Description

Key Features

Continuous Load Path

This hurricane tie helps connect rafters or trusses to the wall top plate so wind and seismic forces transfer through the structure instead of pulling connections apart.

Stainless Steel Build

The H8SS is made from 18-gauge stainless steel for high corrosion resistance, which matters when the connector is used in tougher exterior or treated-wood environments.

Flexible Installation

Flanges can face inward or outward, and the connector is approved for installation with load-rated Strong-Drive SD Connector screws, giving framers more ways to handle real jobsite layouts.

Overview

The Simpson Strong-Tie H8SS Hurricane Tie is a stainless steel wood connector designed to secure a rafter or truss to the top plate. This is a hurricane tie designed for wood-to-wood roof framing connections that need resistance against uplift and lateral forces caused by wind and seismic activity. Model Number: H8SS.

What makes this connector matter is simple: roof framing is only as strong as the point where members meet. The H8SS is built to provide a positive connection at the top of the wall so the structure maintains a more complete load path. For framers, builders, and inspectors, that means a purpose-built connector for moderate-load top-of-wall tie-down work instead of relying on nails alone to hold the connection together.

The body is formed from 18-gauge stainless steel, with an overall size of 1-1/4 inches wide by 8 inches high. That gives you a compact connector that still covers the joint area effectively. Stainless steel is the right call when corrosion resistance is a priority, especially in applications where standard galvanized hardware may not be the best long-term fit.

Installation flexibility is another strong point. Simpson states the H8 series can be installed with flanges facing either inward or outward, which helps when framing conditions are not identical from one side of the building to the next. The connector is also approved for installation with load-rated Strong-Drive SD Connector screws, giving users another fastening option beyond the listed nail schedule where approved by design requirements.

For load performance, the published allowable loads for the H8SS include uplift and lateral values that make it suitable for moderate-load connections at rafters or trusses to plates. The exact published values depend on species group and loading direction, but the point is this: this is not a generic strap. It is an engineered connector with tested load data intended to do a specific structural job.

On the practical side, the H8SS can also be used in a variety of wood connections where one member crosses another. That gives it value beyond a single roof detail. If you are dealing with rafters, trusses, deck joists over perpendicular beams, or similar crossing-member framing situations, this style of connector gives you a clean, repeatable way to reinforce the joint.

The best buyer for this Simpson Strong-Tie connector is the pro framer, general contractor, deck builder, remodeler, or serious DIY user working from engineered plans or code-driven fastening details. If you need a stainless steel hurricane tie for roof framing or other wood-to-wood structural connections, the H8SS is the version to look at when corrosion resistance matters as much as holding power.

See How the Connection Works

The H8SS is built for one of the most important framing joints in the structure: where the roof member meets the wall. That connection sees uplift and side loading when wind hits the building, so using the right connector matters.

• Designed for rafter or truss to top plate connections
• Helps create a continuous load path to resist wind and seismic forces

Corrosion Resistance for Tougher Conditions

Not every job calls for the same finish. The H8SS variant is the stainless steel version of this connector, which makes sense when corrosion resistance is part of the spec or the environment is harder on hardware.

• 18-gauge stainless steel construction
• Made for wood-to-wood structural fastening

Install It the Right Way

Layout matters with hurricane ties. Simpson notes that these connectors can be installed with flanges facing inward or outward, which helps when field conditions change, but the fastener schedule and placement still need to match the published requirements.

• Use all specified fasteners for rated performance
• Approved for load-rated Strong-Drive SD Connector screws

Key Specifications

Material	Stainless Steel
Gauge	18 ga.
Width (in.)	1-1/4 in.
Height (in.)	8 in.
Application	Fastening Wood-to-Wood
Connector Type	Single-Sided Hurricane Tie
DF/SP Uplift	610 lb
SPF/HF Uplift	370 lb

Compatibility

Materials Connected

Designed for wood-to-wood connections.

Fastener Options

Approved for installation with load-rated Strong-Drive SD Connector screws. Lowe’s also lists installation with 10d x 1-1/2 in. stainless steel nails.

Primary Connection

Intended for rafter or truss to top plate connections and similar crossing-member framing details.

Built For

Carpentry Construction General Contracting Roof Framing Truss Installation Rafter-to-Plate Connections Deck Framing Remodeling

Pro Tip

Do not treat hurricane ties like a substitute for blocking, and do not fasten through the back of a plated truss connection. Simpson specifically calls that out because it can compromise truss performance.

Tool Nut’s Take

Tool Nut’s Take

Simpson Strong-Tie H8SS Hurricane Tie for Framing That Needs the Stainless Version

If your plans call for a compact hurricane tie with real load data and better corrosion resistance, this is the one that earns its spot in the connector pile.

• Who it’s for: Framers, deck builders, contractors, and serious DIY users handling rafter or truss to top plate connections in wood construction.
• Why it stands out: You get an engineered single-sided tie, stainless steel construction, flexible flange orientation, and approved installation with Strong-Drive SD Connector screws.
• Worth knowing: This listing is for the H8SS connector itself, not a generic bracket. Follow the specified fastener schedule and published load tables if you want the connector to do the job it was designed for.

Common Questions

• What is the H8SS used for? It is used to connect a rafter or truss to the top plate and help resist uplift and lateral forces in wood framing.
• What is it made from? The H8SS is made from 18-gauge stainless steel.
• Can it be installed with the flanges facing either direction? Yes. Simpson states it can be installed with flanges facing inward or outward.
• Does it replace solid blocking? No. Simpson specifically states hurricane ties do not replace solid blocking.