R602.10.4 Continuous Sheathing

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. Braced wall panels shall be constructed in accordance with one of the methods listed in Table R602.10.4.1. Different bracing methods, other than those listed in Table R602.10.4.1, shall not be permitted along a braced wall line with continuous sheathing.

TABLE R602.10.4.1
CONTINUOUS SHEATHING METHODS

METHOD	MATERIAL	MINIMUM THICKNESS	FIGURE	CONNECTION CRITERIA
CS-WSP	Wood structural panel	3/8"		6d common (2" × 0.113") nails at 6" spacing (panel edges) and at 12" spacing (intermediate supports) or 16 ga. × 13/4 staples at 3" spacing (panel edges) and 6" spacing (intermediate supports)
CS-G	Wood structural panel adjacent to garage openings and supporting roof load onlya,b	3/8"		See Method CS-WSP
CS-PF	Continuous portal frame	See Section R602.10.4.1.1		See Section R602.10.4.1.1

Continuous portal frame braced wall panels shall be constructed in accordance with Figure R602.10.4.1.1. The number of continuous portal frame panels in a single braced wall line shall not exceed four. For purposes of resisting wind pressures acting perpendicular to the wall, the requirements of Figure R602.10.4.1.1 and Table R602.10.4.1.1 shall be met. There shall be a maximum of two braced wall segments per header and header length shall not exceed 22 feet (6706 mm). Tension straps shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

TABLE R602.10.4.1.1
TENSION STRAP CAPACITY REQUIRED FOR RESISTING WIND PRESSURES
PERPENDICULAR TO 6:1 ASPECT RATIO WALLS^a,b

MINIMUM WALL STUD FRAMING NOMINAL SIZE AND GRADE	MAXIMUM PONY WALL HEIGHT (feet)	MAXIMUM TOTAL WALL HEIGHT (feet)	MAXIMUM OPENING WIDTH (feet)	BASIC WIND SPEED (mph)
				85	90	100	85	90	100
				Exposure B			Exposure C
				Tension strap capacity required (lbf)a,b
2 × 4 No. 2 Grade	0	10	18	1000	1000	1000	1000	1000	1000
	1	10	9	1000	1000	1000	1000	1000	1275
			16	1000	1000	1750	1800	2325	3500
			18	1000	1200	2100	2175	2725	DR
	2	10	9	1000	1000	1025	1075	1550	2500
			16	1525	2025	3125	3200	3900	DR
			18	1875	2400	3575	3700	DR	DR
	2	12	9	1000	1200	2075	2125	2750	4000
			16	2600	3200	DR	DR	DR	DR
			18	3175	3850	DR	DR	DR	DR
	4	12	9	1775	2350	3500	3550	DR	DR
			16	4175	DR	DR	DR	DR	DR
2 × 6 Stud Grade	2	12	9	1000	1000	1325	1375	1750	2550
			16	1650	2050	2925	3000	3550	DR
			18	2025	2450	3425	3500	4100	DR
	4	12	9	1125	1500	2225	2275	2775	3800
			16	2650	3150	DR	DR	DR	DR
			18	3125	3675	DR	DR	DR	DR

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound force = 4.448 N.

Braced wall panels along a braced wall line with continuous sheathing shall be full-height with a length based on the adjacent clear opening height in accordance with Table R602.10.4.2 and Figure R602.10.4.2. Within a braced wall line when a panel has an opening on either side of differing heights, the taller opening height shall be used to determine the panel length from Table R602.10.4.2. For Method CS-PF, wall height shall be measured from the top of the header to the bottom of the bottom plate as shown in Figure R602.10.4.1.1.

TABLE R602.10.4.2
LENGTH REQUIREMENTS FOR BRACED WALL PANELS WITH CONTINUOUS SHEATHING^a (inches)

METHOD	ADJACENT CLEAR OPENING HEIGHT (inches)	WALL HEIGHT (feet)
		8	9	10	11	12
CS-WSP	64	24	27	30	33	36
	68	26	27	30	—	—
	72	28	27	30	—	—
	76	29	30	30	—	—
	80	31	33	30	—	—
	84	35	36	33	—	—
	88	39	39	36	—	—
	92	44	42	39	—	—
	96	48	45	42	—	—
	100	—	48	45	—	—
	104	—	51	48	—	—
	108	—	54	51	—	—
	112	—	—	54	44	—
	116	—	—	57	—	—
	120	—	—	60	—	—
	122	—	—	—	—	48
	132	—	—	—	66	—
	144	—	—	—	—	75
CS-G	≤ 120	24	27	30	—	—
CS-PF	≤ 120	16	18	20	—	—

Braced wall lines with continuous sheathing shall be provided with braced wall panels in the length required in Tables R602.10.1.2(1) and R602.10.1.2(2). Only those full-height braced wall panels complying with the length requirements of Table R602.10.4.2 shall be permitted to contribute to the minimum required length of bracing.

For all continuous sheathing methods, full-height braced wall panels complying with the length requirements of Table R602.10.4.2 shall be located at each end of a braced wall line with continuous sheathing and at least every 25 feet (7620 mm) on center. A minimum 24 inch (610 mm) wood structural panel corner return shall be provided at both ends of a braced wall line with continuous sheathing in accordance with Figures R602.10.4.4(1) and R602.10.4.4(2). In lieu of the corner return, a hold-down device with a minimum uplift design value of 800 pounds (3560 N) shall be fastened to the corner stud and to the foundation or framing below in accordance with Figure R602.10.4.4(3).

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 305 mm.

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 pound = 4.448 N.

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.

For SI: 1 foot = 305 mm. 1 pound = 4.448 N.