How to Guide

Wall Construction

ENGINEERED WOOD CONSTRUCTION GUIDE

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FORM NO. B360P

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WWW.APAWOOD.ORG

Wall Bracing

Wall bracing is typically a part of conventional prescriptive construction as found in 2009 International Building Code

(IBC) Section 2308 or the International Residential Code (IRC) Chapter 6. Wall bracing is prescribed in a how-to format,

and braced walls generally do not require hold down devices or have significant nailing requirements. Usually, there is no

engineering required when using wall bracing since the “solution” is prescribed. For structures or portions of them that do

not meet the prescribed construction parameters in the IBC or IRC, engineered design is required.

Meeting the bracing requirements is easy when using wood structural panel wall sheathing because of its inherent

strength. More information is available at www.wallbracing.org and in the following APA publications:

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Introduction to Wall Bracing, Form F430

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Brace Walls with Wood, Form G440

Shear Walls

The engineered version of wall bracing is a shear wall. Shear walls are designed by an engineer to resist the specific

forces determined by engineering analysis. Shear walls have specific design values depending on their construction, fas-

tener spacing, fastener size, sheathing thickness and framing species. Table 29 shows the Allowable Stress Design values

for single-sided sheathed wood structural panel shear walls. Shear walls are also permitted to be designed to account

for openings and with both sides of the wall sheathed. They usually require hold downs to resist overturning of wall

segments, as shown in Figure 20. More information on designing with shear walls is available in the APA publication

Design/Construction Guide: Diaphragms and Shear Walls, Form L350.

Either APA RATED SHEATHING or all-veneer plywood APA RATED SIDING (and other APA RATED SIDING panels

that qualify on a proprietary basis) can be used in shear wall design. The data presented here give maximum shears for

walls with APA RATED SHEATHING, with plywood APA RATED SIDING installed directly to studs (APA Sturd-I-Wall),

and with panels applied over gypsum sheathing for walls required to be fire-rated from the outside.

Shear wall overturning moments may be transferred by a fabricated

steel bracket such as this. Regular foundation bolts may be all that is

required in some cases depending on engineering analysis.

APA RATED SHEATHING or

APA RATED SIDING 303

Studs

Fasteners to framing,

size as required

Hold-down anchor

Treated sill plate

Flashing to separate

siding from concrete

Bolt to foundation

Concrete foundation

FIGURE 20

SHEAR WALL HOLD-DOWN ANCHOR