway; studs must not sit on the slab

• Keep a 10 mm gap between studs and floor, sealed with neutral silicone to stop capillary rise

• Use moisture-resistant board or calcium silicate board, and seal joints and screw heads

• Insulate extract ductwork so condensation cannot drip onto the ceiling

6.3 Heavy fixings and equipment

• Add 18 mm plywood pattresses or purpose-made reinforcement behind TVs, cabinets, sanitaryware and water heaters before boarding

• Fan coil units and MVHR units need independent frames — never hang them from the drywall frame

• Long items such as curtain boxes and projection screens need a continuous reinforcing channel

6.4 Fire stopping

• Seal service penetrations through walls and slabs with intumescent compound or fire board to the designed fire rating

• Fire-rated partitions must use the specified profiles and boards; standard board is not a substitute for fire board

07Quality Acceptance

Follow the relevant clauses of GB 50210 and GB 50327. The values below are normal control limits.

Table 6-1 Permissible deviations and methods of check

08Common Defects and Remedies

Table 7-1 Troubleshooting

09Product Storage and Handling

• Store flat indoors on bearers at ≤1.5 m centres, stacked no higher than 1.5 m, so long lengths cannot sag

• Never lean profiles against a wall or leave ends unsupported — a 6 m length takes a permanent bow

• Sort by type: studs, tracks and bracing channels stored separately and labelled to prevent mixing

• Keep profiles away from cement, acids and alkalis; wipe off white storage stain, and never install a profile with red rust

• First in, first out; if temporary outdoor storage is unavoidable, raise it 200 mm clear of the ground, cover it and keep it under seven days

  

Figure 8-1 Correct stacking: flat, off the floor, height limited; leaning or overhanging storage causes permanent bowing

10Transport and Safety

• Load flat, stack no higher than 1.5 m on continuous bearers and strap down so the middle cannot take the load in transit

• Handle 6 m lengths with at least two people; no single-point lifting, throwing or dragging

• Wear goggles and a dust mask when cutting, keep the guard on abrasive saws and deburr every cut

• Wear a harness above 2 m, work from trestles or a mobile scaffold, and never stand on the frame or on unsecured board

• Do not remove temporary bracing until boarding is complete; barricade and brace part-boarded walls

• Keep hot work away from combustible material and provide extinguishers

11Appendix: Checklists

11.1 Delivery inspection

• □Profile size and steel thickness match the order

• □Zinc coating even, with no red rust or bare patches

• □Web holes symmetrical and undistorted

• □Straightness within L/1000, ends square

• □Clips, connectors and rivets all supplied

11.2 Before installation

• □Wall lines marked and diagonals checked

• □Services and back boxes positioned and fixed

• □Reinforcement agreed for openings and heavy fixings

• □One batch and one series on site with equal steel thickness

• □Floor and soffit flatness corrected

12Frequently asked questions

Should studs be at 400 mm or 600 mm?

Use 400 mm for normal partitions. 600 mm applies only to low, non-load-bearing, single-layer partitions with 12 mm board. Tiled walls, walls over 4 m and impact-resistant walls need 300–400 mm.

What steel thickness do I need?

0.6 mm is normal for internal partitions. Public buildings, tiled walls and walls carrying heavy fixings should use 0.8 mm. Below 0.5 mm the frame is too flexible and sounds hollow once boarded.

What hanger spacing for a drywall ceiling?

≤1200 × 1200 mm and within 300 mm of the runner ends. Tighten to ≤1000 mm and use φ8 rods where the ceiling is walked on or carries equipment.

Can I tile directly onto a metal stud wall?

Only with a specific build-up: C100 studs at ≤300 mm, two layers of board or a tile backer board, and full tanking. Tiles fixed to a single 9.5 mm board will debond.

Why camber the ceiling?

Self-weight makes the frame sag. A camber of 1/200–1/300 offsets that deflection so the finished surface is flat; without it, raking light from a cove shows clear waves.

Can a partition carry a TV or a water heater?

Not from a single layer of board. Add an 18 mm plywood pattress or purpose-made reinforcement at the fixing point before boarding, so the load reaches the studs.

About Pandaboard

Guangzhou Panda Commercial Development Co., Ltd. · Pandaboard / PEIDA

We manufacture and export gypsum board, mineral fiber and fiberglass ceiling tiles, calcium silicate and magnesium oxide boards, fiber cement board, aluminum ceilings, WPC and SPC wall panels, exterior decking, fencing and handrails, together with the matching grid and framing systems. The methods on this page are compiled from product behaviour and standard trade practice; for any project, follow the approved drawings, local codes and the specification confirmed on your order.

Website: www.pandamanufacturer.com Contact sales: contactus

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Guangzhou Panda Commercial Development Co., Ltd. · Pandaboard / PEIDA
This guide is technical information for specifiers and installers; it does not replace project drawings or local codes.