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ACBH™ Concealed Beam Hanger

The ACBH concealed beam hanger is made for the rigors of mass timber construction and is machined from aluminum for a high-capacity design. With an allowable stress design load capacity of up to 20 kips, it is the strongest connector in our line of concealed end-grain beam hangers. Its concealed connection allows for a wood-only aesthetic while offering one- and two-hour fire resistance ratings per ASTM E119. This hanger installs easily in the factory using our fully threaded Strong-Drive® SDCF Timber-CF structural screws and offers generous onsite fit-up tolerance for smooth and easy beam installation. The ACBH is manufactured and stocked in the US for reliable availability.

Key Features

  • High capacity
  • Concealed for architectural aesthetics and fire-rated performance
  • One- and two-hour fire resistance ratings per ASTM E119
  • Recommended for use at beam-to-beam connections in any Seismic Design Category, and at beam-to-column connections in Seismic Design Category A or B
  • Multiple router options to suit jobsite needs
  • +/- 1/16" beam length tolerance on each end enables easier installation

Applications

  • ACBH is recommended for dry-service applications only

Material

  •  Aluminum (ASTM B221 T6061-T6)

Finish

  •  None

Installation

  • Use all specified fasteners; install horizontal screws first, then inclined screws.
  • Centerline notch at the top of the part can be used to help locate the connector on the wood member.
  • Do not overdrive SDCF screws during installation of fasteners. Predrilling lead holes for the SDCF screws is recommended if wood members tend to split or if driving the SDCF fasteners at the proper angle is difficult due to wood grain resistance. Predrilled holes for the SDCF screws shall be 3/16" diameter maximum.
  • Rout carried and/or carrying member according to application needs. The minimum recommended rout width and length is 1/16" larger than the tabulated part dimensions. The recommended corner radius is 3/8" (10 mm). The backplates must seat flush against the surfaces to which they are being fastened.
  • A 1/8" minimum to 1/4" maximum gap is recommended between the carried and carrying members to prevent wood-wood binding during field assembly. Fire sealant is required at the ACBH connection location when considering fire resistance. Gaps larger than 1/4" may further improve ease of installation but must be approved by the Engineer of Record when considering fire resistance.
  • When attaching to the end grain of glulam members with multiple piece laminations across the width, refer to L-C-CBHSPLATLAM for more information.

Options

  • Connection has been load-rated for three different screw length options in the carrying member.
  • Double connectors can be used on a single joist end for increased connection capacity (see load tables).

Related Literature

Connectors, Fasteners & Anchors for Mass Timber Construction
C-C-MASSTIMBER24
A catalog featuring connectors, fasteners and anchors for mass timber and CLT construction solutions.
Catalog
Conectores para la construcción con madera 2024–2025
C-C-2024SP
El catálogo incluye información sobre nuevos productos, así como especificaciones e instrucciones de instalación aplicables para conectores estructurales de madera a madera y de madera a concreto.
Catalog
Wood Construction Connectors – Canadian Limit States Design
C-C-CAN2025
A complete product and application catalogue including load tables and installation information for wood-to-wood, wood-to-concrete and wood-to-masonry connectors.
Catalog
Wood Construction Connectors 2024-2025
C-C-2024
A catalog including new product information as well as any applicable specification and installation instructions for wood-to-wood and wood-to-concrete structural connectors.
Catalog
ACBH Aluminum Concealed Beam Hanger for Glulam
F-MT-ACBH23
A flier providing product and installation information for the ACBH aluminum concealed beam hanger.
Flier
ACBH™, SCBH™, and CBH Hangers installed in Split lam Glulam
L-C-CBHSPLTLAM24
Simpson Strong-Tie® has evaluated the ACBH, SCBH, and CBH when installed in end-grain, on carried beams assembled with multiple-piece laminations.
Engineering Letter
LRFD load values for CBH, ACBH™, SCBH™, and HSKP™
L-C-CBHLRFD24
Simpson Strong-Tie has reviewed test and calculation data to determine LRFD load values derived from existing ASD load values per guidance from 2018 NDS Appendix N.
Engineering Letter
Simpson Strong-Tie® ACBH Aluminum Concealed Beam Hanger – Seismic Deformation Compatibility Testing
L-C-ACBHDRIFT24
Full-scale story-drift testing of the ACBH was performed at the Simpson Strong-Tie® Tyrell Gilb Lab to determine beam-column drift performance of the connector.
Engineering Letter
Simpson Strong-Tie® CBH Concealed Beam Hanger Installed on Weyerhaeuser Parallam® PSL
L-C-ENDGRNPSL24
Simpson Strong-Tie has evaluated the CBH, ACBH™, and SCBH™ concealed beam hanger series of connectors installed into end grain on Parallam® Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) carried beams.
Engineering Letter
Simpson Strong-Tie® Concealed Beam Hangers Installed on Freres Mass Ply Lam (MPL)
L-C-CBHFMPL24
Simpson Strong-Tie has evaluated the CBH, ACBH™, and SCBH™ concealed beam hanger series of connectors installed into end grain on Freres Mass Ply Lam (MPL)
Engineering Letter
Summary for ASTM E119 Fire Testing for ACBH Connector
ACBH_Summary_Report_(Issue_June_6_2023)
This summary report describes the tests performed and the timber cover distances required for the ACBH to achieve the fire-resistive rating for each duration and connector configuration.
Engineering Letter

Product Information Table

Fastener Production Information and Stuff & Things
New products
Model No. Description W (in.) H (in.) Product Includes Material Packaging Qty.
ACBH3X15.37-KT (2) ACBH 3x15.37 backplates with (48) SDCF22614 screws (1 connection kit) 3 15 3/8 (2) backplates and (48) SDCF22614 screws Aluminum 1
ACBH3X15.37-R1 (2) ACBH 3x15.37 backplates (1 pair, screws not included) 3 15 3/8 (2) backplates (screws not included) Aluminum 1
ACBH3X15.37-R8 (16) ACBH 3x15.37 backplates (8 pairs, screws not included) 3 15 3/8 (16) backplates (screws not included) Aluminum 8

Load and Geometry Tables

Table 1 — ACBH Allowable Downloads

Model Qty Dimensions (in) Fasteners Allowable Downloads (lbs)
DF/SP SPF/HF
W H Carried Beam Carrying Column/Beam Beam to Column Beam to Beam Beam to Column Beam to Beam
Straight Inclined Floor (100) Snow/Roof (115/125) Floor (100) Snow (115) Roof (125) Floor (100) Snow (115) Roof (125) Floor (100) Snow (115) Roof (125)
ACBH3x15.37 1 3 15 3/8 (24) SDCF22614 (7) SDCF22434 (17) SDCF22434 19,815 19,815 14,820 17,040 18,525 13,635 15,680 17,045 13,305 15,200 16,630
(7) SDCF22434 (17) SDCF22614 19,815 19,815 18,420 21,185 22,265 14,095 16,210 17,200 14,095 16,210 17,200
(7) SDCF22614 (17) SDCF22614 20,050 20,575 19,555 22,265 22,265 14,095 16,210 17,620 14,095 16,210 17,620
2 6 1/2 15 3/8 (48) SDCF22614 (14) SDCF22434 (34) SDCF22434 39,630 39,630 29,640 34,080 37,050 27,270 31,360 34,090 26,610 30,400 33,260
(14) SDCF22434 (34) SDCF22614 39,630 39,630 36,840 42,370 44,530 28,190 32,420 34,400 28,190 32,420 34,400
(14) SDCF22614 (34) SDCF22614 40,100 41,150 39,110 44,530 44,530 28,190 32,420 35,240 28,190 32,420 35,240
  1. Table loads are for minimum beam width of 5 5/8" (eside ≥ 1 5/16"). For beam widths between 5 1/8" and 5 5/8" (1 1/16" ≤ eside < 1 5/16"), multiply allowable load by 0.93.
  2. When considering uplift forces, use Simpson Stong-Tie® Strong-Drive® SDWC15600 (6" length) screw per detail. Uplift capacity is 555 lbf for DF/SP and 485 lbf for SPF/HF per screw. Use multiple screws for additional uplift.
  3. Fasteners: SDCF22434 and SDCF22614 = 0.23" shank diameter by 4 3/4" long and 6 1/4" long Strong-Drive SDCF TIMBER-CF screw, respectively.


Table 2 — ACBH Allowable Lateral Loads

Model Qty Dimensions (in) Fasteners Allowable Lateral Loads (lbs) (100/115/125/160)
DF/SP SPF/HF
W H Carried Beam Carrying Column/Beam F1 F2 F1 F2
Straight Inclined
ACBH3x15.37 1 3 15 3/8 (24) SDCF22614 (7) SDCF22614 (17) SDCF22614 6,285 6,460 5,455 6,460
  1. F1 table loads are for minimum beam width of 5 5/8" (eside ≥ 1 5/16"). For beam widths between 5 1/8" and 5 5/8" (1 1/16" ≤ eside < 1 5/16"), multiply F1 table load capacities by 0.94. F2 table loads are for beam width of 5 1/8" (eside ≥ 1 1/16").
  2. Allowable loads for multiple ACBH assemblies are equivalent to the individual ACBH allowable loads multiplied by the number of connectors installed.
  3. Allowable loads consider wind or seismic with no further increase allowed.
  4. For loading simultaneously in more than one direction, the allowable load must be evaluated using the following equation:
    (Design Download / Allowable Download) + (Design F1 / Allowable F1) + (Design F2 / Allowable F2) < 1.0.
  5. Fasteners: SDCF22614 = 0.23" shank diameter by 6 1/4" long Strong-Drive SDCF TIMBER-CF screw.


Table 3 — Minimum Carried Beam Size & Edge Distances

Model Configuration Minimum Carried Beam Sizes (in.) Assembly Dimensions (in.) Minimum Edge Distance (in.)
Considering Only Fastener Edge Distance One-Hour Fire Resistance Two-Hour Fire Resistance Considering Only Fastener Edge Distance One-Hour Fire Resistance Two-Hour Fire Resistance etop
Ws Ds Ws Ds Ws Ds W Gapmin H eside ebottom eside ebottom eside ebottom
ACBH3X15.37 Single 5 1/8 18 6 3/4 19 10 1/4 20 3/4 3 — 15 3/8 1 1/16 7/8 1 7/8 1 7/8 3 5/8 3 5/8 1 3/4
Double 8 5/8 18 10 1/4 19 1/2 12 1/4 21 6 1/2 1/2 15 3/8 1 1/16 7/8 1 7/8 2 3/8 2 7/8 3 7/8 1 3/4
  1. Side edge distances for supporting vertical columns must meet or exceed the eside table values for the supported beam.
  2. For 1-1/16 ≤ eside < 1-5/16", see Table 1 and 2 footnotes for allowable load reduction.
  3. Minimum carried beam sizes and edge distances for one-hour and two-hour fire resistance are based on ASTM E119 fire testing. Test specimens included 3M Expantrol E-FIS intumescent fire seal at the beam-to-column interface. Substitutions for the 3M Expantrol are allowable provided they meet or exceed the 3M Expantrol's specifications for flame spread, smoke developed index, intumescent activation temperatures (expansion rate) and service temperatures.
  4. Top edge distances in the table assume full coverage of the top of carried beam. A full coverage condition occurs when the top of the beam is not directly exposed to fire (i.e., roof or floor members attached to the top of the supported beam and providing complete continuous cover to the top of the carried beam). For conditions where the top of the carried beam is exposed to fire, increase the minimum top edge distance to eside for the installed condition.
  5. For one-hour and two-hour fire resistance, the gap between the end of the carried member and the face of the carrying member shall not exceed 1/4".

Code Reports & Compliance

Drawings

PDF DWG DXF RFA IFC SAT

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