Is "heavy gauge" defined?

[packdad]

Is there a definition for "heavy gauge" sheet steel? In other words, does a sheet need to be greater than some minimum thickness to be called heavy gauge? Or, as I now suspect, is this more of a subjective term?

 

[handleman]

I'm pretty sure it's subjective based on the application.

 

[swall]

The AISI "Steel Products Manuals" (which may be out of print by now) may shed some light on this. I will look around and see if we have those here. But, I vaguely recall that anything over 12 gauge was considered "heavy" and anything over 1/4" was considered plate.

 

[swall]

I did locate the AISI books and there is a designation "Heavy Thickness" for coiled hot rolled sheet that applies to thicknesses over .180", which would be 7 gauge.

 

[JStephen]

I've always taken "heavy gage" in a catalog listing or similar usage to just mean thicker than usual or plenty thick. A "heavy gauge" beer can wouldn't have to be very thick.