Connector Selection Guides (CSGs) are tools Simpson Strong-Tie has created to assist users in designing and building with engineered wood products (EWP). They consist of a series of short fliers (available as PDFs on strongtie.com for printing or mobile use) guiding builders on how to select economical and efficient connection solutions — that go beyond IRC prescriptive designs — for the I-joist manufacturer of their choice. Over the years, Simpson Strong-Tie has partnered with EWP makers to develop engineered solutions specifically tailored to the dimensions and characteristics of each manufacturer’s particular products.
What Are CSGs for?
Since the guides are intended to be useful, they focus on providing the most convenient load-rated solutions for the most common installation conditions of each wood product. Thus, they don’t always cover the maximum loading scenarios or nailing schedules for the connection. For more in-depth exploration of all the standard design options of our connectors with a given I-joist or beam configuration, users are directed to consult the most current edition of our Wood Construction Connectors catalog.
All the guides are regularly updated to reflect the latest manufacturer developments, changes to the codes and design guides, or additional testing results.
Serving Builders Throughout North America
So far, Simpson Strong-Tie has created a total of 22 Connector Selection Guides — eight using the Allowable Stress Design (ASD) methodology for the US market, seven of which are also available (in separate English and French versions) using Limit States Design (LSD) for the Canadian market.
The manufacturers we’ve worked with to produce these guides include the following:
- ALLJoist
- Boise Cascade
- LP Building Solutions
- Nordic Structures
- Pacific Woodtech (ASD only)
- PinkWood
- Roseburg
- TrusJoist by Weyerhaeuser
CSG Contents — a Quick Summary of What’s Covered in Each Guide
Simpson Strong-Tie CSGs are divided into several standard sections. First are seven general notes to the hanger selector; followed by notes on the use of blocking with either top-flange or face-mount hangers when attaching I-joists to I-joist headers; and recommendations on lateral restraints to prevent joist rotation:
Second, we list five steps in selecting the proper hanger for the joist make and type:
(Guides for the Canadian market refer of course to “hanger factored resistance” instead of “hanger allowable load” in step four.)
Coming next is a series of pages with load tables for various Simpson Strong-Tie hanger models when matched with common fastener sizes to connect (1) single I-joists; (2) double I-joists; or (3) beams and headers. All tables list allowable loads (US) or factored resistance (Canadian) for gravity (downloads), with uplift values as well on the beams-and-headers pages. All loads are in pounds (lb.). Following are sample pages from both the US and Canadian English guides for Nordic Structures single I-joist products:
Each CSG ends with general instructions for fastening various connectors with either nails or Strong-Drive® SDW EWP-Ply structural wood screws in common installation conditions:
As you can see, we’ve loaded as much useful guidance into these CSGs as would fit into a dozen pages!
If you desire information about wood products or conditions not listed in any of our Connector Selection Guides — including warranties, patents, code listings, and corrosion resistance — please consult the Simpson Strong-Tie Wood Construction Connectors catalog or call us at (800) 999-5099.
