Steel Strong-Wall® Shearwalls: Garage Portal Systems on Concrete Foundations

Simpson Strong-Tie offers a Steel Strong-Wall® shearwall option for garage portal systems that combines simplified installation with superior performance.

• Higher capacity with reduced concrete anchorage requirements (see Alternate Garage Front Options for other options)
• Same anchor bolt template
• Complete kit available to simplify the connection to the header or beam

Installation

Steel Strong-Wall® Portal Kit (SSWP-KT) Installation Instructions

• Portal Frame Connection Kit is required to achieve increased load values listed for portal frame system.
• SSWPS straps must be installed on exterior face of the Steel Strong-Wall® shearwall. Position header flush with exterior face of the Steel Strong-Wall shearwall.
• Do not cut the Steel Strong-Wall or enlarge existing holes. Doing so will compromise the performance of the wall.
• Do not use an impact wrench to tighten nuts on the anchor bolts.
• Maximum shim thickness between the Steel Strong-Wall and header is 7/8" using Simpson Strong-Tie® Strong-Drive® 1/4" x 3 1/2" SDS Heavy-Duty Connector screws.
• Walls with 2x4 pre-attached studs may also be used in 2x6 wall framing. Install the wall flush to exterior face of the framing and add furring to the opposite side.
• Walls may be installed with solid or multi-ply headers, see detail 11/SSW2

Portal Frame Connection Kit

1. The height of the garage curb above the garage slab is critical for rough header opening at garage return walls.
2. Shims are not provided with Steel Strong-Wall®.
3. Furring down garage header may be necessary for correct rough opening height.

Foundation Design (size and reinforcement) by Designer

• This installation reflects lateral load requirements of a Single-Wall Portal System.*
• It is the Designer’s responsibility to provide a complete load path for all loads in accordance with the governing codes.

*Refer to footnotes 2, 4 and 9 of Allowable Shear & Drift Values

Product Information

Vertical Panel - 10 gauge

Vertical Panel - Galvanized; Top and Base Plates - Simpson Strong-Tie® gray paint

Pre-attached wood studs are 2x4 for walls 7' - 10' tall, and 2x6 for walls 11' - 13' tall.

SSW12

SSW15

SSW15

SSW18

SSW18

SSW21

SSW21

SSW24

SSW24

Load Tables

Allowable Shear & Drift Values

Anchor Tension Equations

Alternate Garage Front Options

These alternate garage front options may be used for applications when the Steel Strong-Wall® shearwall is installed at the full height (option 1) or without the additional Portal Frame Kit (option 2), when higher capacity or reduced concrete anchorage are not needed. Refer to the Standard Application on Concrete Foundations for product data and allowable load values.

Garage Wall Option 1

detail 11/SSW2 for multi-ply header options.

NOTE: Steel Strong-Wall® nominal 7 ft. height walls are 80", that is 2" taller than Wood Strong-Wall® shearwalls.