Cover clips for sub-girts in exterior wall system assemblies

A wall system assembly comprising:

• a. a support rail having a length and formed of a fiber reinforced polymer, the support rail comprising:
• i. a first flange extending in a first direction and having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• ii. a second flange extending in a second direction opposite the first direction and having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• and
• iii. a support wall having a first support surface and an opposing second support surface and connecting the first flange and the second flange such that the first flange and the second flange are laterally offset from each other;
• and
• b. an integrally formed, fire-resistant clip having a frontside and a backside and comprising:
• i. a first arm portion having a distal end and a proximal end;
• ii. a second arm portion having a distal end and a proximal end;
• iii. a connecting ledge connecting the proximal end of the first arm portion to the proximal end of the second arm portion, wherein the connecting ledge is connected to the proximal end of the first arm portion at a first bend and to the proximal end of the second arm portion at a second bend and wherein the connecting ledge extends at an angle to each of the first arm portion and the second arm portion;
• and
• iv. a retaining arm portion connected to the distal end of the second arm portion at a third bend, wherein the third bend is greater than 90° such that the retaining arm portion extends in a direction toward the proximal end of the second arm portion on the backside of the clip and such that a retention cavity is defined between the retaining arm portion and the second arm portion,
• wherein the clip is mounted on the support rail at a mounting location along the length of the support rail such that the second flange of the support rail resides in the retention cavity of the clip and such that the connecting ledge of the clip seats on the first support surface of the support rail and wherein, at the mounting location, the second arm portion of the clip covers the entirety of the outer surface of the second flange, the retaining arm portion of the clip covers at least a portion of the inner surface of the second flange, and the first arm portion extends away from the support wall in the first direction.

An integrally formed metal clip having a frontside and a backside and comprising:

• a. a first arm portion having a distal end and a proximal end;
• b. a second arm portion having a distal end and a proximal end;
• c. a connecting ledge connecting the proximal end of the first arm portion to the proximal end of the second arm portion, wherein the connecting ledge is connected to the proximal end of the first arm portion at a first bend between 90° and 135°, inclusive, and to the proximal end of the second arm portion at a second bend of approximately 90° and wherein the connecting ledge extends at an angle to each of the first arm portion and the second arm portion;
• and
• d. a retaining arm portion connected to the distal end of the second arm portion at a third bend, wherein the third bend is approximately 180° such that the retaining arm portion extends substantially parallel to the second arm portion on the backside of the clip and such that a retention cavity is defined between the retaining arm portion and the second arm portion.