Pre-engineer CFS connectors 2

[GC_Hopi]

I am starting to see a lot of the large suppliers get some sort of ESR done to show their connectors are "code certified", IBC usually. However other suppliers, some quite large for example SCAFCO, are going this route in a very limited way but still have a large catalog of connectors with design loads that do not have any ESR. Should these connectors be allowed or should only the "code certified" connectors be allowed?

It is still a wild west for CFS connectors unlike adhesive anchors which is pretty much self regulated, ie no ones uses a product unless it is certified.

 

[Ceinostuv]

I am glad we are not the only ones to have noticed this.

I would warn: be VERY wary when using Scafco's un-tested literature, if you elect to use them at all. If you examine their literature closely, you'll see that they simply multiply the number of screws by their capacity.

If you dig further, you will see that they essentially recreate their competitors' products and aim to have similar values but, where the competition has ESR's, Scafco will often have 'outs' for responsibility of their loads; usually as a footnote along the lines of "Designer is responsible for leg bending checks." If you take a side-by-side comparison (whether hands on or just by visiting the websites), you'll see that many of the competitors use stiffening ribs where the Scafco "equivalent" is just a bent plate and, at least in my experience, when you run a leg bending check you are unable to justify Scafco's published loads.

That being said, we DO specify the untested Scafco components when they are client-requested and we run our own, conservative, analysis. We ignore their literature altogether.

It is almost comical to go to a Scafco-led CFS seminar, at least in my region. In every one I've been to, at least one person (and it is usually more than one) asks when the ESR for "Scafco's XXXX" product will be released and they never have a solid answer. I like to believe the CFS industry (at least the design side) is starting to become more aware of their..... practices.

Judgement-In-Training

 

[GC_Hopi]

Good to know. To your point, it looks like the industry is starting to do more research on clips. I found this article on Structure Mag where AISI funded a report and the results look pretty good. Hopefully this will get codified at some point.

 

[Ceinostuv]

That is promising! AISI has also published a few methods for analyzing clips that I’ve used before; though I prefer to stick with specifying manufacturers who have ESRs for their products

Judgement-In-Training