On 04/17/14, CheekyGeek wrote:

[snip]

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.

[snip]


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. [snip]
>
> Why? You'd need to ask a structural engineer for the rational.
>
[snip]
>