×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing
2

plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

(OP)
I am an engineer in Southern California looking for ICBO and LA City approval for a shear wall system consisting of plywood attached to steel studs with screws. I have a few projects ahead that will be ideal for such a seismic system, and I think it would be an improvement from the code approved nailed plywood shear panels to wood studs.

I know that there is Federal approval for just such a system, but it is only approved for seismic zones 1 and 2. My progects will be in seismic zone 4.

I am presently conversing with the manufacturer of Grabber screws to see if they have such an approval.

Simpson Strong-tie might also be interested; I am waiting to here from them. By the way, they just got LA City approval for various connectors for gage steel framing (RR25489).

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

Check UBC Section 2219.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

(OP)
Thanks, but I find myself unfairly limited by the requirments of Section 2219. The gage metal allowed is limited to a gage that is thinner than what I would prefer to use. If I wish to use a thicker gage metal for my stud framing, where will I find approval??

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

The allowable shear values are based on empirical testing.  Therefore, the stud thicknesses are limited to the thicknesses used in the tests.  See http://www.steelframingalliance.com/pubs/shear.pdf for more information.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

You may also want to look at www.steelnetwork.com. They have proprietary systems using cross bracing (somewhat like using a Simpson Strongwall).  I don't know if they have ICBO approval on their products.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

(OP)
Thank you, Taro.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

SEE ER-5585 & NER-272, & OTHER MANUFACTURERS OD SCREWS, PNEUMATIC FESTENERS.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

(OP)
A thank you to everyone who has responded to this thread. However, it appears that the City of Los Angeles is just not "up to speed" with regards to gage metal wall framing, let alone to use such a system as a shear wall panel. As it turns out, there are questions with regard to energy and fire requirements that make the use of gage metal framing cost prohibitive. It appears that the gage metal is much less resistant to fire than conventional wood stud framing.

As a result, we are forgoing the use of gage metal wall framing on our projects.

And so, my needs for this thread have been met. If anyone out there desires to continue this thread, feel free to do so.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

Your statement:
"It appears that the gage metal is much less resistant to fire than conventional wood stud framing."  Does not make since.

While heavy wooed beams would char and retain strength, any substatial fire would consume a 1 1/2 thick pine member in very short order.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

There is a product in California that I wish we had in Chicago: Sureboard, a 22 gauge steel sheet laminated to drywall.  Better yet, it has been approved by ICBO and the City of Los Angeles for light gauge shear wall design.  This may be your solution.  Check out the approvals, tests, and design values at:
http://www.cemcosteel.com/evaluation_reports.asp

No, I am not affliated with Sureboard, nor have I used it, but it does look promising.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

As far as the fire rateing is concerned it's not always the flame but the heat that affects the strength of the material.  Wood can maintain it's strength longer at high heats for a period of time, light gage steel can quickly lose strength when the temperature is high enough.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

(OP)
OK, I'm back. You have "tickled my ears" with promising news.

I have downloaded the ICBO Report and LA City Research Report for Sure-Board Series 200 Structural Panels. My Question is: How do I determine the fire rating of this panel, installed with gage metal wall stud framing? (I am not that familiar with the fire code, so bear with me). These reports say nothing about the fire rating.

RE: plywood shear wall using gage steel wall framing

Sureboard is fabricated from 5/8" Type-X gypsum board and can be substituted for it in fire-rated assemblies.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources