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Non-load bearing walls supporting cabinets

chris kennedy

chris kennedy

ADMIN
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
1,554
Location
Miami Fla
Sorry people, I know I should pursue this myself but my plate is full tonight and I'm out of time.

I have a 4" metal stud and drywall wall in a commercial kitchen/breakroom framed on 24" centers. I did all my rough electrical then find out that the studs need to be on 16" centers. GC showed me the reference in the FBC, but I still question this. Can someone point me to the IBC reference that the FBC is derived from? Sure would save me some time.

Thanks
 
Re: Non-load bearing walls supporting cabinets

chris kennedy said:
Sorry people, I know I should pursue this myself but my plate is full tonight and I'm out of time.I have a 4" metal stud and drywall wall in a commercial kitchen/breakroom framed on 24" centers. I did all my rough electrical then find out that the studs need to be on 16" centers. GC showed me the reference in the FBC, but I still question this. Can someone point me to the IBC reference that the FBC is derived from? Sure would save me some time.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I would not consider studs supporting cabinets to be load bearing in terms of building code requirements.

If the FBC section is derived from the IBC, it will probably have the same number.

The major differences are in Chapters 4, 11, and 13 where state laws are directly incorporated.

Other revisions are related to coordinating the Building Code with the Fire Code which is based on NFPA 101. These largely occur in Chapter 10.

Finally, there are the High Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements. These are provisions rolled over from the Old Miami-Dade code. These are spread throughout, but are only applicable in a few counties.
 
Re: Non-load bearing walls supporting cabinets

I know squat about the FBC. But, IBC definitions:

Code: 
WALL, LOAD-BEARING. Any wall meeting either of the following classifications:1. Any metal or wood stud wall that supports more than 100 pounds per linear foot of vertical load in addition to its own weight.2. Any masonry or concrete wall that supports more than 200 pounds per linear foot of vertical load in addition to its own weight.WALL, NONLOAD-BEARING. Any wall that is not a load-bearing wall.

Is it the same in FBC?
 
Re: Non-load bearing walls supporting cabinets

If it turns out that your inspector agrees that 16" o/c is required, then I asssume the issue is that the wiring is already running through the holes in the existing 24" o/c studs, but the problem is adding new studs without undoing all the rough electrical?.

So, is there some way the GC can "flat frame" additional studs into place, and have the wiring pass by on one side, without going through the middle of the stud?
 
Re: Non-load bearing walls supporting cabinets

Plans Approver said:
I know squat about the FBC. But, IBC definitions:
Code: 
WALL, LOAD-BEARING. Any wall meeting either of the following classifications:1. Any metal or wood stud wall that supports more than 100 pounds per linear foot of vertical load in addition to its own weight.2. Any masonry or concrete wall that supports more than 200 pounds per linear foot of vertical load in addition to its own weight.WALL, NONLOAD-BEARING. Any wall that is not a load-bearing wall.

Is it the same in FBC?
Click to expand...
It's the same...except there's some newton-meters involved too.

To make it a load bearing wall, you would have to build the uppers out of steel plate.
 
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