Is sheathing considered as bracing for the wall
Is sheathing considered as bracing for the wall
(OP)
Hello,
I have a question about whether or not wall sheathing (gypsum board) is considered as continuous bracing for the wood stud walls. I am trying to understand if we can consider a wood stud spaced at 16" oc with sheathing attached be considered fully/continuously braced or unbraced stud.
Will greatly Appreciate your help.
Thank you.
I have a question about whether or not wall sheathing (gypsum board) is considered as continuous bracing for the wood stud walls. I am trying to understand if we can consider a wood stud spaced at 16" oc with sheathing attached be considered fully/continuously braced or unbraced stud.
Will greatly Appreciate your help.
Thank you.






RE: Is sheathing considered as bracing for the wall
RE: Is sheathing considered as bracing for the wall
You have to be sheathed on both side, not just one.
RE: Is sheathing considered as bracing for the wall
Garth Dreger PE - AZ Phoenix area
As EOR's we should take the responsibility to design our structures to support the components we allow in our design per that industry standards.
RE: Is sheathing considered as bracing for the wall
lets say I am using a 2x6 wall stud on ext wall. I brace the 3.5" side by blocking at every 48" OC where as on the 1.5" side I have wall sheathing i.e the gypsum board on one side and OSB on the ext side. So, both the bracing is for weak axis right?
How will I brace the strong axis then. is there any common ways that is being used?
RE: Is sheathing considered as bracing for the wall
RE: Is sheathing considered as bracing for the wall
RE: Is sheathing considered as bracing for the wall
1) See IRC R602.10.3 for the proper method of using gypsum board to create a braced wall panel.
2) If you have OSB on one side, the gypsum board does nothing for bracing. The OSB (if properly attached) already creates a braced wall panel.
3) For a stud wall, there is nothing to brace the strong axis to. It is only braced where it hits a perpendicular wall. Listen to Jayrod. If you have out-of-plane bending (like wind load) then you have to use the studs to resist that load as a simply supported beam from sill plate to top plate of each floor. If you can't, you have to get larger studs or tighten the spacing of the studs.