Page 215 - 2018_IRC

WALL CONSTRUCTION

R602.7.3 Wood structural panel box headers. Wood R602.10 Wall bracing. Buildings shall be braced in accor-
structural panel box headers shall be constructed in accor- dance with this section or, when applicable, Section R602.12.
dance with Figure R602.7.3 and Table R602.7.3. Where a building, or portion thereof, does not comply with
R602.7.4 Nonbearing walls. Load-bearing headers are not one or more of the bracing requirements in this section, those
required in interior or exterior nonbearing walls. A single portions shall be designed and constructed in accordance with
flat 2-inch by 4-inch (51 mm by 102 mm) member shall be Section R301.1.
permitted to be used as a header in interior or exterior non- R602.10.1 Braced wall lines. For the purpose of deter-
bearing walls for openings up to 8 feet (2438 mm) in width mining the amount and location of bracing required in
if the vertical distance to the parallel nailing surface above each story level of a building, braced wall lines shall be
is not more than 24 inches (610 mm). For such nonbearing designated as straight lines in the building plan placed in
headers, cripples or blocking are not required above the accordance with this section.
header. R602.10.1.1 Length of a braced wall line. The length
R602.7.5 Supports for headers. Headers shall be sup- of a braced wall line shall be the distance between its
ported on each end with one or more jack studs or with ends. The end of a braced wall line shall be the inter-
approved framing anchors in accordance with Table section with a perpendicular braced wall line, an
R602.7(1) or R602.7(2). The full-height stud adjacent to angled braced wall line as permitted in Section
each end of the header shall be end nailed to each end of R602.10.1.4 or an exterior wall as shown in Figure
the header with four-16d nails (3.5 inches × 0.135 inches). R602.10.1.1.
The minimum number of full-height studs at each end of a R602.10.1.2 Offsets along a braced wall line. Exte-
header shall be in accordance with Table R602.7.5. rior walls parallel to a braced wall line shall be offset
TABLE R602.7.5 not more than 4 feet (1219 mm) from the designated
MINIMUM NUMBER OF FULL-HEIGHT STUDS braced wall line location as shown in Figure
AT EACH END OF HEADERS IN EXTERIOR WALLS a
R602.10.1.1. Interior walls used as bracing shall be off-
ULTIMATE DESIGN WIND SPEED
MAXIMUM AND EXPOSURE CATEGORY set not more than 4 feet (1219 mm) from a braced wall
HEADER SPAN < 140 mph, Exposure B line through the interior of the building as shown in
(feet) or ≤ 115 mph, Exposure B b Figure R602.10.1.1.
< 130 mph, Exposure C R602.10.1.3 Spacing of braced wall lines. The spac-
4 1 1 ing between parallel braced wall lines shall be in accor-
6 2 1 dance with Table R602.10.1.3. Intermediate braced
8 2 1 wall lines through the interior of the building shall be
10 3 2 permitted.
12 3 2 R602.10.1.4 Angled walls. Any portion of a wall along
14 3 2 a braced wall line shall be permitted to angle out of
16 4 2 plane for a maximum diagonal length of 8 feet (2438
18 4 2
mm). Where the angled wall occurs at a corner, the
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 mile per hour = 0.447 m/s. length of the braced wall line shall be measured from
a. For header spans between those given, use the minimum number of full- the projected corner as shown in Figure R602.10.1.4.
height studs associated with the larger header span. Where the diagonal length is greater than 8 feet (2438
b. The tabulated minimum number of full-height studs is applicable where
jack studs are provided to support the header at each end in accordance mm), it shall be considered to be a separate braced wall
with Table R602.7(1). Where a framing anchor is used to support the line and shall be braced in accordance with Section
header in lieu of a jack stud in accordance with Note d of Table R602.10.1.
R602.7(1), the minimum number of full-height studs at each end of a
header shall be in accordance with requirements for wind speed < 140 R602.10.2 Braced wall panels. Braced wall panels shall
mph, Exposure B. be full-height sections of wall that shall not have vertical
R602.8 Fireblocking required. Fireblocking shall be pro- or horizontal offsets. Braced wall panels shall be con-
vided in accordance with Section R302.11. structed and placed along a braced wall line in accordance
with this section and the bracing methods specified in Sec-
R602.9 Cripple walls. Foundation cripple walls shall be tion R602.10.4.
framed of studs not smaller than the studding above. Where
exceeding 4 feet (1219 mm) in height, such walls shall be R602.10.2.1 Braced wall panel uplift load path. The
framed of studs having the size required for an additional bracing lengths in Table R602.10.3(1) apply only when
story. uplift loads are resisted in accordance with Section
R602.3.5.
Cripple walls with a stud height less than 14 inches (356
mm) shall be continuously sheathed on one side with wood R602.10.2.2 Locations of braced wall panels. A
structural panels fastened to both the top and bottom plates in braced wall panel shall begin within 10 feet (3810 mm)
accordance with Table R602.3(1), or the cripple walls shall from each end of a braced wall line as determined in
be constructed of solid blocking. Section R602.10.1.1. The distance between adjacent
edges of braced wall panels along a braced wall line
Cripple walls shall be supported on continuous founda- shall be not greater than 20 feet (6096 mm) as shown in
tions. Figure R602.10.2.2.

190 2018 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE ®
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