CFS Lateral Bracing
CFS Lateral Bracing
(OP)
I've used this detail for 20 years:
https://res.cloudinary.com/engineering-com/image/upload/v1473886312/tips/CFS_-_LATERAL_BRACING_krmcgc.pdf
The general contractor said, "What is the purpose of the steel stud lateral bracing? I understand interior wind loads and using the channel stiffeners but do we really need to screw clips at every stud connection? This seems more for load bearing walls."
Lateral bracing is to prevent the studs from twisting. I tend to agree that clips at EVERY stud seems to be overkill for partition walls. Can i lighten up on this?
Any suggestions or comments?
Thank you!
https://res.cloudinary.com/engineering-com/image/upload/v1473886312/tips/CFS_-_LATERAL_BRACING_krmcgc.pdf
The general contractor said, "What is the purpose of the steel stud lateral bracing? I understand interior wind loads and using the channel stiffeners but do we really need to screw clips at every stud connection? This seems more for load bearing walls."
Lateral bracing is to prevent the studs from twisting. I tend to agree that clips at EVERY stud seems to be overkill for partition walls. Can i lighten up on this?
Any suggestions or comments?
Thank you!






RE: CFS Lateral Bracing
1) Require the channel and connect to all studs OR;
2) Don't provide the channel.
In a typical interior application with dry wall on both sides, I don't think that you need the channel except, perhaps where the studs continue above the drywall. I don't think that it makes sense to brace some studs in a wall but not others though. The unbraced ones would be, well... unbraced obviously.
I've run into some oddball situations where I wasn't allowed to count on sheathing as bracing for reasons of fire protection. That's rare though and has always been on exterior walls.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: CFS Lateral Bracing
RE: CFS Lateral Bracing
Koot... have you ever specified partition walls without channel brace? Why else would you provide choice #2? I can't imagine not specifying ANY lat-brace...
sandman... I've not seen those brace clips before. Thank you!
RE: CFS Lateral Bracing
I see the logic but I've never felt compelled to do it this way. And I'm not familiar with any references that detail this method as a valid bracing scheme. That said:
1) I'm hardly a CFM wizard and;
2) From my perspective, once's you've got the sheathing, you're done anyhow.
Well yeah, that's pretty much all that I do unless the studs continue substantially higher than the sheathing. See the exerpt below from Clark Dietrich's website.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: CFS Lateral Bracing
RE: CFS Lateral Bracing
RE: CFS Lateral Bracing
I am conflicted on normal height exterior curtainwall studs - not really because I think it does anything, but because everyone else shows it
RE: CFS Lateral Bracing
* Stability of the studs during construction, prior to the GWB or other sheathing being applied
* The possibility of the sheathing deteriorating over time (think water softening up exterior GWB over a period of years)
DaveAtkins
RE: CFS Lateral Bracing