Detailing preferences for steel straps at wall-to-beam

[skeletron]

I'm wondering what the preferred detail is for a steel strap connection from a shear wall above to a beam (solid PSL or similar) below.

For walls perpendicular to beams, typically at a beam cantilever:
Detail 1 - strap stops at bottom of beam end
Detail 2 - strap is bent around beam face and pulled in towards the cantilever support

For walls parallel to beams, typically over open spaces below:
Detail 3 - strap stops at bottom of beam face
Detail 4 - strap bends around beam face and either stops at the end of the narrow face, or is bent again to the opposite face

I've seen what seems like every iteration of this detail on drawings and in the field. I don't like every detail in full.

In Detail 1 vs. Detail 2: Are the nails into the end grain enough? Despite Detail 2 having nails into the narrow face (from the bent portion), this intuitively feels like a more restrained connection.

Similarly in Detail 3 vs. Detail 4: The bending of the strap seems like a more restrained connection, but even the Simpson pre-bent straps don't go all the way to the other side of the beam.

 

[phamENG]

For walls perpendicular to beams, I prefer a pair of opposing hold downs if a large twist strap is inadequate.

Parallel, prebent straps all day long. I don't trust the contractors to bend a strap properly in the field. Mostly because there really isn't a great way to do it. If it's thin enough to do easily, it probably won't perform quite as expected. And imagine one reason they don't take it all the way around is that 1) you'd need more parts to fit various beam widths and 2) in narrow beams the nails would likely conflict.

 

[skeletron]

Yes, the nail conflicts (10d x 3" for most MSTC style) kind of shocked me when I saw the bent-all-the-way-around stock detail on a recent set of drawings.

I'm hesitant about spec'ing the pre-bent straps. I don't know their availability up this side of the border, and I've had a few headaches with contractors asking for alternates when they find out it's a 2-3 week delay. Not my problem, really.