What does 600S162-54 mean?

Type any light-gauge steel member designation. The decoder reads the web depth, member type, flange width and minimum thickness in mils, and draws the section.

SFIA designation system
Mils, gauge and color code

Member designation

Web depth: 6.00 in
Member: Stud or joist (C-section with lips)
Flange: 1.62 in
Thickness: 54 mils minimum base metal · ≈16 ga · design 0.0566 in
End color: Green
Use: Structural range (ASTM C955): load-bearing walls, joists and headers when engineered.

Cross-section drawn to scale from the designation. Lip length is illustrative.

Gauge numbers are approximate; specify members by mils. Color codes are common manufacturer conventions, not a code requirement. See the mils and gauges guide for sources.