I have no specific knowledge or source (would love to see the real history)
but I suspect that the 16" standard came about as a result of engineering,
in combination with the standardization of the lumber production industry.

We've all heard of the 2x4 and we all know that today it isn't 2"x4". 16"
is a logical progression of the 2x4 sequence and so may, mathematically
have something to do with it (along with the standard of 8' ceiling
heights, perhaps?). I know in older homes the 2x4s ARE 2"x4".

I'm guessing an engineer did the math and calculated that, at an 8' ceiling
standard, and a 16" on-center wall panel stud standard, the necessary
strength could be provided by less material in the stud (and the lumber
industry could get more material from the same tree) and so the 1-1/2" x
3-1/2" 2x4 was born. (Leaving the 16" on-center standard alone).

But, like I said, this is all conjecture. I'd love to see the history of
the development somewhere.

A man understands one day that his life is built on nothing, and that's a
bad, crazy day. - Cosmo Castorini, Moonstruck


On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 8:17 AM, Michael Blair  wrote:

> It's a code requirement in California for any dwelling space.  Every house
> I've lived in has 2X4s on 16 inch centers.  My great-grandfather built all
> houses this way.  My house now was built in 1925 -- 2X4s on 16 inch
> centers.
> The 1906 house I lived in had 2X4s on 16 inch centers.  The Victorians I've
> worked on had 2X4s on 16 inch centers, so the standard has been around for
> a very long time.  Fiberglass insulation specifically for walls comes in
> 16 inch wide rolls.  Roof insulation comes in 24 inch wide rolls.
>
> Why?  You'd need to ask a structural engineer for the rational.
>
> Mike in Sacto
>
>
>
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