What are the bracing requirements for curtainwall framing?
• Curtainwall framing is braced by the normal attachment of wall facing materials to both sides of the studs. However, the use of wall facing materials for bracing should be given consideration during construction. Normally, sheathing is applied to the exterior of the studs but the inside flanges are left unbraced until the interior is finished. Prior to the installation of interior board, high winds can cause stud damage due to the lack of interior bracing. Steel strapping, installed horizontally on the interior flanges at a maximum of six (6) feet on center, in conjunction with the sheathing will brace and protect the stud framing during construction. If mechanical bracing is required it can be either steel strapping run horizontally on both sides of the studs and attached to each flange or cold-rolled channel run horizontally through the stud punchouts and attached to each stud web. The maximum spacing for mechanical bracing of curtainwall framing is six (6) feet on center.
• Curtainwall framing is braced by the normal attachment of wall facing materials to both sides of the studs. However, the use of wall facing materials for bracing should be given consideration during construction. Normally, sheathing is applied to the exterior of the studs but the inside flanges are left unbraced until the interior is finished. Prior to the installation of interior board, high winds can cause stud damage due to the lack of interior bracing. Steel strapping, installed horizontally on the interior flanges at a maximum of six (6) feet on center, in conjunction with the sheathing will brace and protect the stud framing during construction. If mechanical bracing is required it can be either steel strapping run horizontally on both sides of the studs and attached to each flange or cold-rolled channel run horizontally through the stud punchouts and attached to each stud web. The maximum spacing for mechanical bracing of curtainwall framing is six (6) feet on center. See our