The Simpson Strong-Tie RCKWS 5.5-in. Kneewall Connector Stiffener is a heavy 171 mil (7 ga.) rigid stiffener engineered to nest directly onto the RCKW connector clip, delivering a significant boost in overturning moment resistance and overall stiffness wherever additional load capacity is required. Developed to address overturning forces at the base of exterior kneewalls and parapets, interior partial-height walls, and overhead ribbon window conditions, this stiffener works in concert with the RCKW clip to form a high-performance lateral connection. The screw holes and anchor holes in the stiffener align precisely with those in the RCKW clip, making fastener and anchor installation straightforward and efficient. The RCKW clip and RCKWS stiffener are sold separately.

Key Features

• Three large anchor holes with one- and two-anchor configurations - the center hole supports a single-anchor solution at the edge or center of slab, while the outer holes enable a two-anchor solution for conditions requiring higher capacities at the center of slab, giving installers the flexibility to match the fastening pattern to actual load demands.
• Stiffened flanges on anchorage legs - incorporated into the leg design to actively improve overturning moment resistance, reducing the risk of rotation or uplift failure at the wall base.
• Large-diameter anchor holes sized for 1/2-in. diameter anchors - compatible with Simpson Strong-Tie Titen HD heavy-duty screw anchors and Strong-Bolt 2 wedge anchors, so builders can use trusted, readily available hardware with full confidence in the connection.
• Additional smaller-diameter anchor holes for structural steel attachment - allow the stiffener to be secured to structural steel using #12 self-drilling screws, broadening the range of substrates this connector can serve without additional modification.
• Compatible with Titen HD and Titen Turbo fasteners for CMU substrates - enables secure attachment to concrete masonry unit walls using concrete and masonry screws, making this stiffener suitable across a wider variety of construction assemblies.
• 171 mil (7 ga.) heavy steel construction secured to the RCKW clip with screws - the rigid, thick-gauge steel combined with screw attachment to the clip optimizes both overturning moment resistance and connection stiffness where it matters most.
• G90 zinc galvanized coating - provides corrosion resistance appropriate for exterior kneewall and parapet applications where moisture exposure is a concern, helping protect the connection over the life of the structure.
• Packaged in a quantity of 10 - allows contractors and framers to stock an efficient supply for multi-wall installations or projects requiring several anchor points, reducing the need for repeated small orders.

Why This Product

• Purpose-built to solve a demanding lateral load problem - the RCKWS stiffener was specifically developed to resist overturning moment at exterior kneewalls, parapets, interior partial-height walls, and ribbon window conditions - a targeted engineering solution for connection points that are often under-reinforced in light-frame and cold-formed steel construction.
• Seamless integration with the RCKW clip system - because the stiffener's screw holes and anchor holes are designed to align exactly with those in the RCKW clip, installers avoid guesswork and field modification, resulting in faster installation and a more reliable finished connection.
• Versatile anchorage options across multiple substrates - with large-diameter holes for concrete screw and wedge anchors, smaller-diameter holes for structural steel attachment via #12 self-drilling screws, and compatibility with Titen HD and Titen Turbo screws for CMU, this stiffener adapts to the substrate on the job rather than forcing a single fastening approach.
• Heavy-gauge stiffened construction adds real capacity where the clip alone may fall short - when project loads exceed what the RCKW clip provides on its own, adding the RCKWS stiffener is a direct, code-friendly path to higher overturning moment resistance without redesigning the connection from scratch.

Specifications

• Model Number: RCKW5.5S-R10
• Width: 5-1/2 in.
• Thickness: 171 mil
• Gauge: 7 ga.
• Coating / Finish: Zinc Galvanized, G90
• Package Quantity: 10
• Country of Origin: United States

Approved Applications

• Resisting overturning moment at the base of exterior kneewalls and parapets
• Resisting overturning moment at interior partial-height walls
• Overhead ribbon window conditions requiring reinforced lateral connection
• Anchorage to concrete using 1/2-in. diameter concrete screw anchors or wedge anchors (one- or two-anchor configurations)
• Anchorage to structural steel using #12 self-drilling screws through smaller-diameter anchor holes
• Anchorage to CMU using Titen HD or Titen Turbo concrete and masonry screws

What's Included

• 10 x Simpson Strong-Tie RCKWS 5.5-in. Kneewall Connector Stiffeners (Model RCKW5.5S)