It’s difficult to talk about connectors without talking about fasteners. Simpson Strong-Tie developed the Strong-Drive® SDS Heavy-Duty Connector screw as a high-capacity alternative to nails or bolts, and the first connector using them was the PHD Predeflected Holdown. We released in both the PHD and the SDS screw in 1997.
Eighth Day of Trivia — Double-Shear Hangers
The first double shear hanger was the HUS, which appeared on the cover of the 1984 connector catalog. (Sorry that the image is a little dark. Thankfully, our photography and art design have improved over the last several decades.)
Seventh Day of Trivia — Nailed Tension Ties
We’ve discussed two types of bolted holdowns — the original welded HDs and their automated replacements, the HDAs. Just one year before the HDAs were introduced in 1988, our first nailed tension ties showed up.
Sixth Day of Trivia — Mudsill Anchors
Mudsills commonly attach to the foundation using cast-in-place anchor bolts. It can be labor intensive to lay out the anchor bolts, drill holes in the mudsill at the right location, and then bolt everything together. A very popular solution for anchoring mudsills is our MASA mudsill, launched in 2009.
Fifth Day of Trivia — Automated Holdowns
On day three, I talked about our first holdowns, the HD2 thru HD15, which were welded holdowns that use bolts. A major innovation in bolted-holdown manufacturing was the introduction of our HD2A through HD20A holdowns in 1988. The “A” stood for automated because these products were manufactured on a die that stamps out finished parts, eliminating welding and significantly decreasing costs.
Fourth Day of Trivia — HU Hangers
We manufactured the original U hangers with 16-gauge galvanized steel. In 1959, we created the heavy-duty HU hangers from 1/8″-thick steel angles and a gray primer coat. The HU hangers were available with and without top flanges.
Third Day of Trivia — Holdowns
Holdowns first appeared in the 1966 connector catalog — all two of them. The HD24 was an embedded strap that used either nails or bolts, and the HD2 used bolts to the post and an anchor bolt to the concrete. This first sighting of holdowns was missing a list of allowable loads.
Second Day of Trivia – Hurricane Ties
I recently wrote about the H1A hurricane tie in this post, which discussed the original H1 hurricane tie first appearing in 1972, and the subsequent changes over the years that led to our current H1A. The original H1 along with the H2 and the H3 were the first products to appear under the label “hurricane ties” in our catalog.
The Twelve Days of Christmas — A Sleigh Ride Through the Years with Simpson Strong-Tie
We have our new Simpson Strong-Tie Wood Construction Connectors catalog coming out in January. In anticipation of this, I wanted to do a series of short, daily posts discussing the history of Simpson Strong-Tie products, catalogs, and random trivia through the years. In the winter holiday spirit, we’ll do this in “Twelve Days of Christmas” style.
What’s New with Mass Timber?
Simpson Strong-Tie’s Greg Bundy, Senior Branch Engineer in Columbus, Ohio, recently led a training webinar on mass timber advancements. The workshop covered topics like the NHERI TallWood Project and a new guide for cross-laminated timber diaphragm design. The hands-on session featured installation of innovative products for structural engineers.