Metal Stud Framing Horizontal Bracing

The maximum spacing for mechanical bracing of curtainwall framing is six 6 feet on center.

Metal stud framing horizontal bracing.

Horizontal strap lateral bracing for wall studs. Lateral bracing is an important design consideration for both non structural and structural applications of walls and partitions framed with cold formed steel framing. Prior to the installation of interior board high winds can cause stud damage due to the lack of interior bracing. If mechanical bracing is required it can be either steel strapping run horizontally on both sides of the studs and attached to each flange or cold rolled channel run horizontally through the stud punchouts and attached to each stud web.

In the case of steel framing the cross sectional shape of the frame member size and the thickness and grade of steel must be considered. Are described in open link in same page part 3 11 structural design manuals. Without bracing the framing members may twist buckle and fail under far less than specified applied load. However the angle of the bracing stud and the size of the bracket often limits the number of screws that can be applied to the joint thus greatly limiting the effective strength of the connection.

W17 stud bracing with cold rolled channel w18 stud bracing with sheathing w19 stud bracing with strapping and sheathing. While consideration of bracing is important for any structural element this is especially true for thin singly symmetric cold formed steel cfs framing members such as wall studs. Bracing is required to resist buckling due to axial or out of plane lateral loads or a combination. Equally important are height of the wall the frame spacing and the maximum span of the surfacing material.

The steeler technical design catalog is a collection of typical designs for steel framing and connections to help guide with your design process. Design requirements for other materials used in combination with steel framing including the use of concrete floors heavy steel support beams etc. Or open link in same page part 3 4 4 for structural steel members. The correct method for fixing the bracing stud to the structure is to use an engineered metal bracket that is capable of handling extreme loads to make a firm and secure connection.

Lateral bracing consists of a field cut stud or track for solid blocking and steel strap bracing on both flanges of the studs. Solid blocking is placed at each end of the wall adjacent to wall openings and 8 o c. Steel strapping installed horizontally on the interior flanges at a maximum of six 6 feet on center in conjunction with the sheathing will brace and protect the stud framing during construction.