Studs

No, it is not required. Fast Top Clips replace top-of-wall bridging for non-load bearing walls.

It is possible to weld cold-formed steel. The welder should be certified by the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.3 and follow AISI S100 standards. In general, field welding of material thinner than 16-ga is not recommended.

No. While many manufactures are members of industry groups that have standards, some manufactures operate under their own guidelines. As an example, ClarkDietrich 16-ga stud material is standard 50-KSI steel. Other manufacturers have 16-ga as 33-KSI.

Most studs are cut to length that is requested by a supply yard or a customer. Many drywallers order studs cut to the exact length required at the job site to avoid waste and additional cutting. Tracks, however, are stocked standard at 10-feet.

Since the materials come off rollers being fed by large coils of steel, the limiting factor on stud/track lengths is the size of the rolling facility and the ability to ship it to the job site. Clark Dietrich’s plant in Bristol, CT can roll a stud/joist well over 100-ft long.

The code does not prohibit knockouts from jambs, headers, or sills. However, they do have limitations on the proximity of the knockout to the connections. Using studs with knockouts requires careful planning when cutting to avoid having the knockout land near the connection.

Sheathing can often (not always) be used in lieu of bridging along the lengths of the stud for non-load bearing walls (exterior curtain wall).

Besides site-specific restrictions, it really comes down to personal preference. For 8-inch studs, U-Channel w/ Clark Dietrich’s Fastbridge Clip is the preferred method of bracing 8-inch studs based upon our experience and feedback with contractors.

Metal studs aren’t symmetric. They are c-shaped. This asymmetry makes the stud want to twist when it’s loaded and bridging/bracing prevents that twist.

The capacity of a stud depends on many variables. The stud size, height, gauge, bracing condition, and lateral load (wind) will all have an effect on the stud capacity. A structural engineer should be consulted to determine a metal stud wall capacity.