Key Features
Built for Overturning ResistanceThis kneewall connector stiffener is made to resist overturning moment at the base of exterior kneewalls, parapets, and interior partial-height walls. That matters when the connection needs to hold its position under lateral load, not just sit there.Flexible Anchorage LayoutThe RCKW5.5S layout uses three large anchor holes. The center hole supports a one-anchor setup at the slab edge or center, while the outer holes support a two-anchor setup when higher capacities are needed at center of slab.Heavy 7 Gauge SteelMade from 171 mil, 7 gauge steel with a G90 galvanized finish, this connector is built for cold-formed steel work where stiffness and corrosion protection both count.
Overview
The Simpson Strong-Tie RCKW5.5S-R10 Kneewall Connector Stiffener is a rigid connector for cold-formed steel construction. This is a kneewall connector stiffener designed for resisting overturning moment at the base of kneewalls, parapets, and interior partial-height walls. Model Number RCKW5.5S-R10. If you are tying a 5-1/2 inch wall condition into concrete, structural steel, or CMU and need a connector that gives you more anchorage options than a basic clip, this is the part you look at.
What separates this connector from a simple angle is how it handles anchorage. The RCKW5.5S version has three large holes for added versatility. The center hole is intended for a one-anchor solution at the edge or center of slab. The outer holes are there for a two-anchor solution when the design calls for higher capacities at the center of slab. That gives the designer and installer more ways to match the connector to real jobsite conditions instead of forcing one layout everywhere.
Simpson Strong-Tie also builds the anchorage legs with stiffened flanges to improve overturning moment resistance. In plain terms, that added stiffness helps the connection do its job when the wall wants to lean, rack, or pull the base connection hard under load. For cold-formed steel kneewalls and parapets, that is the whole point of the connector.
The material matters here. This connector is made from 171 mil, 7 gauge steel with a galvanized G90 finish. That heavier section helps with rigidity, while the galvanized finish adds corrosion protection for standard building environments. It is intended for cold-formed steel applications, not as a generic bracket to improvise with on unrelated framing work.
The hole pattern is also set up for multiple substrate and anchorage paths. Large-diameter holes accommodate 1/2 inch diameter concrete screw anchors and wedge anchors, including Simpson Strong-Tie Titen HD heavy-duty screw anchors and Strong-Bolt 2 wedge anchors. Additional smaller-diameter holes allow attachment to structural steel with number 12 self-drilling screws. Attachment to CMU can also be achieved with Titen HD or Titen Turbo concrete and masonry screws. That kind of flexibility is useful when one project has different base conditions across the same building.
Installation details are not optional with a connector like this. Simpson specifies using all required screw fasteners to achieve published load values. When larger-diameter anchor holes are used, the bottom track must be predrilled or punched with a 3/4 inch diameter hole. The published installation guidance also calls for anchor installation torque of at least 17 foot-pounds, or the anchor manufacturer’s higher required torque, to achieve tabulated stiffness values. If the connection is engineered for specific loads, those details matter as much as the connector itself.
This model is sold in a pack of 10 and fits within Simpson Strong-Tie’s RCKW rigid connector family. The variant-specific dimensions listed for RCKW5.5S-R10 are 2 3/16 x 1 1/2 inches, with a length dimension of 5 1/2 inches. For a contractor, engineer, or framing crew working on cold-formed steel exterior kneewalls, parapets, or partial-height wall conditions, this is a purpose-built anchorage component rather than a workaround.
Who should buy it? Cold-formed steel framers, commercial contractors, and anyone building engineered kneewall or parapet assemblies where overturning resistance and anchorage layout are part of the design. If you just need a light bracket, this is overkill. If you need a tested connector with multiple anchor options and a heavy steel body, this is the right kind of hardware.
See the Anchorage Layout Clearly
The hole layout is the real story on this connector. It gives you one-anchor or two-anchor options depending on where the wall sits on the slab and what the design calls for.
- Three large holes provide added versatility for slab anchorage layouts
- Large-diameter holes are sized to accommodate 1/2 inch diameter concrete screw anchors and wedge anchors
Made for Real Installed Conditions
This is not decorative hardware. The Simpson Strong-Tie RCKW5.5S-R10 Kneewall Connector Stiffener is built for cold-formed steel walls that need a serious base connection.
- Stiffened flanges improve resistance to overturning moment
- Additional smaller holes allow attachment to structural steel with number 12 self-drilling screws
What’s in the Box
- (10) Simpson Strong-Tie RCKW5.5S-R10 kneewall connector stiffeners
Key Specifications
| Application | Cold-Formed Steel |
|---|---|
| Material | 171 mil (7 ga.) steel, 33 ksi |
| Finish | Galvanized (G90) |
| Length (in.) | 5 1/2 |
| Base Dimensions (in.) | 2 3/16 x 1 1/2 |
| Anchor Hole Capacity | Three large holes |
| Packaging Quantity | 10 |
| API Approval | Approved – Full |
Compatibility
Concrete AnchorsLarge-diameter anchor holes accommodate 1/2 inch diameter concrete screw anchors and wedge anchors, including Simpson Strong-Tie Titen HD heavy-duty screw anchors and Strong-Bolt 2 wedge anchors.Structural Steel AttachmentAdditional smaller-diameter anchor holes allow attachment to structural steel with number 12 self-drilling screws.CMU AttachmentAttachment to CMU can be achieved with Titen HD or Titen Turbo concrete and masonry screws.
Built For
Cold-Formed Steel ConstructionExterior KneewallsParapetsInterior Partial-Height WallsCommercial FramingStructural Connectors
Pro Tip
If you’re using the larger-diameter anchor holes, predrill or punch the bottom track with a 3/4 inch diameter hole before you start setting anchors. It saves time and keeps the install aligned with Simpson’s published requirements.
Tool Nut’s Take
Tool Nut’s Take
Simpson Strong-Tie RCKW5.5S-R10 Kneewall Connector Stiffener for Serious Base Connections
This is the kind of connector you buy when the wall base actually matters and you need more than a generic clip.
- Who it’s for: Cold-formed steel contractors, engineers, and framing crews working on kneewalls, parapets, and partial-height walls with engineered anchorage requirements.
- Why it stands out: The three-hole anchorage layout and stiffened flanges give this 5-1/2 inch kneewall connector more flexibility and better resistance where overturning loads are the concern.
- Worth knowing: This is a 10-pack of connectors only. Fasteners and anchors need to match the published installation details if you want the tested performance.
Common Questions
- What is this connector designed to do? It is designed to resist overturning moment at the base of exterior kneewalls and parapets, as well as interior partial-height walls.
- Can it be used with concrete and structural steel? Yes. The large holes are for concrete screw anchors or wedge anchors, and the smaller holes allow attachment to structural steel with number 12 self-drilling screws.
- What finish does it have? It uses a G90 galvanized finish.
- How many connectors come in the package? Packaging quantity for model RCKW5.5S-R10 is 10 pieces.
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