Residential Chimney & Fireplace - Shear Wall Connection
Residential Chimney & Fireplace - Shear Wall Connection
(OP)
Hello,
I am designing a residence and I would like to use the chimney as part of my lateral force resisting system. Does anyone have details showing a typical diaphragm-masonry chimney connection and a collector-masonry chimney connection? Based on my review of the IRC, a minimum clearance is required to prevent damage to wood members (which makes sense), but I am confused on how designers maintain this clearance and provide an adequate load path. I apologize if this is a simple question but I had some difficulty finding resources on line that discussed chimney detailing as a member of the lateral force resisting system.
Thanks,
skuhlman123
I am designing a residence and I would like to use the chimney as part of my lateral force resisting system. Does anyone have details showing a typical diaphragm-masonry chimney connection and a collector-masonry chimney connection? Based on my review of the IRC, a minimum clearance is required to prevent damage to wood members (which makes sense), but I am confused on how designers maintain this clearance and provide an adequate load path. I apologize if this is a simple question but I had some difficulty finding resources on line that discussed chimney detailing as a member of the lateral force resisting system.
Thanks,
skuhlman123






RE: Residential Chimney & Fireplace - Shear Wall Connection
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Residential Chimney & Fireplace - Shear Wall Connection
RE: Residential Chimney & Fireplace - Shear Wall Connection
msquared48,
Could you clarify how the compressive forces are transferred? I thought metal straps only transfer tension forces and flex underneath compressive forces. Are you saying that you use metal straps on each side of the wall and one will always be in tension when the load is transfered?
oldestguy,
Could you elaborate on your comment, especially on how it relates to loadtransfer between walls and the chimney? Are you recommending that I account for thermal expansion along with the shear forces when designing the metal strap?
RE: Residential Chimney & Fireplace - Shear Wall Connection
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Residential Chimney & Fireplace - Shear Wall Connection
Every old house I have seen torn into has never had a gap between the framing and the masonry. Never have witnessed an issue. I imagine the chimney does not actually get that hot outside and the expansion is minimal.
RE: Residential Chimney & Fireplace - Shear Wall Connection
Dave
Thaidavid
RE: Residential Chimney & Fireplace - Shear Wall Connection
I'd think that you'd need to satisfy exception #1 below in order to make a go of this. Connecting with steel hardware across any gap might make some sense rationally but I'm unsure how well that would be received by AHJ. Metal being a rather good conductor after all.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.