2006 IRC 602.10.1 Braced Wall Line Offsets

[STLstructural]

I'm trying really, really hard not to overdesign...

I'm a "regular" building structural engineer designing my own two story bungalow. The main level is 39' (N/S) x 30' (E/W) and the upper level is 32' (N/S) x 30' (E/W). Therefore, the southern walls are offset by 7'. I have a friend who is a structural engineer who tells me that I can magically place a braced wall halfway between this 7' offset, such that my braced panels are offset 3.5' on either side of the braced wall line. I already told him he was crazy, to which he responded that he has done this numerous times with plan reviewers and they find it acceptable. Then I reread this line (2006 IRC 602.10.1):

"Braced wall panels that are counted as part of a braced wall line shall be in line, except that offsets out of plane of up to 4' shall be permitted provided that the total out-to-out offset dimension in any braced wall line is not more than 8'."

Is my friend's interpretation correct? Can I arbitrarily draw a line and count any shear wall within 4' on either side as part of a braced wall line? Just when I thought the IBC wasn't clear enough...

Thanks,
David

 

[FSS]

Yep, you get 4' either way for leeway. The 2009 IRC actually shows a drawing with this clearly explained.