Steel connection clips buying guide
Steel connection clips join framing members and transfer load at details such as angles, deflection and bypass slabs. Buy them from the drawing schedule, not by shape.
Connection clips are formed steel parts that join studs, joists, tracks and structure at specific details. Buy them by part number from the project drawings, request the manufacturer's capacity documentation for that exact part, and never swap by appearance.
What clips do
A clip carries force from one member to another, or lets one member move relative to another while staying attached. Examples include stud-to-slab clips that allow vertical movement, bypass framing clips that hang a wall outside the slab edge, and joist hangers or web stiffeners at bearing points. Each clip type exists because a detail needs a certain load path.
Common clip categories
| Category | Purpose | Ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Slide or deflection clips | Allow movement while holding the wall in plane | Movement range and fastener pattern |
| Bypass or edge-of-slab clips | Support facade framing outside the slab | Eccentricity limits and fastener schedule |
| Angle clips | Simple shear and bearing connections | Thickness, leg sizes and hole pattern |
| Hangers | Support joist ends from a support member | Joist depth and thickness it is rated for |
| Web stiffeners | Reinforce bearing points | Matching section and fastener pattern |
Specify and verify
- Manufacturer and part number, exactly as scheduled on the drawings.
- Steel thickness, coating and finish.
- Hole or slot pattern and the fastener count.
- Capacity documentation or evaluation report for the exact part.
- Any special installation notes such as required gaps or washers.
Substitution handling
Procurement teams sometimes receive a "or equal" offer. Treat it as a request for engineering review, not a purchase decision. Send the proposed part number and documentation to the engineer of record, and wait for written acceptance. Confirm with the local authority if the jurisdiction needs it.
Delivery and installation checks
- Compare part numbers on bags to your order.
- Check that fastener packs travel with the clips, or are ordered separately and labeled.
- Inspect for burrs and out-of-square legs.
- Keep clips segregated by type on site so installers do not pick the wrong one.
Common mistakes
- Pricing clips as commodity items and losing the documentation trail.
- Letting site staff modify clips to fit a misaligned slab.
- Leaving fasteners to be chosen by the installer.
General education only. Capacity, spacing and substitution decisions belong with the engineer of record. Standards bodies such as CFSEI publish framing design resources.
Questions people ask
Are clips and angles the same thing?
They overlap. Clips are usually proprietary formed parts for specific details, while angles are simple L shapes. The drawing names the one it needs.
Can a clip be substituted by a similar-looking one?
Not without engineer approval. Shape does not tell you capacity.
Do clips come with load tables?
Many manufacturers publish them or evaluation reports. Ask for the document that matches the exact part number.
What fasteners go with a clip?
The ones the clip documentation specifies, in the quantity and pattern shown.
Sources and further reading
Have a project outline or drawings?
Organize your scope, then contact Digital Oro through its official channel. Availability, engineering, pricing and delivery terms need project-specific confirmation.
Explore Digital Oro →Digital Oro International advertises on The Company Chronicle. This guide was written by our editorial team from public sources and general professional practice; it does not describe a guarantee, quote or offer from Digital Oro International. Confirm current terms, prices and availability with the operator before you decide.