Metal Stud Framing Horizontal 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.

Metal stud framing horizontal bracing.

Horizontal strap lateral bracing for wall studs. 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. Without bracing the framing members may twist buckle and fail under far less than specified applied load. Lateral bracing consists of a field cut stud or track for solid blocking and steel strap bracing on both flanges of the studs.

The maximum spacing for mechanical bracing of curtainwall framing is six 6 feet on center. Bracing is required to resist buckling due to axial or out of plane lateral loads or a combination. 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. Lateral bracing is an important design consideration for both non structural and structural applications of walls and partitions framed with cold formed steel framing.

Equally important are height of the wall the frame spacing and the maximum span of the surfacing material. Selection of steel stud size is usually derived from limiting height tables based on. Are described in open link in same page part 3 11 structural design manuals. Or open link in same page part 3 4 4 for structural steel members.

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. The steeler technical design catalog is a collection of typical designs for steel framing and connections to help guide with your design process. Prior to the installation of interior board high winds can cause stud damage due to the lack of interior bracing. W17 stud bracing with cold rolled channel w18 stud bracing with sheathing w19 stud bracing with strapping and sheathing.

Design requirements for other materials used in combination with steel framing including the use of concrete floors heavy steel support beams etc. Solid blocking is placed at each end of the wall adjacent to wall openings and 8 o c. The calalog should only be used as a guide.