Connectors: Horizontal Members

For information on manually selecting a connector, or a connector not found, see the Connector Not Found topic.

After you enter the span information, you must select how the member will be secured. Using Top Mount Hangers and Face Mount Hangers to secure a member activates the Connector Information link. The Connector Information link displays a window on which you can select the properties for that particular connector.

Connectors have several options that you can change before you select connectors. The Support Connector Properties popup window allows you to adjust the options to match your scenario.

Note: After you design a member and then select connectors, if you select another member in the Job Tree, the connectors you just selected are reset and you must redesign the member.

Support Depth
Support depth defaults to a match for the member plumb depth. If there is no member slope then the plumb depth is equal to the designed product depth. If a member slope is present then the support depth will be automatically calculated to match the designed product plumb end cut depth. This option provides the designed member and its hanger with full backing and it assumes that the supporting member is deep enough to provide this backing. The match plumb depth is not adequate to find face mount hangers when the member is sloped, it is suggested the user select the actual nominal depth of the member to get a solution. If the support beam is of known depth then the user can uncheck the box and manually input it in the text box below the check box.

Support Depth is available if you select the following conditions:

  • Beam
  • Ledger on masonry
  • Plate on steel
  • TJI®
  • Masonry wall with embedded hanger
  • Steel beam with welded connector

Skew
Select the direction of the skew (left or right) and the angle of the skew in degrees if there is a skew to the member being sized.

Offset Top Flange
Select the side of the offset of the flange for Top Mount Hangers.

Concealed/Inverted Flanges
Select the appropriate setting for Face Mount Hangers.

Support Plies
When the member being sized is supported by a TJI® or Parallam® PSL Beam, the number of plies of the support are used in hanger selection. The Support Connector Properties dialog changes to enable you to match the input of the plies.

Support Plies are available if you select the following conditions:

  • TJI®
  • Beam, and Parallam® PSL

Plate Thickness
The plate thickness option appears on the Support Connector Properties window when plate on steel or plate on concrete is selected. Select the type of nailing plate used to secure the member being sized to the support from the drop-down list.

Plate Thickness is available if you select the following conditions:

  • Plate on concrete
  • Plate on steel

Plates are available with the following thickness:

  • Single 2x_:1.5"
  • Double 2x_:3.0"
  • 3x_:2.5"
  • 4x_:3.5"