Benefits of Short Wall Bracing
- Tailored to fulfill the bracing requirements of open-plan housing, accommodating fewer internal walls and larger openings.
- Offers superior bracing capacity compared to conventional sheet bracing units.
- Requires fewer screws, reducing on-site labour.
- Available in standardised kits for easy installation.
Testing
Each Multinail Advance product undergoes rigorous testing to ensure its suitability and compliance with Australian engineering codes and standards.
Specifically, the hold-down capacity of the MegaHold Down brackets has undergone extensive in-house testing using glulam samples sourced from Australian suppliers.
The results from these tests exceeded the theoretical benchmarks established in accordance with AS1720.1.
FAQs
What are the concrete anchor requirements? And what if I can’t achieve all anchor requirements?
STD200 requires M20 anchor with minimum tie-down capacity of 36kN
STD320 requires M20 anchors with minimum tie-down capacity of 54kN
Slab shall be designed to accommodate the tie-down requirement. Depending on the concrete anchor manufacturers’ specifications, minimum 50mm slab edge distance might be required.
And if you cannot meet the tie-down requirements, Multinail Advance engineers can adjust the short wall brace bracing capacities for you accordingly with no issue!
What happens if I need short wall brace units in external load bearing wall?
We do have a load bearing option coming up soon! Prior to that, please send us the job and we will check the load bearing case by case.
My glulam widths are different from the sizes shown in the product brochure, what should I do?
For a quick reference, you can refer to the capacity provided for the closest smaller size as a conservative estimate. However, please contact Multinail Advance if you are going to use a different size or glulam grade, we can adjust the bracing capacity to suit your glulam properties.
Work examples
When replacing the steel short wall brace with GLT version, sometimes it is not a one-to-one replacement. Depending on the brands and locations of the steel short wall brace, sometimes a narrower width GLT short wall brace can be installed with the same lateral bracing capacity as the steel short wall brace.
The capacities of the GLT short wall brace are governed by numerous factors such as GLT grade, section sizes, location of the short wall brace, wind zone (if the GLT is a load bearing element), and etc.
Below Table 1 shows a comparison study of a typical steel short wall brace vs Multinail Advance GLT short wall brace, based on the scenario of the short wall brace next to a window opening, where the required 85mm thick GLT short wall brace widths are generally narrower than the steel short wall brace.
| Example No. | Short wall brace types | Nominal wall height (mm) | Lateral bracing capacity | Width required (mm) |
| 1 | Steel truss | 2400 | 13.0 | 600 |
| GLT – GL13 (85mm thick) | 2400 | 13.1 | 480 | |
| 2 | Steel truss | 2400 | 8.6 | 400 |
| GLT – GL13 (85mm thick) | 2400 | 9.0 | 295 | |
| 3 | Steel truss | 2400 | 5.4 | 250 |
| GLT – GL13 (85mm thick) | 2400 | 5.6 | 250 |
However, when 65mm thick GLT is used for 70mm wall frame, wider GLT sections might be considered.
| Example No. | Short wall brace types | Nominal wall height (mm) | Lateral bracing capacity | Width required (mm) |
| 1 | Steel truss | 2400 | 13.0 | 600 |
| GLT – GL13 (65mm thick) | 2400 | 13.1 | 810 | |
| 2 | Steel truss | 2400 | 8.6 | 400 |
| GLT – GL13 (65mm thick) | 2400 | 8.6 | 495 | |
| 3 | Steel truss | 2400 | 5.4 | 250 |
| GLT – GL13 (65mm thick) | 2400 | 5.5 | 280 |
Multinail Advance is fully aware of the section size differences among all glulam manufacturers. Above widths in the tables and in the product brochure are shown as examples. The widths can be adjusted with updated bracing capacities accordingly. Please contact Multinail Advance if there’s any concerns.
How are services handled around the wall bracing?
The standard design does not allow penetration or notching for services. However, limited penetrations may be permitted following the GLT supplier’s guide on penetrations and notches.
What would be the connection of the Short Wall Bracing system in an upper-level floor?
For upper floor applications, the short wall brace can be bolted to a steel beam underneath. If the beam is timber, it can still be bolted (requiring drilling through the beam). The beams must be checked by engineers for additional loads from the short wall bracing system.
There are many other ways to connect a GLT short wall brace to another timber element. Please contact advance@multinail.com if you need a specific solution.
Does 9m spacing regulation apply on this system as well?
Yes, it does. The GLT Short Wall Bracing system provides more flexibility for locating bracing walls within that 9 m spacing.
Is there any limitation in height for this system (e.g., 3–3.6 m)?
Our brochure lists a maximum wall height of 3 m for the Short Wall Bracing system, but it can go up to 8.5 m, which is the current limit under AS 4055. The taller the wall, the lower the bracing capacity—this also applies to EcoBrace. Please contact advance@multinail.com to discuss specific bracing capacities for taller walls.
