Each month, the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) publishes answers to cold-formed steel (CFS) framing questions submitted through its 1-800-79STEEL hotline. This recent CFSEI FAQ addresses temporary out-of-plane bracing for load-bearing CFS walls during construction.
CFSEI Hotline: 1-800-79STEEL
Bracing for Load-Bearing CFS Walls
Question
Is there any specific code-provided guidance on forces to consider when designing out-of-plane bracing of load-bearing CFS walls during construction?
Specifically on projects with CLT floor panels supported by metal stud bearing walls. I am assuming for most conditions, the governing out-of-plane force to consider would be a horizontal force when a floor panel is placed onto the bearing walls.
Temporary bracing helps cold-formed steel framing resist construction loads, including gravity, wind and impact forces during installation.
Answer
There are construction loads that require temporary bracing. These loads are generally gravity loads (i.e., self-weight and live loads), horizontally imposed wind loads and impact loads.
CFSEI Tech Note W500-23, Construction Bracing for Walls, provides design guidance for temporary construction bracing.
In addition to the CFSEI Tech Note W500, the AISC Design Guide No. 10 Erection Bracing of Low-Rise Structural Steel Buildings provides an excellent discussion on construction loading.
1.800.79STEEL
If you have any cold-formed steel (CFS) questions, contact CFSEI experts online or call CFSEI Hotline at 1.800.79STEEL.
Read more CFSEI “FAQ of the Month” questions and answers here:
CFSEI Hotline: 1-800-79STEEL
Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute
The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) comprises hundreds of structural engineers and other design professionals. Together, they are finding a better way to produce safe and efficient cold-formed steel (CFS) designs for commercial and residential structures. CFSEI members develop industry standards and design methods. CFSEI issues technical bulletins, organizes seminars and provides online training so that engineers and design professionals can improve their knowledge and skills. CFSEI is part of the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) family. For more information, visit www.cfsei.org.
Additional Resources
- FAQ: Does Limitation 2 of AISI S220, Section A1.2.1, Conflict with Limitation 3?
- Ask an Expert: CFSEI Responds to a Question about the Anchored Leg of a Clip Angle
- FAQ: Does Verbiage about Shear Walls and Strap-Braced Walls Removed from S400-20 Still Apply?