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// CODE SNIPPET

R703.3 Nominal Thickness and Attachments

2015 South Carolina Residential Code > 7 Wall Covering > R703 Exterior Covering > R703.3 Nominal Thickness and Attachments
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The nominal thickness and attachment of exterior wall coverings shall be in accordance with Table R703.3(1), the wall covering material requirements of this section, and the wall covering manufacturer's installation instructions. Cladding attachment over foam sheathing shall comply with the additional requirements and limitations of Sections R703.15 through R703.17. Nominal material thicknesses in Table R703.3(1) are based on a maximum stud spacing of 16 inches (406 mm) on center. Where specified by the siding manufacturer's instructions and supported by a test report or other documentation, attachment to studs with greater spacing is permitted. Fasteners for exterior wall coverings attached to wood framing shall be in accordance with Section R703.3.2 and Table R703.3(1). Exterior wall coverings shall be attached to cold-formed steel light frame construction in accordance with the cladding manufacturer's installation instructions, the requirements of Table R703.3(1) using screw fasteners substituted for the nails specified in accordance with Table R703.3(2), or an approved design.

TABLE R703.3(1)
SIDING MINIMUM ATTACHMENT AND MINIMUM THICKNESS
SIDING MATERIAL NOMINAL
THICKNESS
(inches)
JOINT
TREATMENT
TYPE OF SUPPORTS FOR THE SIDING MATERIAL AND FASTENERS
Wood or wood
structural
panel
sheathing
into stud
Fiberboard
sheathing
into stud
Gypsum
sheathing
into stud
Foam plastic
sheathing
into studl
Direct
to studs
Number or
spacing of
fasteners
Anchored veneer: brick,
concrete, masonry or stone
(see Section R703.8)
2 Section
R703.8
Section R703.8
Adhered veneer:
concrete, stone or masonry
(see Section R703.12)
— Section
R703.12
Section R703.12
Fiber cement
siding
Panel siding
(see Section
R703.10.1)
5/16 Section
R703.10.1
6d common
(2" × 0.113")
6d common
(2" × 0.113")
6d common
(2" × 0.113")
6d common
(2" × 0.113")
4d common
(11/2" × 0.099")
6" panel
edges 12"
inter. sup.
Lap siding
(see Section
R703.10.2)
5/16 Section
R703.10.2
6d common
(2" × 0.113")
6d common
(2" × 0.113")
6d common
(2" × 0.113")
6d common
(2" × 0.113")
6d common
(2" × 0.113")
or 11 gage
roofing nail
Note f
Hardboard panel siding
(see Section R703.5)
7/16 — 0.120" nail
(shank) with
0.225" head
0.120" nail
(shank) with
0.225" head
0.120" nail
(shank) with
0.225" head
0.120" nail
(shank) with
0.225" head
0.120" nail
(shank) with
0.225" head
6" panel
edges 12"
inter. sup.d
Hardboard lap siding
(see Section R703.5)
7/16 Note e 0.099" nail
(shank) with
0.240" head
0.099" nail
(shank) with
0.240" head
0.099" nail
(shank) with
0.240" head
0.099" nail
(shank) with
0.240" head
0.099" nail
(shank) with
0.240" head
Same as stud
spacing 2
per bearing
Horizontal
aluminuma
Without
insulation
0.019b Lap Siding nail
11/2" × 0.120"
Siding nail
2" × 0.120"
Siding nail
2" × 0.120"
Siding nailh
11/2" × 0.120"
Not allowed Same as
stud
spacing
0.024 Lap Siding nail
11/2" × 0.120"
Siding nail
2" × 0.120"
Siding nail
2" × 0.120"
Siding nailh
11/2" × 0.120"
Not allowed
With
insulation
0.019 Lap Siding nail
11/2" × 0.120"
Siding nail
21/2" × 0.120"
Siding nail
21/2" × 0.120"
Siding nailh
11/2" × 0.120"
Siding nail
11/2" × 0.120"
Insulated vinyl sidingj 0.035 (vinyl
siding
layer only)
Lap 0.120 nail
(shank) with
a 0.313 head
or 16-gage
crownh, i
0.120 nail
(shank) with
a 0.313 head
or 16-gage
crownh
0.120 nail
(shank) with
a 0.313 head
or 16-gage
crownh
0.120 nail
(shank) with
a 0.313 head
Section
R703.11.2
Not allowed 16 inches on
center or
specified by
manufacturer
instructions,
test report
or other
sections of
this code
Particleboard panels 3/8 — 6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
Not
allowed
6" panel
edges 12"
inter. sup.
1/2 — 6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
5/8 — 6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
8d box nail
(21/2" × 0.113")
8d box nail
(21/2" × 0.113")
6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box nail
(2" × 0.099")
Polypropylene sidingk Not
applicable
Lap Section
703.14.1
Section
703.14.1
Section
703.14.1
Section
703.14.1
Not
allowed
As specified
by the
manufacturer
instructions,
test report
or other
sections of
this code
Steelc 29 ga. Lap Siding nail
(13/4" ×
0.113")
Staple—13/4"
Siding nail
(23/4" ×
0.113")
Staple—21/2"
Siding nail
(21/2" ×
0.113")
Staple—21/4"
Siding nail
(13/4" x
0.113")
Staple—13/4"
Not
allowed
Same as
stud spacing
Vinyl siding
(see Section R703.11)
0.035 Lap 0.120" nail
(shank) with
a 0.313" head
or 16-gage
staple with
3/8- to 1/2-inch
crownh, i
0.120" nail
(shank) with
a 0.313" head
or 16-gage
staple with
3/8- to 1/2-
inch crownh
0.120" nail
(shank) with a
0.313" head or
16- gage
staple with
3/8- to 1/2-
inch crownh
0.120" nail
(shank) with
a 0.313 head
Section
R703.11.2
Not
allowed
16 inches on
center or as
specified
by the
manufacturer
instructions or
test report
Wood siding
(see Section
R703.5)
Wood rustic,
drop
3/8 min. Lap 6d box or
siding nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box or
siding nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box or
siding nail
(2" × 0.099")
6d box or
siding nail
(2" × 0.099")
8d box or
siding nail
(21/2" ×
0.113")
Staple—2"
Face nailing
up to 6"
widths, 1 nail
per bearing;
8" widths
and over,
2 nails
per bearing
Shiplap 19/32
average
Lap
Bevel 7/16
Butt tip 3/16 Lap
Wood structural panel
ANSI/APA PRP-210
siding (exterior grade)
(see Section R703.5)
3/8 — 1/2 Note e 2" × 0.099"
siding nail
21/2" ×
0.113"
siding nail
21/2" ×
0.113"
siding nail
21/2" ×
0.113"
siding nail
2" × 0.099"
siding nail
6" panel
edges 12"
inter. sup.
Wood structural panel
lap siding (see Section
R703.5)
3/8 — 1/2 Note e
Note g
2" × 0.099"
siding nail
21/2" ×
0.113"
siding nail
21/2" × 0.113"
siding nail
21/2" ×
0.113"
siding nail
2" × 0.099"
siding nail
8" along
bottom edge

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.
  1. Aluminum nails shall be used to attach aluminum siding.
  2. Aluminum (0.019 inch) shall be unbacked only where the maximum panel width is 10 inches and the maximum flat area is 8 inches. The tolerance for aluminum siding shall be +0.002 inch of the nominal dimension.
  3. Shall be of approved type.
  4. Where used to resist shear forces, the spacing must be 4 inches at panel edges and 8 inches on interior supports.
  5. Vertical end joints shall occur at studs and shall be covered with a joint cover or shall be caulked.
  6. Face nailing: one 6d common nail through the overlapping planks at each stud. Concealed nailing: one 11-gage 11/2 -inch-long galv. roofing nail through the top edge of each plank at each stud in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
  7. Vertical joints, if staggered, shall be permitted to be away from studs if applied over wood structural panel sheathing.
  8. Minimum fastener length must be sufficient to penetrate sheathing other nailable substrate and framing a total of a minimum of 11/4 inches or in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
  9. Where specified by the manufacturer's instructions and supported by a test report, fasteners are permitted to penetrate into or fully through nailable sheathing or other nailable substrate of minimum thickness specified by the instructions or test report, without penetrating into framing.
  10. Insulated vinyl siding shall comply with ASTM D 7793.
  11. Polypropylene siding shall comply with ASTM D 7254.
  12. Cladding attachment over foam sheathing shall comply with the additional requirements and limitations of Sections R703.15, R703.16 and R703.17.
TABLE R703.3(2)
SCREW FASTENER SUBSTITUTION FOR SIDING ATTACHMENT TO COLD-FORMED STEEL LIGHT FRAME CONSTRUCTIONa, b, c, d, e
NAIL DIAMETER
PER TABLE R703.3(1)
MINIMUM SCREW
FASTENER SIZE
0.099" No. 6
0.113" No. 7
0.120" No. 8

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm
  1. Screws shall comply with ASTM C 1513 and shall penetrate a minimum of three threads through minimum 33 mil (20 gage) cold-formed steel frame construction.
  2. Screw head diameter shall be not less than the nail head diameter required by Table R703.3(1).
  3. Number and spacing of screw fasteners shall comply with Table R703.3(1).
  4. Pan head, hex washer head, modified truss head or other screw head types with a flat attachment surface under the head shall be used for vinyl siding attachment.
  5. Aluminum siding shall not be fastened directly to cold-formed steel light frame construction.

R703.3.1 Wind Limitations

Where the design wind pressure exceeds 30 psf or where the limits of Table R703.3.1 are exceeded, the attachment of wall coverings shall be designed to resist the component and cladding loads specified in Table R301.2(2), adjusted for height and exposure in accordance with Table R301.2(3). For the determination of wall covering attachment, component and cladding loads shall be determined using an effective wind area of 10 square feet (0.93 m2).

TABLE R703.3.1
LIMITS FOR ATTACHMENT PER TABLE R703.3(1)
MAXIMUM MEAN ROOF HEIGHT
Ultimate Wind Speed
(mph 3-second gust)
Exposure
B C D
115 NL 50' 20'
120 NL 30' DR
130 60' 15' DR
140 35' DR DR

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 mile per hour = 0.447 m/s.

NL = Not limited by Table R703.3.1, DR = Design required.

R703.3.2 Fasteners

Exterior wall coverings shall be securely fastened with aluminum, galvanized, stainless steel or rust-preventative coated nails or staples in accordance with Table R703.3(1) or with other approved corrosion-resistant fasteners in accordance with the wall covering manufacturer's installation instructions. Nails and staples shall comply with ASTM F1667. Nails shall be T-head, modified round head, or round head with smooth or deformed shanks. Staples shall have a minimum crown width of 7/16 inch (11.1 mm) outside diameter and be manufactured of minimum 16-gage wire. Where fiberboard, gypsum, or foam plastic sheathing backing is used, nails or staples shall be driven into the studs. Where wood or wood structural panel sheathing is used, fasteners shall be driven into studs unless otherwise permitted to be driven into sheathing in accordance with either the siding manufacturer's installation instructions or Table R703.3.2.

TABLE R703.3.2
OPTIONAL SIDING ATTACHMENT SCHEDULE FOR FASTENERS WHERE NO STUD PENETRATION NECESSARY
APPLICATION NUMBER AND TYPE OF FASTENER SPACING OF FASTENERSb
Exterior wall covering (weighing 3 psf or less) attachment
to wood structural panel sheathing, either direct or over
foam sheathing a maximum of 2 inches thick.a
Note: Does not apply to vertical siding.
Ring shank roofing nail (0.120" min. dia.) 12" o.c.
Ring shank nail (0.148" min. dia.) 15" o.c.
No. 6 screw (0.138" min. dia.) 12" o.c.
No. 8 screw (0.164" min. dia.) 16" o.c.

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.
  1. Fastener length shall be sufficient to penetrate back side of the wood structural panel sheathing by at least 1/4 inch. The wood structural panel sheathing shall be not less than 7/16 inch in thickness.
  2. Spacing of fasteners is per 12 inches of siding width. For other siding widths, multiply "Spacing of Fasteners" above by a factor of 12/s, where "s" is the siding width in inches. Fastener spacing shall never be greater than the manufacturer's minimum recommendations.
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