When assembling a back-to-back or box header, must the track directly beneath the C-shaped sections face up or down?
The Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing – Header Design allows the track directly beneath the C-shaped sections to face either way. Typically, the track would face down when cripple studs and a head track are used to frame the opening and would face up when the opening extends to the bottom side of the header beam and no cripple studs and separate head track are needed. Question: When using steel framing in fire rated wall systems, is the thickness of the steel the minimum, or the maximum? I understand that steel transmits heat, so I thought that the thickness shown might be the maximum. Answer: Each type of header offers certain advantages and disadvantages; however, the relatively new L-header offers significant material, fabrication and installation savings. Due primarily to the limitations of the testing that has been performed; the Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing – Header Design limits L-headers to a maximum span of 16 feet. L-headers also have limited uplift capacity an
