Design Guide

Designing the Soffi-Steel® System to your project’s specifications entails a simple step-by-step process.

Size – Given that certain factors surrounding the utilities (size, positions, etc.) are often in question, some Architects or Engineers may include, “sized to accommodate the utilities” in their master specification. For the greatest economical benefit, the size of the Soffi-Steel® System encasement should be minimized without causing undue difficulty of utility installation.

Once sizing and positions of the utilities is determined, allow a minimum of 0.5 inch additional spacing between the outermost dimension of the utility and the inside of the cover.

Please note that the shield clips must be positioned prior to the installation of such utilities if the sizing is to be minimized, otherwise, the utility (pipe, conduit, etc.) may obstruct the anchoring of the clip.

If the clips are to be mounted subsequent to utility installation, add an additional 1.5 inch to each dimension.

For sidewall fire sprinkler installations, the pipe centerline must be a minimum of 4.0 inches from the ceiling to accommodate the UL listing of the sprinkler head. For most such commercial/residential installations, a 7”h x 5”w L-Design is common. For Institutional sidewall installations, the height dimension must be a minimum of 7” to accommodate the larger escutcheon plates.

For multiple utility installations, the cover size is determined by the number, size, positioning, and spacing of such conduits.

Grice Engineering, Inc. has the capability of producing encasements with a perimeter as large as 24 square feet (i.e. 4 ft. high x 6 ft. wide). Material can be supplied in dimensions ranging between 2 ¾” – 60” high/wide.

Shape – The most common shapes are the L-Shield used for sidewall installation and U-Shield in ceiling and varied wall installations. In addition, our U-Shield is occasionally used for sidewall installations. Many variations of these shapes are possible, some of which are shown in the CAD Drawings portion of this website. For any custom requirements, simply fax or e-mail a sketch of your desired configuration to our office for review, and we will contact you. Please forward your requests to sales@soffisteel.net or our fax: 608-757-1452.

Gauge of Material – Appropriate material thickness is typically determined by both the use and size of the application. We suggest the following as a guideline.

Residential/Commercial/Educational Facility Uses