Bracing - Rods
Note: Links on this page to SED's & Fab Drawing will only be available for BlueScope Employees.
(Revised: 10/23/2023)

Diagonal Bracing:

Rods 3/8" - 1 1/2" Rod backing plates may be required by design. NOTE: When rod angle exceeds 60°, clevis connection must be used.	Rod Slot w/ Hillside Washer Connection 3/8" - 1 1/8" Rods
	Clevis Connection 3/8" - 1 1/2" Rods
Rods to Floor (RBA) Minimum 2/3 of a bay.

Bracing Mark Number Codes:

Rod / Angle	Base	Part Mask	Mask Units	Rod Sub Parts
Hillside Washer Both Ends	RS	DD RS LLLL	i e RS f f i i	RS
Hillside Washer, Clevis	RT	DD RT LLLL	i e RT f f i i	RS
Clevis Both Ends w/Turnbuckle	RU	DD RU LLLL	i e RU f f i i	RS & RV

All brace rod sub-parts (RS & RV) have 6” of thread at each end.

D = Diameter Code	f f = Feet
L = Length	i i = Inches
	e = Eighths

Rod Length Calculation:

Rod Slot	Add 4" past slot
Clevis	Center of the hole

Rod Hardware:

Code	Diameter	Hex Nuts	1 - Flat Washer (under nut)	2 - Flat Washer	Hillside Washer	Clevis Assembly	Pin	Turnbuckle	Coupling Nut
03	3/8"	0095321	0096408	46040	543334	0097572	1 1/4"	0097574	47039
04	1/2"	0095230	0095872	0095946	543334	0097573	1 1/4"	0095271	47122
05	5/8"	0095233	0095945	0095946	543334	0095277	1 1/4"	0095046	47610
06	3/4"	0095235	0095946	0095948	543335	0095278	1 1/4"	0095047	47758
07	7/8"	0095237	0095947	0095948	543335	0095279	1 1/4"	0095048	47784
10	1"	0095238	0095948	0095949	543336	0095280	1 1/4"	0095272	47890
11	1 1/8"	0095239	0095949	0095949	543336	0095281	1 1/4"	0095273	47915
12	1 1/4"	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0095282	1 1/4"	0095274	46906
13	1 3/8"	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0097593	1 1/2"	0095873	47894
14	1 1/2"	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0097594	1 1/2"	0095275	47895

Galvanized Rod Hardware:

Code	Diameter	Hex Nuts	1 - Flat Washer (under nut)	2 - Flat Washer	Hillside Washer	Clevis Assembly	Pin	Turnbuckle	Coupling Nut
03	3/8"	0095321	0096408HDG	46040HDG	543334HDG	0097572HDG	1 1/4"	0097574HDG	47039HDG
04	1/2"	0095230HDG	0095872HDG	0095946HDG	543334HDG	0097573HDG	1 1/4"	0095271HDG	47122HDG
05	5/8"	0095233HDG	0095945HDG	0095946HDG	543334HDG	0095277HDG	1 1/4"	0095046HDG	47610HDG
06	3/4"	0095235HDG	0095946HDG	0095948HDG	543335HDG	0095278HDG	1 1/4"	0095047HDG	47758HDG
07	7/8"	0095237HDG	0095947HDG	0095948HDG	543335HDG	0095279HDG	1 1/4"	0095048HDG	47784HDG
10	1"	0095238HDG	0095948HDG	0095949HDG	543336HDG	0095280HDG	1 1/4"	0095272HDG	47890HDG
11	1 1/8"	0095239HDG	0095949HDG	0095949HDG	543336HDG	0095281HDG	1 1/4"	0095273HDG	47915HDG
12	1 1/4"	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0095282HDG	1 1/4"	0095274HDG	46906HDG
13	1 3/8"	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0097593HDG	1 1/2"	0095873HDG	47894HDG
14	1 1/2"	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0097594HDG	1 1/2"	0095275HDG	47895HDG

Note: 1 3/8" & 1 1/2" rods cannot be used with Open Web frames.

Commonly used Square Washer (SQW) sizes for Clevises:

Rod Size	Part Number
3/8” - 1 1/4"	SQW5358
1 3/8” - 1 1/2"	SQW6469

RS Assembly

RS Assemblies will arrive at job site as follows:

If rod cut length is less 40’-0”, one-piece rod marked with assembly mark number attached.

If rod cut length is greater than 40’-0”, two rods will be tied together with the assembly mark number attached.

Rod hardware will be packed in a separate hardware box with part marks as shown in erection guide.

RT Assembly

RT Assemblies will arrive at job site as follows:

If rod cut length is less 40’-0”, one piece (RS) rod marked with assembly mark number attached.

If rod cut length is greater than 40’-0”, two (RS) rods will be tied together with the assembly mark number attached.

Rod hardware will be packed in a separate hardware box with part marks as shown in erection guide.

RU Assembly

RU Assemblies will arrive at job site as follows;

If rod cut length is less 40’-0”, one piece (RS) rod marked with assembly mark number attached.

If rod cut length is greater than 40’-0”, two (RS) rods will be tied together with the assembly mark number attached.

The 2’-0” connector rod (RV rod) will be tied to the long rod(s) at the factory.

Rod hardware will be packed in a separate hardware box with part marks as shown in erection guide.

Coupling Nut (Rod Splice)

Maximum length of single piece brace rod = 40 feet

BlueScope Manufacturing may provide “random” splices of two rod lengths to make up any rod cut length. If this is the case,
the rod is still shipped as one shippable piece, but may have a coupling nut installed in the factory to connect the two sub-rods.

Rod Assemblies greater than 40’-0” (12.2 m) will have the smaller extensions bundled and attached with the longer extensions.

Coupling nut is shipped separately in the hardware box.

General Information

Rods may be hot dip galvanized.

Rod threads may be cut or rolled, but will be standard threads for standard hardware connections.

Actual rod diameter when threads are “rolled” are less than nominal.

“Cut” thread processes utilize full diameter raw material. (see Table below)

All necessary rod hardware to make assembly in the field will be stocked, packed, and shipped from BBNA plants

All rod threads are “right hand” threaded except for the RV0200 sub-part to RU rod assembly.

RV0200 is always 2’-0” long and is always threaded “right hand” on one end and “left hand” on the other.

Rod Diameter	Supplier	BBNA - Arlington Plant
3/8”	Rolled Thread	Cut Thread
½”	Rolled Thread	Cut Thread
5/8”	Rolled Thread	Cut Thread
¾”	Rolled Thread	Cut Thread
7/8”	Rolled Thread	Cut Thread
1”	Rolled Thread	Cut Thread
1 1/8”	Rolled Thread	Cut Thread
1 1/4"	Cut Thread	Cut Thread
1 1/2"	Cut Thread	Not available

Packaging / Labeling

End Cap Style and Color

End caps with a nipple will be used on left handed threads

Flat end caps will be used on right handed threads

Brace rods with the same diameter are shrink wrapped and steel banded every 5 feet.

A label is applied to each bundle of rods of like diameter and length.

The label includes BBNA shipping location, # of pieces, rod diameter, rod length, erection part mark, Birmingham Fastener Invoice # (If fabricated at BF), COMPASS Sales Order Number, color, date.

Brace rod bundles are combined into one master package.

A Master Order Label is applied to the package with all the brace rods.

The Master Order Label is shrink wrapped to the package.

Large orders may require more than one master bundle.

A package label is applied to each master bundle. Package label names (e.g 1Z) are referenced on the BBNA Truck Manifest.