For
decades now, rough openings have been challenging for not only
architects and engineers, but also the contractors responsible for
building them in the field. Over the years, multiple types of
cold-formed steel framed headers have been developed. These range from
typical box-beam headers to back-to-back headers to truss headers to
non-load-bearing track headers to unique, proprietary shaped headers.
Regardless of which type of header is used, the design and installation
of the jamb studs supporting these headers is critical. Jamb studs are
C-shaped studs that are on either side of the rough opening and help
distribute the weight the header above is carrying down through the wall
itself, while maintaining the integrity of the wall finish. For this
article, we will focus on interior “non-load-bearing” walls.
Recent
developments in the cold-formed steel framing industry, such as
equivalent studs, have increased the complexity and difficulty in
specifying the proper jamb studs for these rough openings. Since most of
these rough openings are carrying both axial and lateral loads, they
should be considered load bearing, thus disallowing the use of “EQ”
products as jamb studs. Unfortunately, some architects and structural
engineers do not address the interior non-load-bearing partitions in
their design and allow these EQ members to be submitted, often slipping
through the cracks and getting approved by plan-checkers before the
project even starts, with no warning to the contractor. The use of
thinner jamb studs (EQ studs are available in thicknesses ranging from
15 mils to 27 mils) may lead to failures in the wall, such as cracking
of drywall, especially around and above the door frame itself.