Wood Shear Wall Stud Straps
Wood Shear Wall Stud Straps
(OP)
It has been my practice that when detailing a wood shear wall to specify simpson straps tieing upper studs to lower studs at 4'-0" o.c. in addition to the holddowns at each end. It just seems to me that the wall should behave better if this is done. A contractor on one of my projects is screaming bloody murder about it. Does anybody else do this? Am I just being too conservative?






RE: Wood Shear Wall Stud Straps
If the load analysis indicates some holddowns may be omitted but, this may cause confusion for framing contractors, the builder and inspectors.
Cheers
RE: Wood Shear Wall Stud Straps
RE: Wood Shear Wall Stud Straps
Most codes do not require this unless there is an actual force that you are required to holddown. Now boo1 is probably right that in Florida and other hurricane zones, the codes may actually dictate that you use a certain capacity strap at a certain spacing...but most other areas of the country do not require it.
Where, roughly, is your project?
RE: Wood Shear Wall Stud Straps
RE: Wood Shear Wall Stud Straps
I understand that the codes are a minimum, and engineers do and should consider cases where they would like to add some safety factors due to limited knowledge of conditions or loads. But there is a point when you go way beyond the code and cost the owner money (thus the screaming from your contractor.
It's a very subjective decision and all I'm suggesting is that beyond a certain point, it seems ethical to include the owner in the choosing of the final level of safety.
RE: Wood Shear Wall Stud Straps
Are there sesmic loadings?