TSN Product ::: Wall Bridging

Product Information

Bridging for load bearing and curtain wall studs is needed to resist the following forces:

Weak axis buckling induced by axial compression load.
Torsion induced by wind load.

As axial compression and lateral wind loads are applied, wall studs react with weak axis buckling and torsional rotation. To offset these forces, a form of bridging is incorporated into the wall system. Bridging loads accumulate over the run of the wall, requiring transfer of lateral forces in bridging at columns or to the floor slab into the structural load path to the foundation.

AISI Wall Stud Design Standard (S211) and AISI Specification (S100) provide the load and stiffness requirements for bracing members due to the effects of axial compression load and wind load as given in the on the following tab. Contact TSN Technical Support (888) 474-4876 if further information is needed regarding wall bridging design.

Bridging Requirements
AISI Wall Stud Design Standard (S211)		AISI Specification (S100)
Stud Axial Compression	Load Capacity: Bracing Load P_Brace* = 0.02 x Stud Compression Load (P_Stud) x # of studs braced.	Load Capacity: Bracing Load P_Brace* = 0.01 x Stud Compression Load (P_Stud) x # of studs braced.
		Stiffness Capacity: Lateral Stiffness β_Brace = 4 x Stud Nominal Axial Strength / Unbraced Length (for one row of bridging). Lateral Stiffness β_Brace = 6 x Stud Nominal Axial Strength / Unbraced Length (for two rows of bridging).
Wind	Load Capacity: Twist Load P_L = 1.5 x Wind Load x Bridging Spacing x Stud Spacing x m(Shear Center Distance) / Stud Depth. Twist Moment M₁ = P_L x Stud Depth.

* Bracing forces accumulate over the run of the wall until anchored.

Bridging load bearing studs against torsion by wind.

Bridging load bearing studs against weak axis buckling.

Bridging Clip Chart: Design Wind Pressure, Stud Spacing and Maximum Bridging Spacing

Section

10psf

20psf

25psf

24" o.c.

16" o.c.

24" o.c.

16" o.c.

24" o.c.

600S162-33, 33 ksi

BC1

N/A

BC3

BC600

N/A

BC1

BC3

N/A

BC600

N/A

600S162-43, 33 ksi

BC1

N/A

BC1

BC600

N/A

600S162-54, 50 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC1

BC600

N/A

600S162-68, 50 ksi

BC1

BC600

600S162-97, 50 ksi

BC1

BC600

800S162-33, 33 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC600

N/A

BC3

BC600

N/A

800S162-43, 33 ksi

BC1

BC600

BC1

BC600

N/A

800S162-54, 50 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC600

BC1

BC3

BC600

800S162-68, 50 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC600

BC1

BC3

BC600

800S162-97, 50 ksi

BC1

BC600

600S200-33, 33 ksi

BC1

BC3

N/A

BC3

N/A

BC3

BC800

N/A

600S200-43, 33 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC1

BC3

N/A

600S200-54, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

600S200-68, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

600S200-97, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

800S200-33, 33 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC800

BC3

BC800

N/A

800S200-43, 33 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC800

BC1

BC3

BC800

800S200-54, 50 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC800

BC1

BC800

800S200-68, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

BC1

BC800

800S200-97, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

BC1

BC800

Channel / Clip Bridging Chart: Design Wind Pressure and Unsupported Wall Height

Section

30psf

40psf

50psf

16" o.c.

24" o.c.

16" o.c.

24" o.c.

16" o.c.

600S162-33, 33 ksi

BC3

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

600S162-43, 33 ksi

BC1

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

600S162-54, 50 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC600

N/A

BC3

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

600S162-68, 50 ksi

BC1

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

600S162-97, 50 ksi

BC1

BC600

N/A

BC600

800S162-33, 33 ksi

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

800S162-43, 33 ksi

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

BC600

N/A

800S162-54, 50 ksi

BC3

BC600

N/A

BC600

800S162-68, 50 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC600

800S162-97, 50 ksi

BC1

BC600

600S200-33, 33 ksi

BC3

N/A

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

600S200-43, 33 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC800

N/A

BC3

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

600S200-54, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

600S200-68, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

N/A

BC800

600S200-97, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

800S200-33, 33 ksi

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

BC800

N/A

800S200-43, 33 ksi

BC3

BC800

N/A

BC800

800S200-54, 50 ksi

BC1

BC3

BC800

800S200-68, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

800S200-97, 50 ksi

BC1

BC800

Notes:

Listed wind pressures represent calculated design wind pressure (1.0W based on 2009 IBC or 0.6W based on 2012 IBC).
Allowable pressures are limited by published test data allowable torsional moments for bridging elements.
Torsional moment acting on bridging elements is calculated as:
M = 1.5 x Wind Pressure x Bridging Spacing x Stud Spacing x m (distance from stud web to shear center).
Wall height is assumed twice the bridging spacing.
BuckleBridge^® stud spacing is fixed at 16".
Stud design is limited by its flexural strength calculated with torsional bracing assumed at the bridging spacing and k_φ = 0 and deflection limit of L/360.
20 psf and higher wind pressures have been multiplied by 0.7 for deflection determination, in accordance with footnote “f” of IBC table 1604.3. The 10 psf pressure has not been reduced for deflection checks.

Nomenclature:

BC1 - BridgeClip with (1) #10 screw fastener into bridging member.
BC3 - BridgeClip with (1) #10 screw fastener into bridging member and (2) #10 screw fasteners into the web of the stud.
BC600 - BridgeClip BC600 with (2) #10 screw fasteners into bridging member and (2) #10 screw fasteners into the web of the stud.
BC800 - BridgeClip BC800 with (2) #10 screw fasteners into bridging member and (2) #10 screw fasteners into the web of the stud.

BuckleBridge^® Bridging Chart: Design Wind Pressure and Maximum Bridging Spacing

Section

20psf

25psf

30psf

40psf

50psf

600S162-33, 33 ksi

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

600S162-43, 33 ksi

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

600S162-54, 50 ksi

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

600S162-68, 50 ksi

BKB

N/A

600S162-97, 50 ksi

BKB

600S200-33, 33 ksi

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

600S200-43, 33 ksi

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

600S200-54, 50 ksi

BKB

600S200-68, 50 ksi

BKB

600S200-97, 50 ksi

BKB

800S162-33, 33 ksi

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

800S162-43, 33 ksi

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

800S162-54, 50 ksi

BKB

N/A

800S162-68, 50 ksi

BKB

800S162-97, 50 ksi

BKB

800S200-33, 33 ksi

BKB

N/A

BKB

N/A

800S200-43, 33 ksi

BKB

800S200-54, 50 ksi

BKB

800S200-68, 50 ksi

BKB

800S200-97, 50 ksi

BKB

Notes:

Listed wind pressures represent calculated design wind pressure (1.0W based on 2009 IBC or 0.6W based on 2012 IBC).
Allowable pressures are limited by published test data allowable torsional moments for bridging elements.
Torsional moment acting on bridging elements is calculated as:
M = 1.5 x Wind Pressure x Bridging Spacing x Stud Spacing x m (distance from stud web to shear center).
Wall height is assumed twice the bridging spacing.
BuckleBridge^® stud spacing is fixed at 16".
Stud design is limited by its flexural strength calculated with torsional bracing assumed at the bridging spacing and k_φ = 0 and deflection limit of L/360.
20 psf and higher wind pressures have been multiplied by 0.7 for deflection determination, in accordance with footnote “f” of IBC table 1604.3. The 10 psf pressure has not been reduced for deflection checks.

Nomenclature:

BKB - BuckleBridge with (1) #10 screw on alternate sides of the BuckleBridge at 3rd stud (48" o.c.) Use (2) #10 screws at end of wall run.

BridgeBar^® (Bridging Channel)

BridgeBar^® replaces cold-rolled channel (CRC) for wall bridging.

BridgeBar^® Downloads:

Tech Sheet |

DWG |

Specs |

BIM

BridgeClip^® (Secures Channel to Stud)

BridgeClip^®, BC600 & BC800 secures BridgeBar^® 150 or 1 ½” cold-rolled channel (CRC) to stud, resisting both lateral and twisting loads.

BridgeClip^® Downloads:

Tech Sheet |

DWG |

Specs |

BIM

BuckleBridge^® (Bridging Channel)

BuckleBridge^® provides a solid wall stud bridging system to resist weak axis buckling and torsional rotation of members.

BuckleBridge^® Downloads:

Tech Sheet|

DWG |

Specs |

BIM

NotchTrak^® NT

NotchTrak^® NT provides solid wall stud bridging and/or backing systems.

NotchTrak^® NT Downloads:

Tech Sheet |

DWG |

Specs |

BIM

TSN's Product Catalogs are an essential resource for the design of cold formed steel. Developed by Engineers, the catalogs contain design data for members connectors, and fasteners.

TSN's Wall Bridging Product Line can be found in the following Catalogs:

TSN Connection
Technical Catalog

TSN Connection
Order Catalog

For a full list of our product catalogs, specification sections, inspection checklists, and research reports please click here.