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ACBH™ Concealed Beam Hanger

The ACBH concealed beam hanger is made for the rigors of mass timber construction and is machined from aluminum for a high-capacity design. With an allowable stress design load capacity of up to 20 kips, it is the strongest connector in our line of concealed end-grain beam hangers. Its concealed connection allows for a wood-only aesthetic while offering one- and two-hour fire resistance ratings per ASTM E119. This hanger installs easily in the factory using our fully threaded Strong-Drive® SDCF Timber-CF structural screws and offers generous onsite fit-up tolerance for smooth and easy beam installation. The ACBH is manufactured and stocked in the US for reliable availability.

Key Features

  • High capacity
  • Concealed for architectural aesthetics and fire-rated performance
  • One- and two-hour fire resistance ratings per ASTM E119
  • Recommended for use at beam-to-beam connections in any Seismic Design Category, and at beam-to-column connections in Seismic Design Category A or B
  • Multiple router options to suit jobsite needs
  • +/- 1/16" beam length tolerance on each end enables easier installation

Material

  •  Aluminum (ASTM B221 T6061-T6)

Finish

  •  None

Installation

  • Use all specified fasteners; install horizontal screws first, then inclined screws.
  • Centerline notch at the top of the part can be used to help locate the connector on the wood member.
  • Do not overdrive SDCF screws during installation of fasteners. Predrilling lead holes for the SDCF screws is recommended if wood members tend to split or if driving the SDCF fasteners at the proper angle is difficult due to wood grain resistance. Predrilled holes for the SDCF screws shall be 3/16" diameter maximum.
  • Rout carried and/or carrying member according to application needs. The minimum recommended rout width and length is 1/16" larger than the tabulated part dimensions. The recommended corner radius is 3/8" (10 mm). The backplates must seat flush against the surfaces to which they are being fastened.
  • A 1/8" minimum to 1/4" maximum gap is recommended between the carried and carrying members to prevent wood-wood binding during field assembly. Fire sealant is required at the ACBH connection location when considering fire resistance. Gaps larger than 1/4" may further improve ease of installation but must be approved by the Engineer of Record when considering fire resistance.
  • When attaching to glulam members in end grain, members with multiple piece laminations across the width must have no gap between edge joints to achieve table load capacities.

Options

  • Connection has been load-rated for three different screw length options in the carrying member.
  • Double connectors can be used on a single joist end for increased connection capacity (see load tables).

Related Literature

Product Information Table

Fastener Production Information and Stuff & Things
New products
Model No. Description Ga. W (in.) H (in.) Product Includes Material Packaging Qty.
ACBH3X15.37-KT (2) ACBH 3x15.37 backplates with (48) SDCF22614 screws (1 connection kit) 3 3 15 3/8 (2) backplates and (48) SDCF22614 screws Aluminum 1
ACBH3X15.37-R1 (2) ACBH 3x15.37 backplates (1 pair, screws not included) 3 3 15 3/8 (2) backplates (screws not included) Aluminum 1
ACBH3X15.37-R8 (16) ACBH 3x15.37 backplates (8 pairs, screws not included) 3 3 15 3/8 (16) backplates (screws not included) Aluminum 8

Load and Geometry Tables

Table 1 — ACBH Allowable Downloads

Model Qty Dimensions (in) Fasteners Allowable Downloads (lbs)
DF/SP SPF/HF
W H Supported Beam Supporting Column/Beam Beam to Column Beam to Beam Beam to Column Beam to Beam
Straight Inclined Floor (100) Snow/Roof (115/125) Floor (100) Snow (115) Roof (125) Floor (100) Snow (115) Roof (125) Floor (100) Snow (115) Roof (125)
ACBH3x15.37 1 3 15 3/8 (24) SDCF22614 (7) SDCF22434 (17) SDCF22434 19815 19815 14820 17040 18525 13635 15680 17045 13305 15200 16630
(7) SDCF22434 (17) SDCF22614 19815 19815 18420 19815 19815 14095 16210 17200 14095 16210 17200
(7) SDCF22614 (17) SDCF22614 20050 20575 19555 20575 20575 14095 16210 17620 14095 16210 17620
2 6 1/2 15 3/8 (48) SDCF22614 (14) SDCF22434 (34) SDCF22434 39630 39630 29640 34080 37045 27270 31360 34090 26610 30400 33260
(14) SDCF22434 (34) SDCF22614 39630 39630 36840 39630 39630 28190 32420 34400 28190 32420 34400
(14) SDCF22614 (34) SDCF22614 40100 41150 39110 41150 41150 28190 32420 35240 28190 32420 35240
  1. Table loads are for eside > 1 5/16" . For 1 1/6" < eside < 1 5/16", multiply allowable load by 0.93.
  2. When considering uplift forces, use Simpson Stong-Tie® Strong-Drive® SDWC15600 (6" length) screw per detail. Uplift capacity is 555 lbf for DF/SP and 485 lbf for SPF/HF per screw. Use multiple screws for additional uplift.
  3. Fasteners: SDCF22434 and SDCF22614 = 0.23" shank diameter by 4 3/4" long and 6 1/4" long Strong-Drive SDCF TIMBER-CF screw, respectively.


Table 2 — ACBH Allowable Lateral Loads

Model Qty Dimensions (in) Fasteners Allowable Lateral Loads (lbs) (100/115/125/160)
DF/SP SPF/HF
W H Supported Beam Supporting Column/Beam F1 F2 F1 F2
Straight Inclined
ACBH3x15.37 1 3 15 3/8 (24) SDCF22614 (7) SDCF22614 (17) SDCF22614 6285 6460 5455 6460
  1. F1 table loads are for eside > 1 5/16" . For 1 1/6" < eside < 1 5/16", multiply F1 table load capacities by 0.94. F2 table loads are for eside > 1 1/16"
  2. Allowable loads for multiple ACBH assemblies are equivalent to the individual ACBH allowable loads multiplied by the number of connectors installed.
  3. Allowable loads consider wind or seismic with no further increase allowed.
  4. For loading simultaneously in more than one direction, the allowable load must be evaluated using the following equation:
    (Design Download / Allowable Download) + (Design F1 / Allowable F1) + (Design F2 / Allowable F2) < 1.0.


Table 3 — Connection Geometry Requirements

Minimum Carried Beam Sizes Considering Only Fastener Edge Distance
Condition Top of Beam Coverage Min. Carried Beam Size (in) Assembly Dimensions (in) Min. Edge Distances (in)
WS DS W H eside etop ebottom
Single ACBH3x15.37 n/a 5 1/8 18 3 15 3/8 1 1/16 1 3/4 7/8
Double ACBH3x15.37 n/a 8 5/8 18 6 1/2 15 3/8 1 1/16 1 3/4 7/8

Minimum Carried Beam Sizes for 1-Hour Fire Resistance
Condition Top of Beam Coverage Min. Carried Beam Size (in) Assembly Dimensions (in) Min. Edge Distances (in)
WS DS W H eside etop ebottom
Single ACBH3x15.37 Full Coverage 6 3/4 19 3 15 3/8 1 7/8 1 3/4 1 7/8
Exposed 19 1/8 1 7/8
Double ACBH3x15.37 Full Coverage 10 1/4 19 1/2 6 1/2 15 3/8 1 7/8 1 3/4 2 3/8
Exposed 19 5/8 1 7/8

Minimum Carried Beam Sizes for 2-Hour Fire Resistance
Condition Top of Beam Coverage Min. Carried Beam Size (in) Assembly Dimensions (in) Min. Edge Distances (in)
WS DS W H eside etop ebottom
Single ACBH3x15.37 Full Coverage 10 1/4 20 3/4 3 15 3/8 3 5/8 1 3/4 3 5/8
Exposed 22 5/8 3 5/8
Double ACBH3x15.37 Full Coverage 12 1/4 21 6 1/2 15 3/8 2 7/8 1 3/4 3 7/8
Exposed 22 1/8 2 7/8
  1. Side edge distances for supporting vertical columns must meet or exceed the eside table values for the supported beam.
  2. For 1-1/16 ≤ eside < 1-5/16", see Table 1 and 2 footnotes for allowable load reduction.
  3. Minimum carried beam sizes and edge distances for one-hour and two-hour fire resistance are based on ASTM E119 fire testing. Test specimens included 3M Expantrol E-FIS intumescent fire seal at the beam-to-column interface. Substitutions for the 3M Expantrol are allowable provided they meet or exceed the 3M Expantrol's specifications for flame spread, smoke developed index, intumescent activation temperatures (expansion rate) and service temperatures.
  4. Full coverage for top of beam is for conditions where the top of the beam is not directly exposed to fire (i.e. roof or floor members attached to the top of the supported beam and providing complete continous cover to the top of the carried beam).
  5. For one-hour and two-hour fire resistance, the gap between the end of the carried member and the face of the carrying member shall not exceed 1/4".

Code Reports & Compliance

Drawings

PDF DWG DXF RFA IFC SAT