For the purpose of determining the amount and location of bracing required in each story level of a building, braced wall lines shall be designated as straight lines in the building plan placed in accordance with this section.
The length of a braced wall line shall be the distance between its ends. The end of a braced wall line shall be the intersection with a perpendicular braced wall line, an angled braced wall line as permitted in Section R602.10.1.4 or an exterior wall as shown in Figure R602.10.1.1.
FIGURE R602.10.1.1 BRACED WALL LINES
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
FIGURE R602.10.1.1 BRACED WALL LINES
Exterior walls parallel to a braced wall line shall be offset not more than 4 feet (1219 mm) from the designated braced wall line location as shown in Figure R602.10.1.1. Interior walls used as bracing shall be offset not more than 4 feet (1219 mm) from a braced wall line through the interior of the building as shown in Figure R602.10.1.1.
The spacing between parallel braced wall lines shall be in accordance with Table R602.10.1.3. Intermediate braced wall lines through the interior of the building shall be permitted.
TABLE R602.10.1.3 BRACED WALL LINE SPACING
TABLE R602.10.1.3 BRACED WALL LINE SPACING
| APPLICATION | CONDITION | BUILDING TYPE | BRACED WALL LINE SPACING CRITERIA | |
| Maximum Spacing | Exception to Maximum Spacing | |||
| Wind bracing | Ultimate design wind speed 100 mph to < 140 mph | Detached, townhouse | 60 feet | None |
| Seismic bracing | SDC A ‒ C | Detached | Use wind bracing | |
| SDC A ‒ B | Townhouse | Use wind bracing | ||
| SDC C | Townhouse | 35 feet | Up to 50 feet when length of required bracing per Table R602.10.3(3) is adjusted in accordance with Table R602.10.3(4). | |
| SDC D0, D1, D2 | Detached, townhouses, one- and two-story only | 25 feet | Up to 35 feet to allow for a single room not to exceed 900 square feet. Spacing of all other braced wall lines shall not exceed 25 feet. | |
| SDC D0, D1, D2 | Detached, townhouse | 25 feet | Up to 35 feet when length of required bracing per Table R602.10.3(3) is adjusted in accordance with Table R602.10.3(4). | |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2, 1 mile per hour = 0.447 m/s.
Any portion of a wall along a braced wall line shall be permitted to angle out of plane for a maximum diagonal length of 8 feet (2438 mm). Where the angled wall occurs at a corner, the length of the braced wall line shall be measured from the projected corner as shown in Figure R602.10.1.4. Where the diagonal length is greater than 8 feet (2438 mm), it shall be considered a separate braced wall line and shall be braced in accordance with Section R602.10.1.
FIGURE R602.10.1.4 ANGLED WALLS
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
FIGURE R602.10.1.4 ANGLED WALLS