maximum heights for wall studs?
maximum heights for wall studs?
(OP)
What is the max height for a wall stud?
How high can a shear wall be using 2x6's?
A man wants to remodel his family room, increasing the wall height to 19' from 10'. Currently, he has 2x6 DF#2 studs @ 24" o.c.
Where is this ratio limit in the UBC?
How high can a shear wall be using 2x6's?
A man wants to remodel his family room, increasing the wall height to 19' from 10'. Currently, he has 2x6 DF#2 studs @ 24" o.c.
Where is this ratio limit in the UBC?






RE: maximum heights for wall studs?
For that height I would expect 8" studs would be required at the minimum, possibly high strength timber/glulam.
19' is far above a typical floor height so I doubt you will find a specific reference to this situation anywhere.
This is why you spent 4 years in college studying engineering, not so you could look up the IBC all the time but so that you could use engineering knowledge to solve problems that are beyond the scope of the normal.
RE: maximum heights for wall studs?
Thanks. I am already finishing the calc. I think what I was looking for is a "rule of thumb" I once heard referenced by an old engineer I know. I'll ask him.
RE: maximum heights for wall studs?
To name a few... Local snow, wind, and seismic conditions, bearing or non-bearing walls, length of shear wall (3.5:1 aspect ratio max), materials used.
At 19 feet plate height, the min SW length (plywood) is about 5'-5".
At 19 feet, the stud sizes probably are controlled in deflection by the wind or seismic loads parallel with the major axis of the studs. If you have sheetrock on the inside, I would recommend l/360 max for wind/seismic, yielding a max 5/8" lateral deflection normal to the wall face.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: maximum heights for wall studs?
RE: maximum heights for wall studs?
RE: maximum heights for wall studs?
RE: maximum heights for wall studs?
You don't want to have a hinge at 10' where you have new studs taking off of existing studs.
I agree with Mike. There should be no rule of thumb. There are way too many variables, especially for a stud of that length.
RE: maximum heights for wall studs?
I specified 3/8" CDX both sides. One side exists already. The new paneling will be added to the interior.
My plan to cancel a hinge is to remove and replace the (E) paneling so that the panels cover the hinge; panels will bridge over the connection.
The new panels will do the same. The bending moment will transfer through the sheets.
All: I have two wall sections, full-height to provide shear. Each is 7' 1.5" inches in length. So, the needed ratios are observed.
Thanks.
RE: maximum heights for wall studs?
The best way is to add new full height studs that will be able to span the load WITHOUT depending on the 3/8" plywood paneling.
In lieu of that, sistering on new 8" long studs, 4' on either side of the splice, could work if they were nailed and glued properly to the existing studs.
Be mindful though that you may have to increase the full height studsize at the ends of the shearwalls anyway for the holddowns.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering