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Diaphram Design w/o Plywood

Diaphram Design w/o Plywood

Diaphram Design w/o Plywood

(OP)
I'm looking to design a very small park restroom facility.  The building will have no electricity so I would like to use "clear" fiberglass panels as the roof sheathing.  This way I can get as much light in as possible.

My question is how do you design a diaphram like this??  All the wood (timber) books that I have show using plywood to create the diaphram...since this is what a diaphram is

Will the fiberglass panel manufacturer have an "equivilent" plywood rating??

OR can this be done by using a certain cross-bracing pattern on the trusses??

I'm essentially trying to determine how to get the wind to the shear walls.  Any ways to do it w/o using the roof?

I don't normally (read: ever) design wood buildings so I apologize if this is a "simple" question.

All suggestions appreicated.

RE: Diaphram Design w/o Plywood

Ask fiberglass panel manufacturer for info on diaphragm capacity and connections requirements to transfer load.

Or provide horizontal x-bracing to create horizontal truss to transfer load to shear walls.

RE: Diaphram Design w/o Plywood

Depending on the dimensions of the "small" restroom, you may be able to provide a beam built into the top of the wall that would span horizontally from corner to corner.  This beam could be designed to distribute the wind/seismic forces to the end walls.  Of course the connection of these beams at the corners must be carefully considered.

RE: Diaphram Design w/o Plywood

Perhaps horizontal straps across the roof, like those used in metal stud shear walls.

RE: Diaphram Design w/o Plywood

(OP)
Thanks for the reponses.  That gives me a couple options to consider.  Thanks again!!

RE: Diaphram Design w/o Plywood

Kramer's suggestion (beams to distribute shear aplied at the top of the wall) has worked for me in prefab restrooms where the roof isn't connected to the walls for insect screened venting purposes.
The biggest problem in this type of building is to make sure it is adequately anchored to resist overturning and sliding with sufficient safety factor.

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