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Advanced Framing: Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

    Scope
    Scope Images
    Image
    Advanced framing details include minimal framing at windows and doors.
    Scope

    Construct framed walls using advanced framing details like minimal framing at windows and doors to reduce thermal bridging and allow more space for insulation.

    • Limit framing to a maximum of one pair of king studs per window opening.
    • Limit framing to a maximum of one pair of jack studs per window opening to support the header and window sill.
    • Install additional jack studs only as needed for structural support and cripple studs only as needed to maintain on-center spacing of studs.
    • Limit framing to necessary structural requirements for each door opening.

    See the Compliance Tab for related codes and standards, and criteria to meet national programs such as ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes, DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home program, and EPA’s Indoor airPLUS..

    Description
    Description

    In stud-framed walls, extra studs are often installed around windows and doors, even when they are not needed to bear structural loads. Window and door openings should have no more than one pair of king studs, one pair of jack studs, and the minimum number of cripple studs needed to maintain on-center spacing of studs. Adding more studs than necessary wastes lumber and reduces the wall’s thermal resistance because the lumber blocks cavity space that could be filled with insulation and because each stud represents a thermal bridge that can transfer heat between the interior and exterior of the building.

    Building scientists estimate that standard stud construction may use 5% to 10% more board feet of lumber than necessary and add up to 30% more pieces of lumber than needed (Lstiburek 2010). By using advanced framing techniques, builders can reduce the amount of lumber used and save money as well. Building Science Corporation found savings of up to $1,000 per home in materials and labor were possible for production builders who used a combination of several advanced framing techniques (Lstiburek and Grin 2010). Advanced framing techniques should be specified in the framer’s contract. For more about advanced framing, see Minimum Wall Studs.

    The framing pieces that surround windows and doors include king, jack, and cripple studs, headers, and sills. The full-length stud on each side of a door or window is called a king stud. A header is a piece of framing installed horizontally directly above the door or window opening and extending to the king stud on each side of the opening. The header rests on jack studs that are nailed in place next to the king stud on each side of the opening; jack studs extend to the bottom plate of the wall. A saddle or sill is another horizontal piece that goes under the window opening and is nailed to the inside of each jack stud. Because typical stud spacing is 16- or 24-inch on center and most windows and doors are wider than this, cripple studs are installed below window openings from the sill to the bottom plate in the location where a common stud would have been if the space had not been left open to accommodate the door or window. Depending on the header height, cripples are sometimes located above the window extending from the header to the top plate.

    Traditional and advanced framing of windows and doors.
    Figure 1. Traditional framing often uses more lumber than needed, especially around doors and windows; advanced framing uses several techniques to minimize framing (Source: Courtesy of PNNL).

     

    How to Install Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

    1. Design homes on a two-foot grid with 2x6 studs spaced 24 inches on-center (See Minimum Wall Studs). Align windows and doors with this two-foot stud spacing to reduce the number of extra king studs needed.
      Advanced framing details throughout house include limiting jack and king studs.
      Figure 2. Advanced framing details throughout house include recommendations for eliminating jack studs and aligning king studs with standard stud spacing where possible (Source: Courtesy of PNNL).
    2. Hang insulated headers with metal hangers instead of jack studs.
    3. Attach 2x2s to the outside edge of the kings studs if nailers are needed to attach trim or siding, rather than using extra king studs, if “nailable” OSB sheathing is not installed.
      Insulated headers can be hung with metal hangers instead of jack studs to reduce lumber usage.
      Figure 3. Insulated headers can be hung with metal hangers instead of jack studs to reduce lumber usage (Source: Courtesy of PNNL).

     

    Success
    Ensuring Success

    Advanced framing details should be specified in the construction plans (i.e., framing elevations should be provided) and these plans should be reviewed by the site supervisor and lead framer. The construction supervisor should ensure that framing crews are knowledgeable of or trained in advanced framing techniques. The framing should be visually inspected by the site supervisor before the drywall is installed.

    Climate
    Climate

    No climate specific information applies.

    Training
    Right and Wrong Images
    Image
    Wrong – Window has additional non-structural king stud
    Wrong – Window has additional non-structural king stud
    Image
    Right – Window framing has appropriate number of king studs
    Right – Window framing has appropriate number of king studs
    Image
    Right – Appropriate use of framing members to support double windows and additional cripples for drywall purposes
    Right – Appropriate use of framing members to support double windows and additional cripples for drywall purposes
    Image
    Wrong – Excessive and structurally unnecessary framing at door
    Wrong – Excessive and structurally unnecessary framing at door
    Image
    Right – Appropriate door framing installed
    Right – Appropriate door framing installed
    Image
    Right – Rigid foam insulation is installed in the window header.
    Right – Rigid foam insulation is installed in the window header.
    CAD
    CAD Files
    Conceptual stack framing drawing
    Conceptual stack framing drawing
    Download: DWG PDF
    Manufactured insulated header
    Manufactured insulated header
    Download: DWG PDF
    Mini truss header - section
    Mini truss header - section
    Download: DWG PDF
    Outset header with head plate
    Outset header with head plate
    Download: DWG PDF
    Site-built insulated header
    Site-built insulated header
    Download: DWG PDF
    Conceptual 3D advanced framing drawing
    Conceptual 3D advanced framing drawing
    Download: DWG PDF
    Conceptual 2 foot module house drawing
    Conceptual 2 foot module house drawing
    Download: DWG PDF
    Compliance

    Compliance

    The Compliance tab contains both program and code information. Code language is excerpted and summarized below. For exact code language, refer to the applicable code, which may require purchase from the publisher. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

     

    ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes, Version 3/3.1 (Rev. 11)

    National Rater Field Checklist

    Thermal Enclosure System.
    3. Reduced Thermal Bridging.
    3.4.3c Framing limited at all windows & doors to one pair of king studs, plus one pair of jack studs per window opening to support the header and sill. 

    Please see the ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes Implementation Timeline for the program version and revision currently applicable in in your state.

     

    DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (Revision 07)

    Exhibit 1 Mandatory Requirements.
    Exhibit 1, Item 1) Certified under the ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes Program or the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction Program.

     

    American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA)/Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA)/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-08 North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and sky lights (NAFS)

    North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for Windows, Doors, and Skylights.  Available from AAMA.  This is a voluntary standard/specification that covers requirements for the following components for new construction and retrofits: single and dual windows, single and dual side-hinged door systems, sliding doors, tubular daylighting devices, and unit skylights.

     

    American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) A156.22-2017

    Door Gasketing and Edge Seal Systems. Available from ANSI. This standard sets performance and installation of gasketing systems applied to doors and/or frames. It includes definitions, general information, and tests.

     

    American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) E-2112-07 and ASTM E-2112-19c

    Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior Windows, Doors and Skylights. Available from ASTM. The standard covers fenestration product installation from pre-installation through post-installation procedures in new and existing construction.

    More

    More Info.

    Access to some references may require purchase from the publisher. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

    References and Resources*
    Author(s)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Organization(s)
    EPA
    Publication Date
    Description
    Guide describing details that serve as a visual reference for each of the line items in the Thermal Enclosure System Rater Checklist.
    Author(s)
    American National Standards Institute,
    Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association
    Organization(s)
    ANSI,
    BHMA
    Publication Date
    Description
    Standard establishing requirements for the performance and installation of gasketing systems including intumescents applied to, or mortised to doors, frames or both. The current version of this standard was published in the year 2021 and a can be purchased to be viewed in full from the ANSI webstore...
    Author(s)
    American Architectural Manufacturers Association,
    Canadian Standards Association,
    CSA Group,
    Window & Door Manufacturers Association
    Organization(s)
    AAMA,
    CSA,
    CSA Group,
    WDMA,
    Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance,
    FGIA
    Publication Date
    Description
    2017 version of a standard covering requirements for single- and dual-pane windows, glazed side-hinged door systems, sliding doors, tubular daylighting devices, and unit skylights developed jointly by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), the Canadian Standards Association...
    Author(s)
    NAHB,
    Southface Energy Institute,
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
    National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    Organization(s)
    NAHB,
    Southface Energy Institute,
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
    National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    Publication Date
    Description
    Information sheet about advanced wall framing.
    Author(s)
    Lstiburek
    Organization(s)
    Building Science Corporation,
    BSC
    Publication Date
    Description
    Report detaining advanced framing techniques, including discussion of cost and energy savings.
    Author(s)
    APA - The Engineered Wood Association
    Organization(s)
    APA
    Publication Date
    Description
    Detailed guide to advanced framing, a system of construction framing techniques designed to optimize material usage and increase energy efficiency.
    Author(s)
    Fenestration Manufacturers Association,
    American Architectural Manufacturers Association,
    Window & Door Manufacturers Association
    Organization(s)
    FMA,
    AAMA,
    WDMA
    Publication Date
    Description
    Guide describing the installation of windows in walls that have foam plastic insulating; guide provides several methods for attaching, supporting, and flashing windows in walls with rigid foam sheathing. (Note: The link only goes to the table of contents for the guide, the full guide can be...
    *For non-dated media, such as websites, the date listed is the date accessed.
    Contributors to this Guide

    The following authors and organizations contributed to the content in this Guide.

    Sales
    Building Science Measures
    Building Science-to-Sales Translator

    Reduced Wall Framing = High-Efficiency Wall Framing

    Image(s)
    Technical Description

    Traditional wall framing uses more lumber than is necessary and limits a builder’s ability to insulate walls. Wood and other framing materials are not good insulators. Heat can move through them from one side of the wall to the other. High-efficiency advanced framing uses techniques like thicker studs spaced further apart, two studs rather than three or more studs in corners, aligning windows and doors on a two-foot grid, and other steps to reduce the amount of lumber in the walls, while allowing more room for insulation. 

    High-Efficiency Wall Framing
    Sales Message

    High-efficiency wall framing reduces the heat loss and gain though structural framing. What this means to you is less wasted energy along with enhanced comfort and quiet. Knowing there is one opportunity during construction to lock in quality construction, wouldn’t you agree advanced thermal protection is a great investment?

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