Metal Stud Shear Wall Straps

[MacGruber22]

Is it customary to specifically prohibit fastening gypsum wall sheathing to metal studs, which pass through shear wall straps?

"It is imperative Cunth doesn't get his hands on those codes."

 

[DaveAtkins]

I have never heard of doing this.

DaveAtkins

 

[MacGruber22]

Our contract drawings do not specify this, but the submitted shop drawings do. The walls are panelized (prefabricated) so maybe it won't cause a headache for the installers.

"It is imperative Cunth doesn't get his hands on those codes."

 

[BUGGAR]

The straps I typically use are predrilled and "load rated" at that configuration. Additional drilling for drywall screws would conceivably void that "rating".
I don't know of code provisions on this but I will write this requirement into my CFS Specs.

Thanks for bringing this up!

 

[XR250]

The sheathing will help brace the studs - alot better than the metal bridging will

 

[MacGruber22]

The sheathing will help brace the studs - alot better than the metal bridging will

We are not talking about stud compression bracing, but for gravity load-bearing in-fill studs at shear walls, yes, the studs require tight fastener spacing to brace studs. However, theoretically, you want the straps to slide past the in-fill studs to maintain truss action. I am just wondering if it really matters in this situation - what is the worst that could happen?

"It is imperative Cunth doesn't get his hands on those codes."

 

[RFreund]

which pass through shear wall straps?

I'm not sure I understand this. You are referring to a strapped "X"-Braced cold formed steel shear wall, right? Each stud would "pass-through" the strap or said differently, the strap would pass over the stud. As the strap would get fastened to the edge of the stud. Typically only the chord studs resist load for LFRS forces, so I'm not sure I understand the note.

Or does this refer to metal bridging?



EIT

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[MacGruber22]

Rfreund,

The fastening of the gypsum to the studs - the installer isn't going to care whether screws grab the straps (shear wall straps) while fastening to the in-fill studs.

"It is imperative Cunth doesn't get his hands on those codes."

 

[XR250]

I have never worried about it in 20 years of light gage design

 

[BSVBD]

you want the straps to slide past the in-fill studs to maintain truss action

the installer isn't going to care whether screws grab the straps

[Mac] I understand the intent for the straps to slide past. But, the only remote guarantee we could depend on is that the gypsum installer DOES fasten to one of the straps.

Assuming this is the (likely) case, what is the worse case scenario that would result? Further assuming the infill studs are a lighter gage than the chord (or anchor) studs or gussets (I'm assuming you have gussets top and bottom), if it were one, isolated in-fill stud, wouldn't that particular (non-structural & non-critical) stud fail locally, by ripping the stud chord, and, thus, be of negligible (if any) harm to the wind system?

Now, if the installer happened to connect with multiple in-fills, what is anyone's opinion of the result? I'm curious.

Further, as BUGGAR suggested, I also will consider including this into my spec as needed. However, [Mac], (maybe I'm overanalyzing), did you originally mean to inquire about fastening gypsum screws to the strap rather than the studs? The gypsum HAS to be fastened to the studs. I would consider, in a spec, prohibiting the gypsum fastener to the diagonal strap to cover your liability.

 

[RFreund]

So do they glue the gypboard on to the studs? Only nail into the tracks (which is also part of the LFRS load path)?

I must be missing something here. I think if you check the rupture strength with net area vs yielding and gross area. The yielding & gross area will govern with the such a small hole. Plus you the gypboard fastened to the studs is like a bonus shear wall sheathing (sorta).

EIT

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[XR250]

I think you guys are over thinking this. Has anyone ever seen this to be a problem?
How do you get anything done? (lol)