Photo courtesy ClarkDietrich
Cold-formed metal framing (CFMF) is one of the most widely used framing materials in commercial and residential construction because of its ability to provide strength and stability in a number of conditions. A well-detailed framing system can accommodate forces imposed on the structure by gravity, wind uplift, and seismic forces. A key element of this design is the system’s ability to account for vertical movement of structural elements like floor and roof systems by allowing them to deflect downward or upward without imposing axial loads to the wall stud members, gypsum wall boards, or other substrates.
When it comes to deflection, the performance of the connections between CFMF and the building structure is critically important, especially in coastal and high-seismic zones where structures face greater risk of movement, stress, and loading from natural events like earthquakes and high-velocity winds.
An article in our newest sponsored e-book explores different factors to consider when specifying deflection connectors. It appears along with two other articles from the pages of The Construction Specifier in “A Steely Response to Construction,” a free, downloadable resource. To get your copy in either pdf or digital edition, visit www.constructionspecifier.com/ebook/new-millennium-a-steely-response-to-construction-e-book.
