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Bearing Perp to Grain

Bearing Perp to Grain

Bearing Perp to Grain

(OP)
I'm curious to get some other opinions on exceeding compression bearing perpendicular to the grain stresses on bottom stud wall plates. It seems to be more of a serviceability issue than strength issue. Does anyone else neglect this limit in some cases?

Curious for thoughts/opinions on this matter.

RE: Bearing Perp to Grain

I never neglect it.  Dont forget you have Cb factor that can increase your perpendicular stress capacity a little bit.  Dont forget sometime you use a different species of wood (i.e. treated hemfir).  Are you talking about stud pack? Just add another so you dont crush the plate.

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

RE: Bearing Perp to Grain

(OP)
This is a 3 story wood building and I have typical bottom plates on my bearing walls that aren't working. My detail has 2 bottom plates above sheathing, above a rim joist running parallel with the wall and floor joists perpendicular to the wall. I could add a 2nd rim joist but on the firts floor that still doesn't help. I'm already using souther pine no. 2 which has 565 psi with a 1.5 Cb factor.

Maybe having 2 bottom plates help spread the load?  

RE: Bearing Perp to Grain

Never, Never, Never.  

It leads to crushing of the plates and finishing damage issues, particularly in sheetrock.  Not a good condition in condominiums...  Lawyers love us to do that though!  It pays their bills.

I use either more studs or, as a last resort, steel bearing plates, so as not to exceed the valus.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: Bearing Perp to Grain

double bottom plates will not do anything.  It will still crush it.  Are you using 2x6 studs @ 16" o.c.?  The perpendicular bearing is not good enough?  Maybe you should use an engineered wood product for the bottom plates. That will solve it.

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

RE: Bearing Perp to Grain

Agree with others.  You need to use a different material for the plate or spread the load.

RE: Bearing Perp to Grain

Tighten up your stud spacing or even use 3x studs, I know some liberal engineers who don't flirt with plate crushing.

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