PAC International RSIC-SI-X Low Profile
The RSIC-SI-X Low Profile is a ceiling-only spring-and-rubber isolation clip that fastens to the side of a wood or qualifying steel joist so the isolator sits largely inside the joist cavity. Its lower clip carries a standard 7/8 in, 25 ga hemmed-edge furring channel running parallel to and between the joists, and the gypsum ceiling fastens only to that channel — which is what decouples the ceiling from the structure. Depending on the installed position, the assembly projects only about 1/2 to 5/8 in below the joist, so you get spring isolation without giving up ceiling height. It is not intended for wall assemblies.
- Side-mounted into the joist cavity: The clip fastens to the side of solid wood joists, I-joists, wood open-web trusses or qualifying steel framing. The spring and rubber isolator sit largely within the cavity rather than below it.
- Chosen to protect ceiling height: This is the clip you pick when a standard below-joist isolation clip would drop the ceiling too far. Depending on the installed position and detail, the assembly projects only about 1/2 to 5/8 in below the joist.
- Standard 7/8 in furring channel below: The lower clip receives standard 7/8 in, 25 ga hemmed-edge drywall furring channel running parallel to and between the joists. Gypsum board fastens only to that channel — never back to the framing.
- Elevation is set by the fastener, once: The clip is not height-adjustable after fastening. The installer establishes the finished elevation by locating the side-mount fastener accurately, ideally working from a laser line.
- Colour-coded spring capacities: At 3/8 in design deflection: White 7 lb for edge, corner and infill; Blue 13 lb for field and edge; Red 26 lb primarily for the field. Spring choice is separate from how many clips you need.
Online orders up to 4,999 pieces. For anything larger, call (415) 864-4440 and we'll price the project with you.
Volume pricing
$18.25 per clip. Order 250+ clips and pay $17.95 per clip — an extra $0.30 off per clip for each additional 250 clips, down to a $16.00 per clip floor.
Discounts apply automatically in the cart and count boxes and cases toward the total.
RSIC-SI-X LOW PROFILE Specifications
- Use in ceilings
- Yes
- Use in walls
- No — not intended for wall assemblies
- New construction
- Yes
- Retrofit
- No
- Type
- Low-profile, side-mounted spring-and-rubber ceiling isolation clip
- Mounts to
- The side of solid wood joists, I-joists, wood open-web trusses, or qualifying steel framing (minimum 20 ga / 0.030 in)
- Lower channel
- Standard 7/8 in, 25 ga hemmed-edge drywall furring channel, run parallel to and between the joists
- Projection below the joist
- About 1/2 to 5/8 in, depending on the installed position and detail
- Height adjustment
- None after fastening — set the elevation from a laser line
- Acoustical design load
- White 7 lb · Blue 13 lb · Red 26 lb per clip at 3/8 in design deflection
- Approved fastener
- Must provide at least 100 lb pull-out and shear. Wood: minimum #8 x 1-1/2 in coarse-thread (PAC recommends #10 or #12 x 1-1/2 in). Qualifying steel: minimum #8 x 1 in fine-thread (PAC recommends #10 or #12 x 1 in)
- Maximum layout
- Joists 16 in o.c. → clips max 48 in o.c. along each line · Joists 24 in o.c. → clips max 32 in o.c.
- Rough density
- About 1 clip per 5.33 sq ft in the field — a sanity check only
- Perimeter
- First and last support within 8 in of the perimeter; PAC's illustrated layout commonly shows about 6 in
- Channel splices
- 6 in long, at midspan between clips, secured with 18 ga tie wire or two 7/16 in framing screws as PAC directs
- Perimeter detail
- 1/4 in perimeter isolation tape below the channel at walls, gypsum kept snug to the tape, perimeter acoustically sealed
Making the connection
- 1 — Joist or qualifying steel framing
- Solid wood joist, I-joist, wood open-web truss, or steel framing of minimum 20 ga / 0.030 in
- 2 — Approved side-mount fastener
- Through the upper bracket into the side of the framing member; minimum 100 lb pull-out and shear, located accurately from a laser line
- 3 — Spring and rubber isolator
- Sits largely inside the joist cavity — this is the point of isolation
- 4 — Lower channel clip
- Receives the furring channel; not adjustable once the fastener is set
- 5 — 7/8 in furring channel
- Standard 7/8 in, 25 ga hemmed-edge channel running parallel to and between the joists
- 6 — Gypsum ceiling
- Fastened only to the furring channel, snug to 1/4 in perimeter isolation tape, with the perimeter acoustically sealed
RSIC-SI-X Low Profile Preliminary Clip Count
Ceilings only — this clip is not intended for wall assemblies. Clips side-mount to the joists, so the count is the number of supported joist/channel lines multiplied by the clip positions along each line. Joists at 16 in o.c. allow clips at a maximum of 48 in o.c.; joists at 24 in o.c. tighten that to a maximum of 32 in o.c.
- White — 7 lb
- Edge, corner and infill positions
- Blue — 13 lb
- Field and edge
- Red — 26 lb
- Primarily field
Those capacities are stated at 3/8 in design deflection. Spring selection is separate from the clip count — never divide the ceiling weight by a spring rating to get a quantity. Field, edge and corner positions carry different tributary loads, so the colour mix comes from the project submittal.
How RSIC-SI-X LOW PROFILE compares
| Model | Use | Mounting | Lower channel | Maximum layout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSIC-SI-X Low Profilethis | Ceilings only · new construction | Side of the joist, isolator inside the cavity | 7/8 in, 25 ga hemmed-edge furring channel | Joists 16 in o.c. → 48 in o.c. · joists 24 in o.c. → 32 in o.c. |
| RSIC-SI-X | Per its own listing | Per the RSIC-SI-X installation guide | 7/8 in furring channel | Per its own guide |
| RSIC-1 | Walls and ceilings per its own listing | Fastened to the framing member | 7/8 in furring channel | Per the RSIC-1 installation guide |
