Maximum Braced Wall Offset

[SF William]

IRC and local adoptions make it clear that the braced wall line (BWL) can be an imaginary line (rather than an actual wall with braced panels) and that the maximum offset to be considered as on the same brace wall line is 4' on either side of this imaginary BWL as long as the two walls are no more than 8' apart. IBC does not have the same detail but just says can be offset by 4' on either side of the BWL. My building is under IBC (California Building Code) and plane check is saying that max distance between actual walls with braced wall panels is 4' not 8'. To me it seems like the structural aspects between a 2 story IRC house and a 2 story IBC triplex should be the same and that they BWL should be as defined in the IRC. ANy thoughts help would be much appreciated....

 

[JBI]

The IRC provisions were derived from an APA design. As long as the occupancy and design are within the parameters of the APA spec, you could submit the design with that as your design method (assuming CA accepts it). Part of the problem may be your seismic design category. Most of the prescriptive provisions are very limited with regard to seismic.

 

[mtlogcabin]

IBC does not have the same detail but just says can be offset by 4' on either side of the BWL

4 ft either side is 8 ft and consistent with the IRC

Unless CA amended the section the plan checker is wrong or the limitations of 2308.2 do not permit the BWL to be used

 

[north star]

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SF William,

1st, ...Welcome to The Building Codes Forum !

2nd, ...according to the `13 CBC, Volume 2, Section 2308.9.3

& Figure 2308.9.3, Page 331, ...there is a BWL offset of 4'

indicated, but the maximum BWL offset is 8' in the whole wall

line..........See this link for the `13 CBC, Vol 2, Wall Bracing:

http://codes.iccsafe.org/app/book/content/PDF/2013/2013%20California/13Building/PDFs/Chapter%2023%20-%20Wood.pdf



@ ~ @ ~ @

 

[Phil]

north star,

I think the plan checker has a point. CBC section 2308.9.3 states the braced wall panels " are in line or offset from each other by not more than 4 feet." It says offset from "each other". The section doesn't say offset from the braced wall line.

 

[north star]

& > & > &

Here is a Figure from the `12 IRC [ RE: Figure 602.10.1.1 - Braced Wall Lines ]:

& < & < &