what is the most narrow wall section to meet wall bracing code

As lumberyards proceed to recover from pandemic-related supply issues, there'southward been an ever-increasing shortage of building materials, creating many challenges for edifice contractors. These shortages accept impacted availability of forest structural panel capsule and, as a result, our field engineers and sales team have received many questions about potential culling solutions to meet the wall bracing provisions inside the International Residential Code (IRC). Simpson Stiff-Tie Branch Engineer Silvia Dyer has researched these provisions and compiled this useful information for our team. At Simpson Strong-Tie, customer service is one of our top priorities. Our engineering team is always available to hash out your wall bracing situations and to assistance you investigate unique wall bracing solutions. Read Silvia's inquiry and suggestions below.

Wall bracing is fundamental to preventing failures such as racking, sliding, and overturning from horizontal forces that a structure may encounter throughout its life. The most mutual forces are air current and seismic. The IRC has prescriptive wall bracing requirements and methods in section R602.10 to accost lateral bracing including continuous and intermittent methods. Annotation that the code has specific requirements for each wall bracing method, and the length of braced wall panels vary depending on the method used. A designer may evaluate the following wall bracing methods as potential solutions when asked to reduce the amount of wood structural sheathing products in a projection.

For all the methods in the code, including those mentioned below, you can use our Wall-Bracing Length Estimator to decide the minimum length of braced wall panels you would need on a braced wall line based on the method used. In addition, y'all can utilise our Stiff-Wall® Bracing Selector to select one of our code-listed prefabricated shearwall products that meet the intent of the lawmaking while providing a narrow wall solution.

Code-Prescribed Wall Bracing

LIB (Let-in-bracing) Method

• • • Applicable to projects up to two stories high in depression seismic regions.
    • Panel heights up to 10′.
    • The ane×4 wood can be replaced by Simpson Strong-Tie metal straps – WB/WBC/RCWB (see below).
    • This method eliminates wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing; however, it requires gypsum wallboard installed on the side of the wall opposite the one×4 or metal strap per section R602.ten.4.3 with of 8″minimum edge fastener spacing for the gypsum board.
    • Minimum full wall lengths per console:
      o   55″ for viii′ walls
      o   62″ for 9′ walls
      o   69″ for 10′ walls

Table R602.10.4

• • • Simpson Strong-Tie WB/WBC/RCWB straps satisfy the "ane×4 wood or approved metal strap" for the Let-in-bracing (Method LIB) in IRC Department R602.10.
    • Our catalog and evaluation report ESR-2608 provide supporting information for these straps — see section ii.3 of ESR-2608. Method LIB is as well shown in Detail 2 of item sheet WBW1 in our wall bracing detail sheets. I provide them in pdf, dwg, and dfx format for your reference and utilise.
    • Note that WB/WBC straps must be installed in pairs. RCWB must be let into a saw kerf cut in the studs.

WSP (Wood Structural Panel) Method

• • • Applicable to projects up to iii stories high with no seismic region limit.
    • Requires a 3/8″ wood structural panel (WSP), merely the WSP doesn't demand to be placed continuously.
    • Including gypsum on the contrary side of the WSP is optional; all the same, omitting information technology will increase the required length of bracing by 50% in seismic applications and 40% in wind applications.
    • Panel heights upwardly to 12′.
    • Minimum total wall lengths per braced console of:
      o   48″ for upwards to 10′ walls
      o   53″ for 11′ walls
      o   58″ for 12′ walls

Table R602.10.4

• • Method WSP is as well shown in Particular 1 of detail canvass WBW1 in our wall bracing particular sheets. I provide them in pdf, dwg, and dfx format for your reference and apply.

Simpson Strong-Tie Wall Bracing Solutions

These solutions may be ideal for narrow wall segments or if you don't have enough length of wall to see the prescriptive requirements of the IRC:

Strong-Wall® Portal Frame Arrangement (PFS)

• • • All applications where the PFH — Portal Frame with Hold-downs — method can be used.
    • For projects up to two stories high in SDC A-C.
      o   Garage Portal Application
    • SDC Do, D1, and D2 for unmarried-story application.
      o   Garage Portal Awarding
    • No sheathing is required for the portal frame portion. Sheathing would be required if a pony wall is needed.
    • Maximum opening height x′ — and with a pony wall, up to 12′ full wall tiptop.
    • Minimum wall length of 10″ or 12″, with an equivalent of up to 8′ feet of braced wall panel length.
    • Post-installed anchor solutions.
    • Use either sawn lumber or LVL to build the frame onsite. (The only function Simpson Strong-Tie provides is the holdown and straps.)
    • Our literature and evaluation report ESR-4455 provide supporting information for this portal frame.

Example from Strong-Wall® Bracing Selector

You can employ our Stiff-Wall® Bracing Selector to select the frame kit for your projection

Steel Strong-Wall® Shearwall (SSW)

This solution can exist used in the following applications:

• • • Can supersede each culling braced wall panel noted in the IRC or four′ of wood structural panel sheathing (Method WSP of IRC). SDC A – D and up to the first of three stories.
      o   Garage portal application
      o   Balloon framing application
      o   Standard framing application
      o   Two-story stacked
    • No sheathing is required.
    • Wall lengths of 12″, 15″, 18″, 21″, and 24″.
    • It is iii ½" in width so that information technology fits within a 2×4 wall.
    • Post-installed solutions are available.
    • Our literature and evaluation written report ESR-1679 provide supporting information for this wall.

You can utilize our Strong-Wall® Bracing Selector to select the Steel Strong-Wall® kit for your project.

High-Strength Wood Stiff-Wall® Shearwall (WSWH)

This solution can exist used in the following applications:

• • • Tin can supervene upon each alternative braced wall panel noted in the IRC or 4′ of wood structural panel sheathing (Method WSP of IRC). SDC A – D and upwards to start of three stories.
      o   Garage portal application
      o   Balloon framing application
      o   Standard framing awarding
    • No sheathing is required.
    • Wall lengths of 12″, 18″, and 24″.
    • It is 3 ½" in width and so that it fits inside a 2×4 wall.
    • It can exist trimmed at the site.
    • Rake wall application.
    • Post-installed solutions are available.
    • Heights upward to twenty′.
    • Our literature and evaluation study ESR-2652 provide supporting information for this wall.

You tin use our Stiff-Wall® Bracing Selector to select the WSWH kit for your project.

General Reminders Regarding Wall Bracing Lawmaking Requirements

• Note that the IRC requires minimum locations of wall bracing panels within a braced wall line — see Figure R602.10.ii.2 of the IRC.
• If braced wall line is greater than 16′, information technology requires a minimum of 2 braced wall panels.
• All perimeter walls shall be office of a braced wall line.

Other Considerations

When an intermittent wall bracing method is used instead of a continuous sheathing bracing method, using foam plastic sheathing products such as Poly-ISO between wall bracing panels will permit residences to be more energy efficient.

Reference Links

IRC 2018
Simpson Potent-Tie Wall Bracing Details
Wall-Bracing Length Calculator
Stiff-Wall® Bracing Selector
Wall Bracing Technical Bulletin

The following links will bring up PDFs with summaries of the different IRC 2018 Wall Bracing methods and general requirements.

Wall Bracing Methods – 2018 IRC
Minimum and Constructive Lengths 2018 IRC

I hope you observe this data useful. If y'all have questions, please contact your Simpson Potent-Tie territory representative. If you don't know your territory representative, please telephone call u.s. at 1-800-999-5099. I'm sure we can work together to come upwardly with a solution during this interesting time.

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Source: https://seblog.strongtie.com/2021/06/wall-bracing-alternatives-to-help-designers-and-builders-navigate-the-lumber-shortage/

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