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// CODE SNIPPET

R602.10.3 Required Length of Bracing

Residential Code 2015 of Utah > 6 Wall Construction > R602 Wood Wall Framing > R602.10 Wall Bracing > R602.10.3 Required Length of Bracing
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The required length of bracing along each braced wall line shall be determined as follows:

1. All buildings in Seismic Design Categories A and B shall use Table R602.10.3(1) and the applicable adjustment factors in Table R602.10.3(2).

2. Detached buildings in Seismic Design Category C shall use Table R602.10.3(1) and the applicable adjustment factors in Table R602.10.3(2).

3. Townhouses in Seismic Design Category C shall use the greater value determined from Table R602.10.3(1) or R602.10.3(3) and the applicable adjustment factors in Table R602.10.3(2) or R602.10.3(4), respectively.

4. All buildings in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1 and D2 shall use the greater value determined from Table R602.10.3(1) or R602.10.3(3) and the applicable adjustment factors in Table R602.10.3(2) or R602.10.3(4), respectively.

Only braced wall panels parallel to the braced wall line shall contribute toward the required length of bracing of that braced wall line. Braced wall panels along an angled wall meeting the minimum length requirements of Tables R602.10.5 and R602.10.5.2 shall be permitted to contribute its projected length toward the minimum required length of bracing for the braced wall line as shown in Figure R602.10.1.4. Any braced wall panel on an angled wall at the end of a braced wall line shall contribute its projected length for only one of the braced wall lines at the projected corner.

Exception: The length of wall bracing for dwellings in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1 and D2 with stone or masonry veneer installed in accordance with Section R703.8 and exceeding the first-story height shall be in accordance with Section R602.10.6.5.

TABLE R602.10.3(1) BRACING REQUIREMENTS BASED ON WIND SPEED

• EXPOSURE CATEGORY B
• 30-FOOT MEAN ROOF HEIGHT
• 10-FOOT WALL HEIGHT
• 2 BRACED WALL LINES		 MINIMUM TOTAL LENGTH (FEET) OF BRACED WALL PANELS
REQUIRED ALONG EACH BRACED WALL LINEa
Ultimate
Design Wind
Speed
(mph)		 Story Location Braced Wall Line
Spacingc
(feet)		 Method LIBb Method GB Methods
DWB, WSP, SFB,
PBS, PCP, HPS,
BV-WSP, ABW, PFH,
PFC, CS-SFB		 Methods
CS-WSP, CS-G,
CS-PF
≤ 110 10 3.5 3.5 2.0 1.5
20 6.0 6.0 3.5 3.0
30 8.5 8.5 5.0 4.5
40 11.5 11.5 6.5 5.5
50 14.0 14.0 8.0 7.0
60 16.5 16.5 9.5 8.0
10 6.5 6.5 3.5 3.0
20 11.5 11.5 6.5 5.5
30 16.5 16.5 9.5 8.0
40 21.5 21.5 12.5 10.5
50 26.5 26.5 15.5 13.0
60 31.5 31.5 18.0 15.5
10 NP 9.5 5.5 4.5
20 NP 17.0 10.0 8.5
30 NP 24.5 14.0 12.0
40 NP 32.0 18.5 15.5
50 NP 39.5 22.5 19.0
60 NP 46.5 26.5 23.0
≤ 115 10 3.5 3.5 2.0 2.0
20 6.5 6.5 3.5 3.5
30 9.5 9.5 5.5 4.5
40 12.5 12.5 7.0 6.0
50 15.0 15.0 9.0 7.5
60 18.0 18.0 10.5 9.0
10 7.0 7.0 4.0 3.5
20 12.5 12.5 7.5 6.5
30 18.0 18.0 10.5 9.0
40 23.5 23.5 13.5 11.5
50 29.0 29.0 16.5 14.0
60 34.5 34.5 20.0 17.0
10 NP 10.0 6.0 5.0
20 NP 18.5 11.0 9.0
30 NP 27.0 15.5 13.0
40 NP 35.0 20.0 17.0
50 NP 43.0 24.5 21.0
60 NP 51.0 29.0 25.0


(continued)

TABLE R602.10.3(1)‒continued BRACING REQUIREMENTS BASED ON WIND SPEED

• EXPOSURE CATEGORY B
• 30-FOOT MEAN ROOF HEIGHT
• 10-FOOT WALL HEIGHT
• 2 BRACED WALL LINES		 MINIMUM TOTAL LENGTH (FEET) OF BRACED WALL PANELS
REQUIRED ALONG EACH BRACED WALL LINEa
Ultimate Design
Wind Speed
(mph)		 Story Location Braced Wall Line
Spacingc
(feet)		 Method LIBb Method GB Methods
DWB, WSP, SFB,
PBS, PCP, HPS,
BV-WSP, ABW, PFH,
PFG, CS-SFB		 Methods
CS-WSP, CS-G,
CS-PF
≤ 120 10 4.0 4.0 2.5 2.0
20 7.0 7.0 4.0 3.5
30 10.5 10.5 6.0 5.0
40 13.5 13.5 8.0 6.5
50 16.5 16.5 9.5 8.0
60 19.5 19.5 11.5 9.5
10 7.5 7.5 4.5 3.5
20 14.0 14.0 8.0 7.0
30 20.0 20.0 11.5 9.5
40 25.5 25.5 15.0 12.5
50 31.5 31.5 18.0 15.5
60 37.5 37.5 21.5 18.5
10 NP 11.0 6.5 5.5
20 NP 20.5 11.5 10.0
30 NP 29.0 17.0 14.5
40 NP 38.0 22.0 18.5
50 NP 47.0 27.0 23.0
60 NP 55.5 32.0 27.0
≤ 130 10 4.5 4.5 2.5 2.5
20 8.5 8.5 5.0 4.0
30 12.0 12.0 7.0 6.0
40 15.5 15.5 9.0 7.5
50 19.5 19.5 11.0 9.5
60 23.0 23.0 13.0 11.0
10 8.5 8.5 5.0 4.5
20 16.0 16.0 9.5 8.0
30 23.0 23.0 13.5 11.5
40 30.0 30.0 17.5 15.0
50 37.0 37.0 21.5 18.0
60 44.0 44.0 25.0 21.5
10 NP 13.0 7.5 6.5
20 NP 24.0 13.5 11.5
30 NP 34.5 19.5 17.0
40 NP 44.5 25.5 22.0
50 NP 55.0 31.5 26.5
60 NP 65.0 37.5 31.5


(continued)

TABLE R602.10.3(1)‒continued BRACING REQUIREMENTS BASED ON WIND SPEED

• EXPOSURE CATEGORY B
• 30-FOOT MEAN ROOF HEIGHT
• 10-FOOT WALL HEIGHT
• 2 BRACED WALL LINES		 MINIMUM TOTAL LENGTH (FEET) OF BRACED WALL PANELS
REQUIRED ALONG EACH BRACED WALL LINEa
Ultimate Design
Wind Speed
(mph)		 Story Location Braced Wall Line
Spacingc
(feet)		 Method LIBb Method GB Methods
DWB, WSP, SFB,
PBS, PCP, HPS,
BV-WSP, ABW, PFH,
PFG, CS-SFB		 Methods
CS-WSP, CS-G,
CS-PF
< 140 10 5.5 5.5 3.0 2.5
20 10.0 10.0 5.5 5.0
30 14.0 14.0 8.0 7.0
40 18.0 18.0 10.5 9.0
50 22.5 22.5 13.0 11.0
60 26.5 26.5 15.0 13.0
10 10.0 10.0 6.0 5.0
20 18.5 18.5 11.0 9.0
30 27.0 27.0 15.5 13.0
40 35.0 35.0 20.0 17.0
50 43.0 43.0 24.5 21.0
60 51.0 51.0 29.0 25.0
10 NP 15.0 8.5 7.5
20 NP 27.5 16.0 13.5
30 NP 39.5 23.0 19.5
40 NP 51.5 29.5 25.0
50 NP 63.5 36.5 31.0
60 NP 75.5 43.0 36.5

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 mile per hour = 0.447 m/s.
a. Linear interpolation shall be permitted.
b. Method LIB shall have gypsum board fastened to not less than one side with nails or screws in accordance with Table R602.3(1) for exterior sheathing or Table R702.3.5 for interior gypsum board. Spacing of fasteners at panel edges shall not exceed 8 inches.
c. Where a braced wall line has parallel braced wall lines on one or both sides of differing dimensions, the average dimension shall be permitted to be used for braced wall line spacing.


TABLE R602.10.3(2) WIND ADJUSTMENT FACTORS TO THE REQUIRED LENGTH OF WALL BRACING

ITEM
NUMBER		 ADJUSTMENT BASED ON STORY/SUPPORTING CONDITION ADJUSTMENT
FACTORa, b
[multiply length from
Table R602.10.3(1) by
this factor]		 APPLICABLE METHODS
1 Exposure category One-story
structure		 B 1.00 All methods
C 1.20
D 1.50
Two-story
structure		 B 1.00
C 1.30
D 1.60
Three-story
structure		 B 1.00
C 1.40
D 1.70
2 Roof eave-to-ridge
height		 Roof only ≤ 5 feet 0.70
10 feet 1.00
15 feet 1.30
20 feet 1.60
Roof + 1 floor ≤ 5 feet 0.85
10 feet 1.00
15 feet 1.15
20 feet 1.30
Roof + 2 floors ≤ 5 feet 0.90
10 feet 1.00
15 feet 1.10
20 feet Not permitted
3 Wall height
adjustment		 Any story 8 feet 0.90
9 feet 0.95
10 feet 1.00
11 feet 1.05
12 feet 1.10
4 Number of braced
wall lines (per plan
direction)c		 Any story 2 1.00
3 1.30
4 1.45
≥ 5 1.60
5 Additional 800-pound
hold-down device		 Top story only Fastened to the end
studs of each braced
wall panel and to the
foundation or framing
below		 0.80 DWB, WSP, SFB,
PBS, PCP, HPS
6 Interior gypsum board
finish (or equivalent)		 Any story Omitted from inside face
of braced wall panels		 1.40 DWB, WSP, SFB,
PBS, PCP, HPS, CS-
WSP, CS-G, CS-SFB
7 Gypsum board
fastening		 Any story 4 inches o.c. at panel
edges, including top
and bottom plates, and
all horizontal joints
blocked		 0.7 GB

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound = 4.48 N.
a. Linear interpolation shall be permitted.
b. The total adjustment factor is the product of all applicable adjustment factors.
c. The adjustment factor is permitted to be 1.0 when determining bracing amounts for intermediate braced wall lines provided the bracing amounts on adjacent braced wall lines are based on a spacing and number that neglects the intermediate braced wall line.


TABLE R602.10.3(3) BRACING REQUIREMENTS BASED ON SEISMIC DESIGN CATEGORY

• SOIL CLASS Db
• WALL HEIGHT = 10 FEET
• 10 PSF FLOOR DEAD LOAD
• 15 PSF ROOF/CEILING DEAD LOAD
• BRACED WALL LINE SPACING ≤ 25 FEET		 MINIMUM TOTAL LENGTH (FEET) OF BRACED WALL PANELS
REQUIRED ALONG EACH BRACED WALL LINEa
Seismic Design
Category		 Story Location Braced Wall Line
Length
(feet)c		 Method LIBd Method GB Methods
DWB, SFB, PBS,
PCP, HPS,
CS-SFB		 Method
WSP		 Methods
CS-WSP,
CS-G
C
(townhouses only)		 10 2.5 2.5 2.5 1.6 1.4
20 5.0 5.0 5.0 3.2 2.7
30 7.5 7.5 7.5 4.8 4.1
40 10.0 10.0 10.0 6.4 5.4
50 12.5 12.5 12.5 8.0 6.8
10 NP 4.5 4.5 3.0 2.6
20 NP 9.0 9.0 6.0 5.1
30 NP 13.5 13.5 9.0 7.7
40 NP 18.0 18.0 12.0 10.2
50 NP 22.5 22.5 15.0 12.8
10 NP 6.0 6.0 4.5 3.8
20 NP 12.0 12.0 9.0 7.7
30 NP 18.0 18.0 13.5 11.5
40 NP 24.0 24.0 18.0 15.3
50 NP 30.0 30.0 22.5 19.1
D0 10 NP 2.8 2.8 1.8 1.6
20 NP 5.5 5.5 3.6 3.1
30 NP 8.3 8.3 5.4 4.6
40 NP 11.0 11.0 7.2 6.1
50 NP 13.8 13.8 9.0 7.7
10 NP 5.3 5.3 3.8 3.2
20 NP 10.5 10.5 7.5 6.4
30 NP 15.8 15.8 11.3 9.6
40 NP 21.0 21.0 15.0 12.8
50 NP 26.3 26.3 18.8 16.0
10 NP 7.3 7.3 5.3 4.5
20 NP 14.5 14.5 10.5 9.0
30 NP 21.8 21.8 15.8 13.4
40 NP 29.0 29.0 21.0 17.9
50 NP 36.3 36.3 26.3 22.3


(continued)

TABLE R602.10.3(3)‒continued BRACING REQUIREMENTS BASED ON SEISMIC DESIGN CATEGORY

• SOIL CLASS Db
• WALL HEIGHT = 10 FEET
• 10 PSF FLOOR DEAD LOAD
• 15 PSF ROOF/CEILING DEAD LOAD
• BRACED WALL LINE SPACING ≤ 25 FEET		 MINIMUM TOTAL LENGTH (FEET) OF BRACED WALL PANELS
REQUIRED ALONG EACH BRACED WALL LINEa
Seismic Design
Category		 Story Location Braced Wall Line
Length
(feet)c		 Method LIBd Method GB Methods
DWB, SFB,
PBS, PCP,
HPS, CS-SFB		 Method
WSP		 Methods
CS-WSP,
CS-G
D1 10 NP 3.0 3.0 2.0 1.7
20 NP 6.0 6.0 4.0 3.4
30 NP 9.0 9.0 6.0 5.1
40 NP 12.0 12.0 8.0 6.8
50 NP 15.0 15.0 10.0 8.5
10 NP 6.0 6.0 4.5 3.8
20 NP 12.0 12.0 9.0 7.7
30 NP 18.0 18.0 13.5 11.5
40 NP 24.0 24.0 18.0 15.3
50 NP 30.0 30.0 22.5 19.1
10 NP 8.5 8.5 6.0 5.1
20 NP 17.0 17.0 12.0 10.2
30 NP 25.5 25.5 18.0 15.3
40 NP 34.0 34.0 24.0 20.4
50 NP 42.5 42.5 30.0 25.5
D2 10 NP 4.0 4.0 2.5 2.1
20 NP 8.0 8.0 5.0 4.3
30 NP 12.0 12.0 7.5 6.4
40 NP 16.0 16.0 10.0 8.5
50 NP 20.0 20.0 12.5 10.6
10 NP 7.5 7.5 5.5 4.7
20 NP 15.0 15.0 11.0 9.4
30 NP 22.5 22.5 16.5 14.0
40 NP 30.0 30.0 22.0 18.7
50 NP 37.5 37.5 27.5 23.4
10 NP NP NP NP NP
20 NP NP NP NP NP
30 NP NP NP NP NP
40 NP NP NP NP NP
50 NP NP NP NP NP
Cripple wall below
one- or two-story dwelling		 10 NP NP NP 7.5 6.4
20 NP NP NP 15.0 12.8
30 NP NP NP 22.5 19.1
40 NP NP NP 30.0 25.5
50 NP NP NP 37.5 31.9

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kPa.
a. Linear interpolation shall be permitted.
b. Wall bracing lengths are based on a soil site class "D." Interpolation of bracing length between the Sds values associated with the seismic design categories shall be permitted when a site-specific Sds value is determined in accordance with Section 1613.3 of the International Building Code.
c. Where the braced wall line length is greater than 50 feet, braced wall lines shall be permitted to be divided into shorter segments having lengths of 50 feet or less, and the amount of bracing within each segment shall be in accordance with this table.
d. Method LIB shall have gypsum board fastened to not less than one side with nails or screws in accordance with Table R602.3(1) for exterior sheathing or Table R702.3.5 for interior gypsum board. Spacing of fasteners at panel edges shall not exceed 8 inches.
e. Method CS-SFB does not apply in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1 and D2.


TABLE R602.10.3(4) SEISMIC ADJUSTMENT FACTORS TO THE REQUIRED LENGTH OF WALL BRACING

ITEM
NUMBER		 ADJUSTMENT
BASED ON:		 STORY CONDITION ADJUSTMENT
FACTORa, b
[Multiply length
from Table
R602.10.3(3) by this
factor]		 APPLICABLE
METHODS
1 Story height
(Section 301.3)		 Any story ≤ 10 feet 1.0 All methods
> 10 feet and ≤ 12 feet 1.2
2 Braced wall line
spacing, townhouses
in SDC C		 Any story ≤ 35 feet 1.0
> 35 feet and ≤ 50 feet 1.43
3 Braced wall line
spacing, in
SDC D0, D1, D2c		 Any story > 25 feet and ≤ 30 feet 1.2
> 30 feet and ≤ 35 feet 1.4
4 Wall dead load Any story > 8 psf and < 15 psf 1.0
< 8 psf 0.85
5 Roof/ceiling dead load
for wall supporting		 1-, 2- or 3-story building ≤15 psf 1.0
2- or 3-story building > 15 psf and ≤ 25 psf 1.1
1-story building > 15 psf and ≤ 25 psf 1.2
6 Walls with stone or
masonry veneer,
townhouses in
SDC Cd, e		 1.0 All methods
1.5
1.5
7 Walls with stone or
masonry veneer,
detached one- and
two-family dwellings
in SDC D0 ‒ D2d, f		 Any story See Table R602.10.6.5 BV-WSP
8 Interior gypsum board
finish (or equivalent)		 Any story Omitted from
inside face of braced
wall panels		 1.5 DWB, WSP,
SFB, PBS, PCP,
HPS,
CS-WSP, CS-G,
CS-SFB

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kPa.
a. Linear interpolation shall be permitted.
b. The total length of bracing required for a given wall line is the product of all applicable adjustment factors.
c. The length-to-width ratio for the floor/roof diaphragm shall not exceed 3:1. The top plate lap splice nailing shall be in accordance with Table R602.3(1), Item 13.
d. Applies to stone or masonry veneer exceeding the first story height.
e. The adjustment factor for stone or masonry veneer shall be applied to all exterior braced wall lines and all braced wall lines on the interior of the building, backing or perpendicular to and laterally supported veneered walls.
f. See Section R602.10.6.5 for requirements where stone or masonry veneer does not exceed the first-story height.

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