Metal furring system
The term 'metal furring system', or MF system, refers to a non-structural metal attachment that is used to hold a finish material, often used as a technique for creating a seamless plaster internal finish with a void behind for the installation of services, with plasterboard fixed directly to the concealed metal furrings. It can be used as an alternative to traditional timber batten construction for walls and ceilings.
In metal-framed construction, the furring pieces are long, light gauge materials (usually 25 or 20 ga.) of various shapes, often used to hold insulation or other construction items between materials. Due to the light gauge, a certain amount of rigidity is provided by the bends that create the cross section shapes.
A ‘hat’-shaped bent metal is the most common type of metal furring. This is used to secure the outer layer of material where it would be difficult to insert attachments such as screws and nails.
A ‘z’ furring is attached to one surface at the bottom flange, accepting an outer layer of material to be attached to the other flange. This is often used in commercial and residential buildings as a spacer, allowing an existing wall surface to be insulated, or allowing horizontal electrical or plumbing components to be installed and covered with a finish material.
A variety of fastening methods can be used with a metal furring system. Screws are the most common and easiest, although when the furring strip is attached directly to concrete, masonry or structural steel, more specialised fasteners are used such as sleeve type anchors, course thread anchors, power actuated pin fasteners, and so on.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.