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R602.10.4 Construction Methods for Braced Wall Panels

Residential Code 2021 of Colorado > 6 Wall Construction > R602 Wood Wall Framing > R602.10 Wall Bracing > R602.10.4 Construction Methods for Braced Wall Panels
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Intermittent and continuously sheathed braced wall panels shall be constructed in accordance with this section and the methods listed in Table R602.10.4.
TABLE R602.10.4
BRACING METHODS
METHODS, MATERIAL MINIMUM THICKNESS FIGURE CONNECTION CRITERIAa
Fasteners Spacing
Intermittent Bracing Methods LIB

Let-in-bracing		 1 × 4 wood or approved metal straps at 45° to 60° angles for maximum 16" stud spacing Wood: 2-8d common nails or 3-8d (21/2" long × 0.113" dia.) nails Wood: per stud and top and bottom plates
Metal strap: per manufacturer Metal: per manufacturer
DWB

Diagonal wood boards		 3/4" (1" nominal) for maximum 24" stud spacing 2-8d (21/2" long × 0.113" dia.) nails or 2-13/4" long staples Per stud
WSP

Wood structural panel (See Section R604)		 3/8" Exterior sheathing per Table R602.3(3) 6" edges 12" field
Interior sheathing per Table R602.3(1) or R602.3(2) Varies by fastener
BV-WSPe

Wood structural panels with stone or masonry veneer (See Section R602.10.6.5)		 7/16" See Figure R602.10.6.5.2 8d common (21/2" × 0.131) nails 4" at panel edges 12" at intermediate supports 4" at braced wall panel end posts
SFB

Structural fiberboard sheathing		 1/2" or 25/32" for maximum 16" stud spacing 11/2" long × 0.12" dia. (for 1/2" thick sheathing) 13/4" long × 0.12" dia. (for 25/32" thick sheathing) galvanized roofing nails 3" edges 6" field
GB

Gypsum board		 1/2" Nails or screws per Table R602.3(1) for exterior locations For all braced wall panel locations: 7"edges (including top and bottom plates) 7" field
Nails or screws per Table R702.3.5 for interior locations
PBS

Particleboard sheathing (See Section R605)		 3/8" or 1/2" formaximum 16"stud spacing For 3/8", 6d common (2" long × 0.113" dia.) nails; For 1/2", 8d common (21/2" long × 0.131" dia.) nails 3" edges 6" field
PCP

Portland cement plaster		 See Section R703.6 for maximum 16" stud spacing 11/2" long, 11 gage, 0.120" dia., 7/16" dia. head nails or 7/8" long, 16 gage staples 6" o.c. on all framing members
HPS

Hardboard panel siding		 7/16" for maximum 16" stud spacing 0.092" dia., 0.225" dia. head nails with length to accommodate 11/2" penetration into studs 4" edges 8" field
ABW

Alternate braced wall		 3/8" See Section R602.10.6.1 See Section R602.10.6.1
PFH

Portal frame with hold-downs		 3/8" See Section R602.10.6.2 See Section R602.10.6.2
PFG

Portal frame at garage		 7/16" See Section R602.10.6.3 See Section R602.10.6.3
Continuous Sheathing Methods CS-WSP

Continuously sheathed wood structural panel		 3/8" Exterior sheathing per Table R602.3(3) 6" edges 12" field
Interior sheathing per Table R602.3(1) or R602.3(2) Varies by fastener
CS-Gb, c

Continuously sheathed wood structural panel adjacent to garage openings		 3/8" See Method CS-WSP See Method CS-WSP
CS-PF

Continuously sheathed portal frame		 7/16" See Section R602.10.6.4 See Section R602.10.6.4
CS-SFBd

Continuously sheathed structural fiberboard		 1/2" or 25/32" for maximum 16" stud spacing 11/2" long × 0.12" dia. (for 1/2" thick sheathing) 13/4" long × 0.12" dia. (for 25/32" thick sheathing) galvanized roofing nails 3" edges 6" field
For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 degree = 0.0175 rad, 1 pound per square foot = 47.8 N/m2, 1 mile per hour = 0.447 m/s.
  1. Adhesive attachment of wall sheathing, including Method GB, shall not be permitted in Seismic Design Categories C, D0, D1 and D2.
  2. Applies to panels next to garage door opening where supporting gable end wall or roof load only. Shall only be used on one wall of the garage. In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1 and D2, roof covering dead load shall not exceed 3 psf.
  3. Garage openings adjacent to a Method CS-G panel shall be provided with a header in accordance with Table R602.7(1). A full-height clear opening shall not be permitted adjacent to a Method CS-G panel.
  4. Method CS-SFB does not apply in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1 and D2.
  5. Method applies to detached one- and two-family dwellings in Seismic Design Categories D0 through D2 only.
R602.10.4.1 Mixing Methods
Mixing of bracing methods shall be permitted as follows:
  1. Mixing intermittent bracing and continuous sheathing methods from story to story shall be permitted.
  2. Mixing intermittent bracing methods from braced wall line to braced wall line within a story shall be permitted. In regions within Seismic Design Categories A, B and C where the ultimate design wind speed is less than or equal to 130 mph (58m/s), mixing of intermittent bracing and continuous sheathing methods from braced wall line to braced wall line within a story shall be permitted.
  3. Mixing intermittent bracing methods along a braced wall line shall be permitted in Seismic Design Categories A and B, and detached dwellings in Seismic Design Category C, provided that the length of required bracing in accordance with Table R602.10.3(1) or R602.10.3(3) is the highest value of all intermittent bracing methods used.
  4. Mixing of continuous sheathing methods CS-WSP, CS-G and CS-PF along a braced wall line shall be permitted. Intermittent methods ABW, PFH and PFG shall be permitted to be used along a braced wall line with continuous sheathed methods, provided that the length of required bracing for that braced wall line is determined in accordance with Table R602.10.3(1) or R602.10.3(3) using the highest value of the bracing methods used.
  5. In Seismic Design Categories A and B, and for detached one- and two-family dwellings in Seismic Design Category C, mixing of intermittent bracing methods along the interior portion of a braced wall line with continuous sheathing methods CS-WSP, CS-G and CS-PF along the exterior portion of the same braced wall line shall be permitted. The length of required bracing shall be the highest value of all intermittent bracing methods used in accordance with Table R602.10.3(1) or R602.10.3(3) as adjusted by Tables R602.10.3(2) and R602.10.3(4), respectively. The requirements of Section R602.10.7 shall apply to each end of the continuously sheathed portion of the braced wall line.
R602.10.4.2 Continuous Sheathing Methods
Continuous sheathing methods require structural panel sheathing to be used on all sheathable surfaces on one side of a braced wall line including areas above and below openings and gable end walls and shall meet the requirements of Section R602.10.7.
R602.10.4.3 Braced Wall Panel Interior Finish Material
Braced wall panels shall have gypsum wall board installed on the side of the wall opposite the bracing material. Gypsum wall board shall be not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in thickness and be fastened with nails or screws in accordance with Table R602.3(1) for exterior sheathing or Table R702.3.5 for interior gypsum wall board. Spacing of fasteners at panel edges for gypsum wall board opposite Method LIB bracing shall not exceed 8 inches (203 mm). Interior finish material shall not be glued in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1 and D2.

Exceptions:
  1. Interior finish material is not required opposite wall panels that are braced in accordance with Methods GB, BV-WSP, ABW, PFH, PFG and CS-PF, unless otherwise required by Section R302.6.
  2. An approved interior finish material with an in-plane shear resistance equivalent to gypsum board shall be permitted to be substituted, unless otherwise required by Section R302.6.
  3. Except for Method LIB, gypsum wall board is permitted to be omitted provided that the required length of bracing in Tables R602.10.3(1) and R602.10.3(3) is multiplied by the appropriate adjustment factor in Tables R602.10.3(2) and R602.10.3(4), respectively, unless otherwise required by Section R302.6.
R602.10.4.4 Panel Joints
Vertical joints of panel sheathing shall occur over and be fastened to common studs. Horizontal joints of panel sheathing in braced wall panels shall occur over and be fastened to common blocking of a thickness of 11/2 inches (38 mm) or greater.

Exceptions:
  1. For methods WSP and CS-WSP, blocking of horizontal joints is permitted to be omitted when adjustment factor No. 8 of Table R602.10.3(2) or No. 9 of Table R602.10.3(4) is applied.
  2. Vertical joints of panel sheathing shall be permitted to occur over double studs, where adjoining panel edges are attached to separate studs with the required panel edge fastening schedule, and the adjacent studs are attached together with two rows of 10d box nails [3 inches by 0.128 inch (76.2 mm by 3.25 mm)] at 10 inches o.c. (254 mm).
  3. Blocking at horizontal joints shall not be required in wall segments that are not counted as braced wall panels.
  4. Where Method GB panels are installed horizontally, blocking of horizontal joints is not required.
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Residential Code 2021 of Colorado > 6 Wall Construction > R602 Wood Wall Framing > R602.10 Wall Bracing > R602.10.4 Construction Methods for Braced Wall Panels