TOPIC: A Group Of Strapping Studs

This post might not be exactly what you expecting, given the title and all...

When an array of studs is used as support under major load points, they are just nailed together and need some help.

The help comes in the form of straps.  Ideally the straps should be placed high, middle and low.  The purpose of the straps is to prevent spreading out of the studs over time as weight and gravity do what they do best.

This is an array under a steel beam in a garage on a recent pre-drywall inspection.  The steel beam is visible on top of the array.

You can see that the first attempt just missed by a bit!

The second attempt did get strapped, but with only two.  That was not my biggest problem with the job.  The strapping should wrap completely around the array and be nailed on each end and into each stud.  This will prevent separation.  It appears correct, doesn't it?

But what if the studs are not really nailed at all?

What if the nails are into the seams instead?

Now I'm no engineer, but does this seem right to you?

Yeah, not to me either.

On top of it, there were other stud arrays in the house, similarly under major load points, which were not even strapped at all.  I know, they should be.  ALL stud arrays should be...  The supervisor said that it was just my opinion that they need to be strapped.  Opinion?

Mother Nature will enforce her laws, with or without our opinions.

If stud arrays aren't strapped, again, over time, weight and gravity will work and settlement will occur as the studs separate inside the walls.  Have you been in a recently-built house and seen what appears to be crushed drywall?  That is more than likely from an improper structure UNDER that drywall.

My recommendation: Hire a home inspector!  Even what might appear to be correct can be caught with an experienced eye and exposed as not correct at all.

Jay very nice I have never installed a steel beam without at least a post to beam connection saddle. Most all have a steel post to support that size beam. Whats with the end of what looks like another wood beam on the left ? It is a lot easier to nail between the studs did they at least nail all the studs at the shear wall ?? 

Is it in the building code in the USA that straps need to be installed? 
It isn't in the Ontario building code.  If a job is engineered (most residential jobs aren't) the engineer may specify strapping.  Otherwise suitably nailed together and supported with solid blocking between the build up post and the studs of the rest of the wall.  Just curious.

Gary - the cheaper builders use 2x4 studs instead of a more solid post, or even a steel lalley column.  That stud array to the left was a mistake.  These guys were good.

Bert - I don't frankly know what the code states!  And really don't care.  If they don't use a good post underneath, the studs that tall will separate under the load and begin to bow.  Hence the need for three straps.  There were other stud arrays inside the house that weren't strapped and already bowing, under a lesser load.  I'm told they will add straps to those tomorrow and renail the ones in the garage.