Description

Key Features

Prepunched for Faster Install

Prepunched holes cut out predrilling, which helps speed up layout and fastening on cold-formed steel work. That means less setup time and more consistent installation in the field.

Hole Layout That Guides Placement

The fastener hole pattern is laid out to support accurate clip placement and a range of design requirements. It helps installers put fasteners where they belong without second-guessing the connection.

Heavy 12-Gauge Connector

This Simpson Strong-Tie steel joist connector uses 97 mil, 12-gauge steel with a G90 galvanized finish. That gives you a rigid connection option for cold-formed steel joists, rafters, and metal-deck kicker work.

Overview

The Simpson Strong-Tie MSJC8.25-R15 Steel Joist Connector is a rigid cold-formed steel connector built for joist, rafter, and underside-of-steel-deck connections. This is a steel joist connector designed for cold-formed steel framing and kicker-to-metal-deck applications. Model Number: MSJC8.25-R15. If you are tying steel framing members together and need a connector that installs cleanly and supports published load values when used as specified, this is the kind of part you buy on purpose, not as an afterthought.

What matters first on a connector like this is installation speed and repeatability. Simpson Strong-Tie uses prepunched holes, so you are not wasting time predrilling every connection point. On a framing job, that helps move work along and reduces the chance of layout drift from one connection to the next. The hole pattern is also intentionally arranged to support accurate clip installation in line with design requirements, which is a practical benefit when multiple installers are working the same structure.

The MSJC version is the heavier option in the SJC family. This model is made from 97 mil steel, which corresponds to 12 gauge, compared to the lighter 14-gauge SJC versions in the same line. For the buyer, that means you are looking at the more robust connector in this family, intended for applications where that heavier section matters. The listed dimensions are 2 3/16 in. x 4 1/2 in. with an overall length of 8 1/4 in., giving you a format sized for this specific framing connection rather than a generic angle trying to do everything.

The 4 1/2 in. leg length is not just a number on a chart. It is what allows soft-side connections for joists with flanges up to 3 1/2 in.. The angle length also accommodates either hard-side or soft-side attachment for joists with return lips up to 3/4 in.. In plain terms, that gives the installer more flexibility when the framing layout or member orientation is not perfectly convenient.

Finish matters on connectors because corrosion protection is part of the connection, not decoration. This model uses a G90 galvanized finish, which is the specified coating from Simpson Strong-Tie for this part. That makes it appropriate for the intended cold-formed steel construction applications called out by the manufacturer. As always with structural connectors, the real performance comes from using the correct fasteners in the correct holes. Simpson specifically notes that published load values depend on that.

In use, this connector is meant for cold-formed steel construction, including joist connections, rafter connections, and kicker-to-metal-deck applications. It is also described as suitable for underside-of-steel-deck work. That makes it relevant for commercial framing crews, metal framing contractors, and anyone handling engineered steel framing details where connector selection has to match the print.

This is not a general-purpose bracket for improvised jobs. It is a connector for users who already know the connection type they need and want a part that installs faster, fits the application, and comes from a manufacturer with published engineering data behind it. If you are working in cold-formed steel and need an 8-1/4 inch steel joist connector with a heavier 12-gauge body, the MSJC8.25-R15 is the right version to look at.

Built for Cold-Formed Steel Connections

This connector is made for real cold-formed steel framing conditions, not bench-top mockups. It is designed for joist, rafter, and underside-of-steel-deck applications where a rigid steel connection is part of the structural detail.

• Designed specifically for cold-formed steel construction
• Also accommodates kicker-to-metal-deck applications

Hole Pattern That Speeds Up the Work

The prepunched hole layout is one of the biggest reasons to use a purpose-built connector instead of making something work. It reduces predrilling and helps installers place fasteners accurately to match the connection design.

• Prepunched holes reduce installation cost by eliminating predrilling
• Intuitive fastener hole positions support accurate clip installation

Flexible Fit for Joists and Kicker Details

The geometry on this connector gives you more than one way to solve the framing detail. It supports hard-side or soft-side attachment and works with joist return lips and flange sizes called out by Simpson Strong-Tie.

• Angle lengths accommodate joists with return lips up to 3/4 in.
• 4 1/2 in. leg length supports soft-side connections for joist flanges up to 3 1/2 in.

What’s in the Box

• (15) Simpson Strong-Tie MSJC8.25-R15 Steel Joist Connectors

Key Specifications

Tool Type	Steel joist connector
Application	Cold-formed steel framing and kicker connections
Material Thickness	97 mil
Gauge	12 ga.
Length	8 1/4 in.
Dimensions	2 3/16 in. x 4 1/2 in.
Finish	Zinc galvanized, G90
Packaging Quantity	15

Built For

Cold-Formed Steel Construction Commercial Framing Steel Joist Connections Rafter Connections Metal Deck Work Kicker-to-Deck Applications General Contracting Remodeling

Pro Tip

With the MSJC8.25-R15, load values depend on using the correct fasteners in the correct hole positions, so do not treat the hole pattern as optional. Also, Simpson notes that for 6 inch and 8 inch joists, SSC connectors are recommended, so check the connection detail before ordering by length alone.

Warranty & Support

Warranty description listed by supplementary product data: 12 months.

Tool Nut’s Take

Tool Nut’s Take

Simpson Strong-Tie MSJC8.25-R15 Steel Joist Connector Means Less Guesswork

This is the kind of connector you buy when the print calls for a real cold-formed steel connection and you want the heavier 12-gauge version, not a workaround.

• Who it’s for: Steel framing contractors, commercial builders, and anyone handling joist, rafter, or kicker details in cold-formed steel construction.
• Why it stands out: Prepunched holes speed installation, the hole pattern supports accurate fastener placement, and the 97 mil body gives you the heavier MSJC version of this connector style.
• Worth knowing: This is a 15-pack of connectors only. As with any structural connector, performance depends on using the specified fasteners and following the published installation requirements.

Common Questions

• What is the MSJC8.25-R15 used for? It is used for cold-formed steel joist, rafter, and underside-of-steel-deck connections, and it also accommodates kicker-to-metal-deck applications.
• What size and gauge is this connector? This model is 8 1/4 inches long, 2 3/16 inches by 4 1/2 inches in listed dimensions, and made from 97 mil, 12-gauge steel.
• Does it require predrilling? The connector has prepunched holes designed to reduce installation cost by eliminating predrilling.
• What finish does it use? It has a zinc galvanized G90 finish.