Horizontal Sheathing Wind Wall Bracing

[TheCommish]

We're having an internal office discussion about continuous sheathing when wall bracing and whether low structural wood panel has to be vertical or can be horizontal with staggered end joints 2015 IRC 602.10 talks about full height sections.

I recall learning that either was appropriate but this may have changed over the code cycles.

If we've ridden this horse before point me to the discussion thank you.

 

[steveray]

Horizontal as long as the joints are blocked....Just like vertical...

 

[Energystar]

Yes. Simply block the joints when using CS-WSP so that the edges can be nailed 6" o.c. Note that this only needs to be done where there is a BWP.

 

[steveray]

Yes. Simply block the joints when using CS-WSP so that the edges can be nailed 6" o.c. Note that this only needs to be done where there is a BWP.

Or if they are using crappy gun nails 4"OC.....Or ZipR....

 

[chief-inspector]

It depends on the use.For uplift vertical is better if the sheathing is 97" so it can span from top of the top plate to an overlap at the bottom plate.
For a blocked shear wall 2x4 blocking attached to the studs to transfer the loads.