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Simpson Strong-Tie Introduces New Fire-Rated, Load-Tested Fire Wall Hangers for Wood-Framed Multifamily Construction

Simpson Strong-Tie, the leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, has introduced a new line of fire wall hangers designed to install with a power nailer during framing, saving time before hanging drywall and keeping construction projects on schedule. The Simpson Strong-Tie® patent-pending DGT™ and DGHT™ fire wall hangers are designed for floor-to-wall connections in multistory, multifamily construction. They carry a two-hour fire rating and install quickly and easily to help improve productivity and efficiency on busy multifamily jobsites.

For the past several years, the fastest-growing segment of new residential construction has been wood-framed multifamily housing. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), apartment builders are forecast to bring 555,000 new homes to the market in 2023, with especially robust construction activity predicted in densely populated downtown core markets and large metro suburbs.

Load rated for fastening with either power-driven or hand-installed nails, the Simpson Strong-Tie DGT and DGHT fire wall hangers can be attached before drywall installation to speed sequencing of trades on the jobsite. They’re also designed as one-piece connectors with no welding or additional components required, resulting in quicker lead times.

“Building code requirements for Type III construction have created the need and demand for floor joist hangers that can attach floors to walls without adversely affecting the fire-resistive rating of the wall,” says Bryan Wert, director of Connectors & Lateral Systems at Simpson Strong-Tie. “With options for standard, heavy-gauge, skewed, and concealed options, the new DGT and DGHT hangers provide engineers and construction crews with flexibility to make strong connections across a variety of multistory wood-framed applications and achieve a consistent fire rating quickly and easily.”

For suppliers, the introduction of the DGT and DGHT fire wall hangers also represents a strategic reduction in SKU count, making it easier to stock on-hand inventory to meet demand.

Widely available and backed by expert service and technical support from Simpson Strong-Tie, the new fire wall hangers have been tested according to ASTM and are code-listed in the IRC and IBC. To learn more, visit go.strongtie.com/dgt or go.strongtie.com/dght.