Cl/SfB (22.

3) Hh2
(35.1) Jh2

Technical Bulletin No. 6

May 1998
Expamet Building Products
Quality Assurance –
BS EN ISO 9002: 1994
BSI Registered Firms –
Certificate No. FM36694

Expamet
EXPAMET METAL FURRED Building Products

CEILING SUPPORT SYSTEM Expamet

FM36694

- FOR PLASTERBOARD

Perimeter channel fixed at 600mm

maximum centres.

Connecting clip
The plasterboard is fixed to the perimeter
channel at 150mm centres and to the furring
section at 230mm maximum centres.

Primary support channel.

1200mm centres single layer
900mm centres double layer Metal furring section clipped
Hanger at 1200mm centres along to primary support channel at
channel fixed with 2 no wafer Head 450mm centres.
Jack Point screws

Product Pack
COMPONENTS Code Size

Expamet's Metal Furring System is used as a fixing ground Furring Section

80 x 20 x 0.55m 3600mm length MFFC 50
for gypsum boards and, when constructed in accordance
with BS 8212 : 1995, the surface of the finished ceiling is Perimeter Edge Channel
free of visible joints. 20 x 27 x 30 x 0.55mm 3600mm length MFEC 10

The illustration shows that the system is constructed from Primary Channel
the structural soffit down to provide a sturdy framework for 15 x 45 x 0.90mm 3600mm length MFPC 10
the fixing of plasterboard and other boards.
Angle (Hanger)
The composition of the ceiling lining depends on the 25 x 25 x 0.55mm 3000mm length MFAN 10
required performance specification of the ceiling in
terms of fire protection, thermal transmittance and Strap (Hanger)
25 x 0.55mm 25M coil MFST Per coil
sound insulation.
Refer to proprietary plasterboard supplier’s technical Soffit Cleat
25 x 25 x 25 x 1.5mm MFSC 200
data for ceiling performance information.
Connecting MFCL 200
Clip

Nut & Bolt

M6 x 12mm MFNB 100

Wafer Head
Jack point screws SJP13M 1000
 Construction Details
In conformance with BS 8212 : 1995
• Secure hangers to soffit with suitable, non-combustible fixings.
• When attaching hangers to timber joists, fix to side of joists with
two screws at a minimum of 25mm from the bottom edge of the
timber and no lower than the mid height point of the joist when fire
protection is specified.
• For normal conditions the hangers should be spaced at 1200mm
x 1200mm or, where two layers of 15mm thick gypsum boards are
specified for the ceiling surface lining, at 1200mm x 900mm. The
primary support channels will therefore be spaced at either
1200mm or 900mm maximum centres when fixed to the hangers.
• The perimeter channels must be fixed with non-combustible
fixings to the adjoining structures at a maximum of 600mm centres.
• The perimeter channels must be fitted with the wider flange at
the bottom and levelled at the appropriate distance above the
To join furring sections overlap by at
finished ceiling height to ensure the ceiling is correctly positioned.
least 150mm and either crimp or
• During the installation use the perimeter channels which run screw fix both sides in two places.
parallel to the primary support sections as end supports for the
metal furring sections.
• The metal furring sections are fixed at 450mm centres to the
primary support channels at each cross-over point, using
connector clips.
To construct the plasterboard ceiling surface lining:
Refer to plasterboard manufacturer's instructions.

Brief Guide
• Screw the boards with long edge transverse to the metal furring
sections, with all end joints staggered, to the underside of the
metal furring sections.
• The screws must be fixed at 230mm centres max along furring
section except at the perimeters where they are fixed at 150mm
centres.
• All dry wall screws should penetrate through the sections and
channels by a minimum 10mm.
• If a two-layer system is specified, all joints in the second layer of To join primary channels with nuts and
boards must be staggered to the joints in the first layer. bolts the minimum overlap is 150mm.
(Avoid joints over furring section).

Movement Joints
For large areas of ceiling, the inclusion of stress relieving control
joints in the ceiling surface lining’s construction should be
considered. These should also coincide with the structure's
movement joints.

PO BOX 52, LONGHILL

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE (NORTH),
HARTLEPOOL,TS25 1PR, ENGLAND.
TELEPHONE
SALES: 01429 866611
TECHNICAL: 01429 866655
GENERAL: 01429 866688
FAX: 01429 866633

The company policy is one of continuous development,

we therefore reserve the right to alter specifications etc.
without notice.

An Expamet International company

Expamet
FM36694